End of Cold War

Question 1

What was Detente?

Answer 1

A period of peace between two groups that were previously at war or hostile to each other.

Question 2

Why did USA and Soviet Union follow a policy of Detente?

Answer 2

Internal reasons:

• Nixon was elected president of the USA. The Vietnam War had killed almost 60000 Americans and billions of dollars had been spent. The US government wanted to focus on social problems and inequalities, especially due to urban rioting in many US cities.
• The Soviet Union was facing economic problems and wanted to cut spending on weapons so that it could try to improve living standards.

Question 3

What was SALT 1 and when did it take place?

Answer 3

The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty 1 signed in May 1972. It agreed to limit Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles, Submarine Launched ballistic missiles and Anti-Ballistic Missiles between countries.

Question 4

Give three areas of agreement set out at SALT 1.

Answer 4

• Limited the number of ICBMs each country could have. 1054 USA and 1618 Soviet Union (USA had more strategic bombers).
• Limited SLBMs to 740 each.
• Also include the Basic Principles Agreement that alid down rules for the conduct of nuclear warfare such as no warheads on seabed.

Question 5

What were the Helsinki Accords and when were they signed?

Answer 5

Signed in 1975, NATO and Warsaw Pact countries met to build on SALT 1 and make agreements on three areas.

Question 6

What three areas was the agreement about?

Answer 6

European borders, international cooperation and human rights.

Question 7

What was SALT 2 and when did it happen?

Answer 7

To build on SALT 1, talks towards SALT 2 continued until 18th June 1979.

Question 8

What were the two agreements at SALT 2?

Answer 8

Restrictions on missile launchers and strategic bombers as well as a ban on testing or deploying new types of ICBM.

Question 9

What events during the late 1970s helped ensure SALT 2 was a faliure?

Answer 9

Some US politicians called for a stronger stance against the Soviet Union in response to an increase in Soviet support in countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua. Also, the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan.

Question 10

What were two consequences of SALT 1?

Answer 10

Symbolic importance of improving US-Soviet relations. Also, shortly after signing SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow, and in 1973 the Soviet leader can to Washington.

Question 11

Name two reforms introduced by Gorbachev to improve the Communist party.

Answer 11

Perestroika and Glasnost.

Question 12

Describe Glasnost.

Answer 12

There should be more openness and less corruption in government. It would allow opposition to the government and give people better understanding of how the country was run.

Question 13

Describe Perestroika.

Answer 13

The Soviet state and economy should be reformed in order to include some of the practicies that made capitalism successful.

Question 14

Give two other examples of how Gorbachev attempted to reduce tension with USA.

Answer 14

• Signed various arms reduction agreements.

- Stopped Soviet interference in Eastern European satellite states such as Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Question 15

GIve an example of a successful summit meeting that took place 1985-1990 to discuss arms limitation.

Answer 15

Washington, December 1987.

Question 16

What did the INF Treaty in 1987 eliminate?

Answer 16

Nuclear and ground launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500-5500km (eg. intermediate and short range missiles).

Question 17

What were the USA and USSR allowed to do under the INF treaty?

Answer 17

Inspect each other’s mlitary installations.

Question 18

Give one reason why the INF Treaty was significant?

Answer 18

It was the first treaty to reduce the number of nuclear missiles the superpowers possessed. Went further than SALT 1.

Question 19

Where is Afghanistan?

Answer 19

Afghanistan is in the Middle East, Specifically the Persian Gulf. It is bordered by the Soviet Union, Pakistan and Iran.

Question 20

What happened in Afghanistan 1978-1980?

Answer 20

A Pro-Soviet government took control in Afghanistan, and recieved assistance from Moscow. This goverment became unpopular, and pro-Muslim factions tried to overthrow the puppet-leader, Amin. In 1979 the USSR invaded Afghanistan.

Question 21

What was America’s reaction to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 21

Carter claimed this was the biggest threat to world peace since the end of the second world war. He withdrew the SALT 2 proposal and stated that the USA would repel any threat to American Interests in the Persian Gulf. This became known as the Carter Doctrine.

Question 22

What impact did the Afghanistan War have on the Soviet Union?

Answer 22

Relations became more confrontational, which effectivly destroyed detente. Economic sanctions were imposted on the USSR by the USA.

Question 23

Which olympics did the USA boycott and why?

Answer 23

The 1980 Moscow Olymic games due to the invasion of Afghanistan. Over 60 nations supported the Boycott. The Soviet Union had been hoping to use the Olympic games as a means to promote communism to the world.

Question 24

Which Olympics did the Soviet Union boycott and why?

Answer 24

The USA’s LA Olympics 1984, in response to the Moscow Boycott. 15 communist countries stayed away.

Question 25

Give three examples of Reagans Policies towards the Soviet Union.

Answer 25

• Persuaded congress to boost America’s spending on arms. In 1982, 13% more money was spent. New weapons like submarines were developed.
• He announced the “Reagan Doctrine”, the USA would support anti-communist governments and anti-communist groups trying to overhthrow communist governments.
• SDI (Strategic Defence Initiative): Star Wars was a scheme giving money to putting weapons in Space. This violated the terms of the 1967 INF treaty. It was years from being a possibility but Reagan spoke about it like a present reality.

Question 26

What was the “Second Cold War”?

Answer 26

The deterioation of relations between the USA and USSR after the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, which led to a period of increased hostilities between ther two nations.

Question 27

What problems did the Soviet Union have in the early 1980s?

Answer 27

• Economic: During the Brezhnev era, huge sums of money were spent developing arms to keep pace with the USA. Investment in the USSR’s economy was low.
• Low standards of living and lack of human rights, which led to unrest in Satellite states (Poland).

Question 28

When did Gorbachev come to power?

Answer 28

March 1985.

Question 29

What did Gorbachev do with the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Answer 29

The Brezhnev Doctrine would be dropped. The Soviet Union would no longer get involved in the domestic affairs of other countries.

Question 30

What limitations on Nuclear weapons were made 1985-1989?

Answer 30

• INF

- Malta summit in 1989 was officially seen as the end of the Cold War by both countries.

Question 31

Name three Satellite States that moved to end Soviet Control in (1989-90). Describe how each country did this.

Answer 31

-Poland: Solidarity legalised and wins a landslide victory in Polish elections.
-Hungary: The government takes down the fence on the border with Austria. It promises a new democratic governement with free elections.
Czechoslovakia: The Velvet Revolution overthrows the communist revolution. The anti-communist Vaclav Havel is elected president.

Question 32

What was the Berlin Wall?

Answer 32

A fortified wall which divided East Berlin from West Berlin.

Question 33

Describe the fall of the Berlin Wal?

Answer 33

The East German government announced that the border crossing to West Berlin would be opened. Thousands of East Berliners forced their way through the border crossing. People on both sides of the Wall started to pull it down. East and West Germany were formally reunited in 1990.

Question 34

What was the Warsaw Pact and why did it end?

Answer 34

A military pact between different Soviet states. As communist governments came under pressure in Eastern Europe it was impossible for the Warsaw Pact to survive. Military co-operation between the member states became impossible.

Question 35

When did the Warsaw Pact end?

Answer 35

Formally dissolved in July 1991.

Question 36

When did Gorbachev fall from power?

Answer 36

25th December 1991.

Question 37

How did Gorbachev fall from power?

Answer 37

In 1991, the communist hardliners staged a coup aggainst Gorbachebvv. 12 leaders of the other Soviet Socialist Republics took advantage of Gorbachev’s weakness and joined together in a commonwealth of independent states. Gorbachev resigned.