Cold War Chapter 3: The End Of The Cold War, 1970-91 (Year 10 EOY) Flashcards
When was the Geneva summit and how did it affect relations?
The meeting in Geneva in July 1955 failed to reach agreement over disarmament and the future of Germany, but the atmosphere of co-operation at the meeting reduced some of the tension between East and West. Unfortunately, the better relations were only short-lived. In May 1955, West Germany joined NATO and the Soviet response was to announce the formation of the Warsaw Pact. So the Geneva meeting took place at a time when suspicion was still growing overall.
What were the consequences of Gorbachev’s new thinking
- It reduced Soviet influence and power, thus leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union as satellite states remove their communist governments from power (November 1989, The ‘Velvet Revolution’ overthrows the communsit government in Czechoslovakia and anti-communist president elected); zthe Brezhnev Doctrine was dropped sp Soviet states could choose how they would be governed without Soviet intervention
- A series of Summits occured to improve Soviet relations with the US: - Moscow summit 1988: In this summit, some complex detail related to the INF (International- Range Nuclear Forces) treaty was resolved. Later in the year, Gorbachev travelled to the USA, where he made a speech at the United Nations announcing a reduction in Warsaw Pact troops and that Soviet forces would leave Afghanistan.
- Increased popularity of communism and the Soviet governing - Prevented the Raegan’s ‘Second Cold War’ through improving relations with Raegan after he increased spending of arms and a more confrontational approach to the Soviet Union - Potentially deemed as weak after announcing he would retreat from Afghanistan
What was Gorbachev’s new thinking?
He was determined to reform communism in the Soviet Union and introduced a series of policies that would have a major impact on Soviet foreign policy and relations with the USA: - Perestroika: Soviet state and economy should be reformed to include some of the practices that made capitalism successful - Glasnost: More openness and less corruption int eh government. People shouldn’t need to fear the state or expressing their opinions. - Brezhnev doctrine dropped - Soviet Union woudl reduce spending on arms and defence and withraw from Afghanistan
Why was it important for Gorbachev to create new policies?
- During the Brezhnev era, huge sums soent on developing arms to keep pace with US. Investment in Soviet economy was low so barely any industrial growth in Soviet Union or Satellite states. - Low standards of living and lack of human rights leading ro unrest in satellite states. In Poland, the trade union ‘Sllidarity’ posed a threat to communist government, opposition only kept in control by the Stasi, emphisising communism unpopularity - Soviet troops carried out manoeuvres along the Polish border, ready to invade, if necessary. - Siviet Union suffered from poor leadership for many years - Recenr years, series of leaders in poor health who rules briefly and didn’t have time to make useful future plans - Chernobyl disaster in 1986 caused displacement of over 300000, 100x radiation of Hiroshima - Facing war in Afghanistan- very expensive in 1978 - Ronald Raegan highly suspiceous of USSR, describing it as an ‘Evil empire’; Gorbachev wanted tp improve relations through his policy of prestroika
- The rumoured development of SDI satellites which would orbit under Reagan’s development suggested that the US had made major technological advances and the Soviet Union would have to catch up before beginning to build its own SDI system
When did Mikhail Gorbachev become leader of the Soviet Union?
March 1985
What caused the Boycott of Moscow Olympics Games in 1980?
In protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 after Soviets suspected Amin of looking to the US for support and withdrawal from SALT 2, the USA led a boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games, which was held in Moscow.
How many nations supported the 1980 Boycott of the Moscow Olympics?
60
How many nations supported the 1984 Boycott of the LA Olympics?
Just 15 other communist countries
What was the significance of the Boycott of the Olympics?
- These boycotts were a very public sign of the hostility between the superpowers and signalled the end of the cooperation that characterised détente.
- It further increased tensions as capitalism was visibly more popular
- Olympic Games are a global event, which the Soviet Union was hoping to use to promote communism to the huge television audience who would watch the Olympics around the world. The boycott reflected the influence that the USA had in international affairs.
- This was a significant moment in the ‘Second Cold War. Relations were so poor that even four years later, when it was the USA’s turn to hold the Olympics in Los Angeles, in 1984, the Soviet Union led a boycott of the games which was joined by 15 communist countries.
When did the Warsaw Pact officially dissolve?
Military cooperation between the member states ended in early 1990 and the Pact was formally dissolved in July 1991
What were the events of the fall of the Berlin Wall?
- In September 1989 Hungary opened its borders with Austria and East Germany opened its borders with Austria.
- In November 1989 Berliners tore down the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels and the Communist governments of East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria all resigned.
- By November 1989, Eats Germans could already travel to the West through the Austrian border and the East German leader, Erich Honecker, had been sacked
- Throughout Eastern Europe, communist governments were falling and the Soviet Union showed no intention in ending the wave of protests and demand for reform
- The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War and of Soviet control. On 9 November 1989, its destruction become the symbol of the end of Soviet control and of the Cold War
What was the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Warsaw Pact?
- End of the Warsaw Pact
- Reunion of Europe
- Satellite states regained independence
- Gorbachev’s fall from power
How did the fall of the Berlin Wall result in the end of the Warsaw Pact?
The events of 1989 saw communist governments under pressure across Eastern Europe, causing the Warsaw Pact to be dissolved after the end of military co-operation
How did the fall of the Berlin Wall result in the reunion of Europe?
Europe was reunited. The Warsaw Pact initially had formally divided Europe into two. It’s break-up indicated the division between the Democratic West and communist East was gone; no longer two armed alliances confronting eachother across the ‘Iron Curtain’, which ceased to exist and the confrontational politics that had once brought the world close to nuclear war had ended
How did the fall of the Berlin Wall result in the independence of the Satellite States?
Many Satellite states regained true independence of the Soviet Union and governed themselves. They no longer had to follow policies from Moscow or run their economies to benefit the Soviets. After the Warsaw Pact was finished, every single one of its members abandoned communism.
How did the fall of the Berlin Wall result in Gorbachev’s fall from power?
- Hard-line communists blamed Gorbachev for losing control over Eastern Europe and threatening Soviet security. His position worsened as Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia declared independence in 1990.
- In August 1991, communist hardliners staged a coup against Gorbachev. Boris Yeltsin, president of Soviet Republic of Russia rallied the people pf Moscow to oppose the Coup and Gorbachev continued in government, but the coup severely damaged his authority
- The leaders of other Soviet republics rook advantage of his weakness and 12 joined together in a Commonwealth of Independent States. Gorbachev couldn’t continue under these circumstances and announced his resignation in December 1991. His resignation was immediately followed by the break-up of the Soviet Union
