Détente Flashcards
What did part of the developing arms race involve?
Developing missile which could carry nuclear warheads into enemy territory. Each country’s scientists worked to develop weapons to give their side an advantage
With the arms race causing weapons which could annihalate rivals, what would the result of wars be?
‘Mutually Assured Destruction’ (MAD)
What did MAD cause?
Neither country’s leaders wanted to risk a war which could lead to their own destruction
What event showed that even when a war wasn’t wanted war could almost break out by accident?
Cuban Missile Crisis
What happened in the 1970s?
Genuine attempt to have a more co-operative and stable relationship between superpowers - policy of détente
What is détente?
A period of peace between two groups that were previously at war or hostile towards each other
What was developed in 1957?
USA developed inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and USSR also had them within a year
What was developed in 1960?
USA developed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). Soviets had these from 1968
What else did USSR develop in 1968 and what for?
Anti-ballistic missiles (ABM) to intercept ICBMs. Americans developed them four years later
When was Richard Nixon elected president?
1968
What was Nixon determined to do?
Take his country out of the Vietnam War, which had cost the USA billions and resulted in almost 60,000 dead American soldiers
How did Americans view war and international affairs?
. There were large-scale demonstrations against the war in USA
. Many Americans thought the USA should take a less active role in international affairs
What social problems did the USA have?
Inequality between rich and poor and black and white led to urban rioting on a massive scale in 1968
What was urban riots in 1968 triggered by?
Assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King
What would a policy of détente allow the USA to do?
Spend less money on weapons and more on tryinv to solve social problems that had led to 1968 riots
Why did Soviet Union want to to cut spending on weapons?
Was facing economic problems so wanted to devote more resources to improving living standards and updating its economy
Why did the Soviets also feel it was a good time for détente?
They felt they were USA’s equals in nuclear weapons capability
Vietnam War showed the USA military wasn’t unbeatable
Improving relations and spending less on weapons would be a ‘safe’ policy
How was there pressure for improved relations coming from Europe?
1969, Willy Beandt became chancellor of West Germany. He followed a policy of ‘Ostpolitik’ which involved nuilding better relations between East and West Germany. Other European countries followed his lead and established better relations with Eastern European countries
Who was one of the key figures in America’s policy of détente?
Henry Kissinger, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in negotiating an end to US involvement in Vietnam
What was perhaps the most important agreement between the superpowers during the period of détente?
Strategic arms limitation treaty (SALT 1) signed in May 1972
What was SALT 1 a result of?
Several years of difficult negotiations between USA and Soviet Union about which weapons should be limited
What three areas of agreement were in SALT 1?
. Anti-ballistic missile treaty
. Interim Treaty
. Basic Principles agreement
Why was the Interim Treaty named so?
It was temporary, only up to 1977
What did the Anti-ballistic missile treaty state?
ABM’s were allowed at only two sites. Each site could have max 100 missiles
