Cold war 3 Flashcards
What does Detente mean?
Relaxation of tensions
When was Detente?
1960s and 1970s
What was SALT 1?
The superpowers limited the amount of nuclear weapons.
When was SALT 1?
1972
What was some agreements in SALT 1? (3)
- No further production of short - range; lightweight missiles. 2. No new nuclear missile launchers. 3. Anti - ballistic missile (ABM) treaty only allowed 2 ABM deployment areas.
Why was SALT 1 significant? (3)
- It slowed down the arms race by placing limits on weapons. 2. Led to further negotiations in SALT 2 (1979). 3. Disadvantage: didn’t cover intermediate nuclear weapons which both superpowers deployed in Europe.
When was the Helsinki conference?
1975
Where was the Helsinki conference?
Finland
Who signed the Helsinki agreements?
All European countries except Albania and Andorra + USA and USSR and Canada.
Why was the Helsinki agreements important? (3)
- Helped build a stable relationship between USSR and USA. 2. USSR and USA collaborated on: –> Apollo - Soyuz Test Project 1975 –> Trade agreements - wheat from USA, oil from USSR. 3 Represented the highest point of Detente.
What were some of the Helsinki agreements? (6)
- Strict border between East and West Germany. 2. Disputes settled peacefully thought the UN. 3. No country to interfere in another’s internal affairs. 4. Trade cooperation from superpowers. 5. Sharing of scientific knowledge. 6. Countries must respect HR.
Why had USSR already broken the Helsinki agreements?
They didn’t respect HR.
What were some limits to the Helsinki agreements? (3)
- USSR continued to be harsh on the Eastern bloc and apply the Brezhnev Doctrine. 2. USSR treated protesters harshly. 3. USA prioritised its interests elsewhere e.g. Chile.
When was SALT 2?
1979
What were some agreements in SALT 2? (2)
- Each superpower limited to 2250 warheads. 2. Imposed limits on new launch systems.
Who signed SALT 2?
Carter and Brezhnev
Why did SALT 2 fail? (3)
1) West German politicians opposed the treaty as they thought it weakened the defense of West Germany and that USA would not use nuclear weapons to defend West Germany if USSR attacked them. 2) Some American politicians thought the treaty made too many concessions to the Soviet Union. 3) The treaty was never ratified (agreed) by the US Senate because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
When did Reagan become president?
1981 - 89
When did Gorbachev lead USSR?
1985 - 91
What did Reagan call USSR?
An evil empire
Why did Reagan ruin Detente? (4)
- Called USSR an Evil empire. 2. Kick - started the arms race. 3. USA technology improved so quickly in the 80s. 4. USA put more money into developing new missile technology
Why was there a crisis in USSR?
It could not keep up with USA in the arms race.
How was USSR struggling? (5)
- Economy in a poor shape because of the huge spending on weapons. 2. Living standards were low around the Eastern Bloc. 3. Draining resources in the war in Afghanistan. 4. Did not have USA’s computing expertise. 5. USSR couldn’t keep up with USA’s missile technology.
What happened in the Geneva conference?
1985 Gorbachev and Reagan met up and got on well together.
What was the significance of Gorbachev’s and Reagan’s changing attitudes?
- It represented an easing of Cold War tensions. 2. Led to greater cooperation between USA and USSR. 3. Led to arms control agreements like INF treaty
What was the INF treaty?
It was better than SALT 1 and got rid of lots of missiles specifically in Europe.
What happened in 1980 which worsened relations?
End of SALT 2. USA built up nuclear weapons which sped up arms race again.
When was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
1979
Why did USSR want to invade Afghanistan?
Brezhnev was determined to not let Islam spread across its borders especially as there were already Muslims in USSR. He was protecting his interests like Czechoslovakia
Who was Amin?
The leader of Afghanistan who toppled the OG Soviet government. He was assassinated on 27th December almost certainly by Soviet forces.
Who were the Mujahedeen?
The Afghanis who fought against USSR.
How long did USSR stay in Afghanistan?
Almost 10 years.
What was the American reaction to the invasion of Afghanistan?
President Carter said they were spreading communism abroad and it posed a threat to world peace since WW2. Carter doctrine introduced.
When was the Carter Doctrine?
Jan 1980
What was the Carter Doctrine?
USA would use force if USSR was going to take control of the Persian Gulf. USA imposed sanctions - no trade. Secretly funded the Mujahideen.
What were some consequences of the Afghani invasion for USA?
- Americans were persuaded that USSR couldn’t be trusted. 2. Helped the election of Reagan in 1980 because he was an anti - communist.
What were some consequences of the Afghani invasion for USSR?
- Troops were under attack by Mujahideen in Afghanistan. 2. Pressure was put on USSR to end the unpopular war.
What did USA boycott in Moscow?
The 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Over 60 countries boycotted it.
What happened in 1984?
Boycott of Los Angeles with 15 other communist countries.
How did Reagan increase spending on arms and weapons?
13% more in 1982 8% more in 1983 and 1984. New weapons like Trident submarines.and stealth bombers were developed.
What did Reagan introduce in 1983?
Announced Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or star wars. Satellites would carry lasers and be put in space to 🔫 Soviet missiles. This increased arms race and USSR was losing. People argue it started the second cold war.
When did Gorbachev become the Soviet leader?
1985 - 1991.
Why did Gorbachev have new thinking? (3)
- Huge sums were spent on the arms race so economy was low. 2. Low standards of living and lack of human rights in satellite states. 3. Suffered from lots of poor leadership with bad health.
What were 2 parts of Gorbachev’s new thinking?
Perestroika - state and economy reformed with some capitalist practices. Glasnost - more openness and less corruption in government.
What else did Gorbachev do in his new thinking? (3)
Removed Brezhnev Doctrine. Less spending on arms and defence. Removal from Afghanistan.
What was the American response?
Reagan was hostile until Gorbachev wanted to reform USSR.
Due to the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine, how many communist countries left WP?
7 including East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia “velvet revolution” and bloody Romania.
When did the Berlin wall fall?
November 1989
Why was the fall of the Berlin wall significant? (3)
- It removed a divide in Europe. 2. End of Warsaw Pact. 3. Satellite states regained their independence.
Why did USSR lose the cold war? (3)
- Propaganda selling communism didn’t work. 2. Arms race was impossible to keep up with. 3. Afghan war.
When did Gorbachev resign?
25th December 1991
