Detente

Question 1

Detente definition

Answer 1

A relaxation of tension between superpower relations.

Question 2

5 causes of detente:

Answer 2

• Both feared that nuclear war would result in mutually assured destruction (MAD), the Cuban missile crisis showed how close they had come.
• The Vietnam war was costly on US economy.
• Soviet economy was struggling, they couldn’t afford an arms race.
• Public opposition - the public are against nukes as the fear it.

Question 3

4 achievements of detente

Answer 3

• They agreed that there would be no more production of strategic ballistic missiles.
• The outer space treaty of 1967 stated that no nukes would be placed in space.
• The Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty agreed no nukes would be supplied to other states.
• Apollo-Soyuz mission was a joint mission docking in space.

Question 4

Did detente stop the arms race?

Answer 4

No
Each side was still making 1000s of nuclear weapons.
This shows they don’t think detente will last.
They still don’t trust each other.

Question 5

Key points of Nixon’s visit to Moscow:

Answer 5

• Nixon wanted out of Vietnam
• Brezhnev wanted US technology and grain sales.
• They achieved SALT1 (strategic arms limitation)

Question 6

What did SALT 1 show:

Answer 6

-Showed that tension was decreasing but it didn’t work, as production of weapons still continued.

Question 7

Helsinki agreements: 1975

Answer 7

It was a high point of detente:

• Soviets recognised the existence of west Germany.
• Promise of more cooperation.
• Began respecting their human rights and the freedom of their people.

Question 8

Was detente a success?

Positive factors:

Answer 8

• There was much more cooperation
• Began talking about arms limitation.
• Likelihood of war much lower.

Question 9

Was detente a success?

Negative factors:

Answer 9

• Much of it was for show.
• Arms limitation didn’t include destructive weapons.
• There was still mistrust.