Detente Flashcards
What does the word detente directly translate to
Relaxation or the release of tension
Name 4 reasons that detente took place
In 1962 both sides became really close to a nuclear war because of the cuban missile crisis, both sides needed to make sure this wouldn’t happen again
Both sides wanted to save money because they were spending way too much on nuclear weapons
For propaganda, both sides wanted to appear as if they were the peace maker
World wide anti nuclear movement, the public didnt want nuclear weapons because they could wipe out the whole world
The fallout between china and the USSR, china felt that the USSR gave up cuba too easily and were no longer ‘real communists’ the broke away from the USSR, when this happen Nixon from America went to china and developed a good relationship with the leader, however the USSR were not going to let this happen so they tried to become closer with america so that they wouldn’t be completely out numbered in war
What happened within the period of detente
The period witnessed a drastic reduce in the arms race and included treaties being made
They began to trade more
They visit each other for the first time
What did they agree on?
1972: SALT 1 - agreement to limit certain types of weapons however many powerful weapons were not included
1975: Helsinki - improve living standards
1979: SALT 2 - more limits on certain weapons however was never agreed to because the soviets invaded Afghanistan
How did detente end?
1979: the USSR surprised the world with a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This was criticised around the world.
