End of the Cold War Flashcards
What was Detente?
A period of improved relations between USA and USSR in the 1970s.
Why did USA and USSR need to get on better?
Both sides realised how close to war they’d come over Cuba. They also needed to cut back the amount of money they were spending on weapons.
What was SALT 1?
An agreement signed in 1972. It limited the number of ICBMs (inter continental ballistic missiles) each side could have. They also agreed that each side could spy on each other to make sure they stuck to the agreement.
What was the Helsinki Agreement?
An agreement signed by 35 countries (including USA and USSR) in 1975. They agreed to improve human rights e.g. freedom of speech and religion. USSR bought grain from USA and the West bought oil from USSR.
What other events in Detente showed USA and USSR were getting on better?
US President Nixon visited USSR and China.
US table tennis team played tournaments in China.
US and Soviet cosmonauts docked their spacecraft together in orbit.
What caused Detente to end in the late 1970s?
USA was frustrated that human rights had not improved in communist countries.
USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Why did USSR invade Afghanistan in December 1979?
They were worried that Muslim groups were taking control (as they had in Iran) and this could spread to Muslim areas of USSR.
They also wanted to use Afghanistan as a route to the oil fields of the Middle East.
What happened during the war in Afghanistan?
USSR fought Mujahideen rebels who used guerrilla tactics. The Mujahideen were supplied by USA and China.
War was unwindable for USSR. They lost 20,000 soldiers and it cost a lot of money. USSR withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988.
How did USA react to USSR invasion of Afghanistan?
Very angry. President Carter said USSR threatening world peace.
USA boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics (USSR then boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Olympics)
‘Carter Doctrine’ also stated USA would promise military aid to all countries bordering Afghanistan.
USA refused to sign SALT 2 and stopped selling grain to USSR
Detente was over.
What was the ‘Second Cold War’?
Nickname given to period of tense relations between USA and USSR. This was mainly caused by the new US President, Ronald Reagan.
What were President Reagan’s policies?
He took a tough approach to USSR: 1983, said USSR was an ‘evil empire’; he increased spending on weapons e.g. new weapons like Trident submarines and Stealth bombers; announced the ‘Reagan Doctrine’ saying USA would support anti-communist rebel groups trying to overthrow communist governments.
What was the Strategic Defence initiative (SDI)?
Reagan’s policy (nicknamed ‘Star Wars’). USA would put satellites in space with powerful lasers. These could shoot down Soviet missiles to stop them reaching USA.
Why was SDI a turning point in the arms race and the Cold War?
USSR was shocked. Their missiles would be no use now but they didn’t have the computer technology or the money to build their own SDI system. This influenced Gorbachev’s (USSR leader) ‘new thinking’.
What problems were there in USSR when Gorbachev became leader in 1985?
USSR was poor - not much industrial growth and living standards were low.
There was unrest in communist countries that was only kept in check by the secret police e.g. in Poland ‘Solidarity’ was a threat to the communists.
What was Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’?
He decided to reform communism:
1. Glasnost - there should be more openness e.g. freedom of speech.
2. Perestroika - USSR should improve their economy by allowing parts of capitalism.
3. Dropped Brezhnev Doctrine - USSR would not get involved in other communist countries. Warsaw Pact countries could make changes without interference. This was nicknamed the ‘Sinatra Doctrine’.
4. Reduced spending on weapons.
