Détente In The 1970s

Question 1

Reasons for detente

Answer 1

• threat of nuclear war in Cuban Missile crisis made them more concerned about improving relations
• Cold War continued but not to past extremes

Question 2

Effects of Vietnam war on detente

Answer 2

• 1968 USA losing Vietnam war (to stop spread of communism)
• 1969 (Nixon president) USA hoped improved communications might mean Brezhnev would persuade Vietnam to end war
• improved detente

Question 3

Effects of Nixon’s visits to Moscow on detente

Answer 3

• visited in 1972
• Nixon wanted an end to the Vietnam war
• Brezhnev wanted access to us tech and grain sales
• Nixon agreed to take part in Helsinki Agreements (keen to show commitment to detente)
• Brezhnev helped end war in 1973
• greatly improved detente

Question 4

Effect of SALT I on detente

Answer 4

• 1972
• superpowers to limit number of nuclear weapons they had
• no limits On developing new weapons, MIRVs and strategic bombers (bad)
• slowed down arms race
• led to further negotiations
• ensured no one had an advantage
• good for detente

Question 5

Effects of Nixon’s 2nd visit to Moscow (1974) on detente

Answer 5

• tensions were cold after the Yom Kippur War (1973)
• agreed to remove danger of war, work on ending arms race, relax tensions through world, develop economic bonds in all fields
• good for detente

Question 6

Effects of space link up on detente

Answer 6

• 1975- USSR and US astronauts met up in space and shook hands
• symbolic handshake, showed relations improving
• good for detente

Question 7

What were the Helsinki Agreements?

Answer 7

• result of meeting in July 1974
• USA +USSR +33 other nations
• security - recognition of Europe’s frontiers, USSR accepted west Germany
• Cooperation- closer economic , scientists and cultural links, d
• Human rights- respect human rights and basic freedoms (religion, speech etc)

Question 8

Importance of Helsinki Agreements

Answer 8

• helped USA and USSR form a stable relationship

- high point of detente

Question 9

Superpower relations AFTER Helsinki Agreements

Answer 9

• 1977- new president Carter
• Carter sent letter to USSR to take stand against USSR authorities
• This was seen as an interference in Soviet internal affairs
• Human rights agreement were seen to be breached by Brezhnev and he continued to send weapons to African states in 1980
• led to Carter asking for an increase in US defence budget in 1978

Question 10

Effects of SALT 2 on detente

Answer 10

• began in 1974, signed in 1979
• limited nuclear weapons development
• worsened relations as ratification of SALT 2 didn’t happen
• NATO declined to put missiles in Europe- detente under threat

Question 11

How successful were SALT 1 and SALT 2

Answer 11

• only limited the number of warheads they had, not reduce them
• limits in ABMs, ICBMs, SLBMs and long range bombers
• reduced possibility of nuclear war by ensuring neither side had the ability to destroy all other sides nuclear weapons in one strike, meaning a system of nuclear deterrence remained