Détente

Question 1

what was Détente

Answer 1

A relaxing of tension between East and West. The Soviet Union and the USA became less hostile towards each other.

Question 2

Why was Détente introduced

Answer 2

These events led to an increase in fear and suspicions and caused a lot of conflict :

Arms Race/ Space Race.
• Berlin Wall had been built.
• Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Czechoslovakia

Also because the USA and the Soviet Union had come to accept each other’s areas of influence in the world, and both felt the need to improve relations with their ‘enemies’ for a variety of reasons.

Question 3

the 6 reasons for Détente

Answer 3

Weapons
Oil
Contacts with China 
Initiatives with Dixon
Vietnam
Economic problems over inflation

Question 4

Weapons and oil- why Détente was introduced

Answer 4

Weapons

Both sides spent a lot on defence e.g USSR spend 20% of money given from the gov on weapons. Both sides has enough weapons to destroy the earth

Oil

both sides worried about conflict over Middle East
Oil supplies from there vital for both sides.
The Suez Canal important for sea routes

Question 5

Economic problems over inflation and contacts with China-why Détente was introduced

Answer 5

Inflation

By 1970s there was raising inflation (rising in prices for products)
This alongside spending on Vietnam, crippled the US economy
USSR had poor living standards/ industrial efficiency
this meant that each side needs to trade more with each other

Contacts with China

both sides worried ab growing power of China
Despite alliance in Vietnam with China and USSR, they had arguments over other issues
meanwhile USA was afraid of the two biggest communist countries reaching agreements that would threaten the USA

Question 6

Initiatives with President Nixon and Vietnam- why Détente was introduced

Answer 6

Initiatives of President Nixon

Nixon was keen to improve relations with Moscow and Peking (Beijing).

In the Soviet Unions President Brezhnev was keen to extend Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful co-existence. Also wanted to persuade USA to accept Soviet control in Europe and to increase Soviet trade with USA.

North was communist and South wasn’t.

After death of Kennedy in 1963 the USA became very involved in Vietnam.China and USSR were suspicious.Many Americans wanted USA to withdraw from Viet

Students held demonstrations at university’s and there was one bad incident in May 1970 in Ohio where the protest turned into violence and 4 students were killed.