Cold War (the end of the cold war)

Question 1

What does Detente mean?

Answer 1

The relaxation of the rivals and the easing of tension

Question 2

When was ‘Detente’ used to describe the USA and USSR’s relationship?

Answer 2

In the later 1960s and 1970s

Question 3

What were signed in the period of Detente and what were their effect?

Answer 3

Treaties, which reduced tension between the USA and USSR

Question 4

What was the outer space treaty?

Answer 4

• Stopped the arms race spreading to space.
• Both superpowers said that they wouldn’t have nuclear weapons in space.

Question 5

When was the Outer Space Treaty?

Answer 5

1967

Question 6

What was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Answer 6

• That neither country would supply weapons to other countries to aid their development.
• This stopped other countries being engulfed by the arms race

Question 7

When was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Answer 7

1968

Question 8

What was SALT 1 (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)?

Answer 8

• It successfully limited the number of weapons they had
• It imposed limits on the nuclear capability of the USA and USSR.
• They agreed there would be no production of ballistic missiles.
• Submarines would only be produced when the nuclear missiles ran out

Question 9

When was SALT 1 (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)?

Answer 9

Signed in 1972

Question 10

What was agreed on in the Helsinki conference?

Answer 10

• Security -> Recognition of Europe’s borders - USSR accepted that West Germany existed and
  that it did not belong to them.
• Cooperation -> There was a need for closer economical, cultural and scientific links between the
  superpowers. This would lead them to closer political agreement.
• Human Rights -> Each superpower agreed to respect their citizens human rights. E.g. thought, speech etc

Question 11

When was the Helsinki conference?

Answer 11

1975

Question 12

What was the importance of Helsinki?

Answer 12

• Helped the USA and the Soviet Union form a stable relationship.
• Represented the high point of détente.

Question 13

How effective was SALT 1?

Answer 13

• Slowed down the arms race by placing limits
  on the number of bombers, ICBMs and
  SLBMs each side could have.
• Led to further negotiations that culminated
  in the SALT 2 Treaty in 1979.
• Ensured that neither side had a decisive
  advantage in strategic nuclear weapons

Question 14

From when did talks for a new SALT agreement start (SALT 2), and what was its aim?

Answer 14

From 1977, the aim was to limit every type of rocket and warhead

Question 15

When was SALT 2 meant to stay in force until and what did it do?

Answer 15

It was meant to stay in force until 1985, and limited each superpower to 2,400 strategic nuclear weapon systems.

Question 16

When was SALT 2 drawn up and why did the USA not want to give consent to the treaty anymore?

Answer 16

• In 1979
• because the USSR invaded Afghanistan

Question 17

Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan?

Answer 17

The USSR had a fear that, if
the civil war was won by the Islamic fighters, Afghanistan would reject Communism and encourage
nearby countries to do the same.

Question 18

What had America done differently in response to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 18

• America had tolerated Soviet invasions previously (Czechoslovakia 1968) but this time they did not.
• The USA through the CIA armed the Mujahedeen to fight against the Soviets

Question 19

What were the consequences of the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 19

• Effectively ended détente and worsened relations
• SALT II ratification suspended
• Boycotting of 1980 Moscow Olympics

Question 20

When was Carter president of the USA?

Answer 20

In 1977

Question 21

What was the USA’s reaction to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and what did Carter release?

Answer 21

Carter was appalled by the Soviet aggression and released a
statement that became known as the ‘Carter Doctrine’.

Question 22

What did Carter state in the doctrine?

Answer 22

He stated the USA would:
- Not allow the USSR to gain control of the oil-rich Middle East.
- Take a number of immediate steps to try to remove Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

Question 23

When was Reagan elected as the new US president and why?

Answer 23

January 1981, and was elected as he had a tough anti-communist stance

Question 24

When did US scientists start working in the SDI (Strategic Defence Initiative)?

Answer 24

In 1983

Question 25

What was ‘Star Wars’ (SDI)?

Answer 25

• The aim was to prevent Soviet nuclear missiles from reaching US targets by creating a huge laser shield in space.
• If successful, SDI would mean USA wouldn’t be victim of ‘first strike’ and ended M.A.D

Question 26

Why did ‘Star Wars’ increase tensions between the superpowers?

Answer 26

As it caused a ‘gap’ in the arms race

Question 27

When was Detente truly over?

Answer 27

By 1983

Question 28

How did Reagan start the biggest arms built up in US history, and why?

Answer 28

• In the 1980s the USA spent $550 billion dollars a year on conventional and nuclear weapons
• As he suggested the USA had underestimated the USSR’s military strength and didn’t believe in Detente