Rise and Fall of 'Detente Era' 1963-84 - Know It!

Question 1

Name the 4 main causes of detente

Answer 1

1. Distracted Superpowers
2. Fear of Nuclear War
3. Independent European Initiatives
4. Soviet Economic Weakness

Question 2

Explain why ‘Distracted Superpowers’ helped to cause detente

Answer 2

The US and USSR needed to stabilise relations in Europe because they were dealing with other conflicts:

• The Sino-Soviet Conflict
• The Vietnam War

The Soviets desired Western acceptance of their eastern Empire

Question 3

How did ‘Fear of Nuclear War’ help to cause detente?

Answer 3

Because of the arms race there was now mutually assured destruction (MAD), and following the close call of the Cuban Missile Crisis - both sides willing to negotiate to avoid nuclear war

Question 4

Explain why ‘Independent European Initiatives’ helped to cause detente

Answer 4

France and the FRG were less confident in the US’s desire to defend them, so wanted to assert their independence by:

1. France left NATO and developed the European ^_Economic Community (E^_EC) looking for USSR cooperation.
2. The FRG desire to reunify with GDR through peacful means (Ostpolitik)

Question 5

Explain why ‘Soviet Economic Weakness’ helped to cause detente?

Answer 5

Because of Khrushchev’s overspending, the USSR wanted/ needed to boost the economy by:

1. Cutting the arms race
2. Gaining access to Western consumer goods _{^{(get some butter in there)}}

Question 6

What was the US’s aim for Arms limitation?

Question 7

What has the period after the Cuban Missile Crisis up until 1975 been known as?

Why?

Answer 7

The ‘Long Peace’

Due to a stabilisation in relations that amounted to detente

Question 8

Why, despite both being Communist, did the Sino-Soviet conflict occur?

What was the specific conflict and when?

Answer 8

Mao: Thought the Soviets were appeasers of capitalism

Soviets: Felt that the Chinese wanted to overthrow them as the leading Communist state

They fought the Sino-Soviet border conflict in 1969

Question 9

To contain the spread of Communism from the North, what 2 actions had the US taken by 1966?

Answer 9

1. Placed over 500,000 troops in South Vietnam
2. Fought a bitter guerilla war with Vietcong fighters

Question 10

What was the impact of the US’s guerilla war with the Vietcong on:

1. The troops themselves?
2. The US public?
3. The US’s NATO allies?

Answer 10

1. Troops: huge loss of life and morale
2. Public: huge loss if support
3. NATO: respect (they did not support the US’s actions)

Question 11

What was the end result of the Vietnam War?

(Dates please)

Answer 11

• 1972: The US pull out of Vietnam having failed to make significant progress
• 1975: The South successfully invaded by the North (US lost)

Question 12

How did the US, in 1972, exploit the Sino-Soviet split?

(Actions + effect)

Answer 12

1972:

• US actions: President Nixon visited Mao and agreed to rapprochement in relations
• Effect: Made the USSR seek improved relations with US (to avoid being ganged up against by other two superpowers)

Question 13

When was the Test Ban Treaty signed?

What did it pledge?

Who signed it (3)?

Who didn’t (2)?

Answer 13

1963

Banned nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space

Signed by:

• USA
• Britain
• USSR

But NOT signed by:

• France
• China

Question 14

When was the Non-Proliferation Treaty signed?

What did it pledge (2)?

Who signed it (4)?

Answer 14

July 1968

Pledged:

1. Not to transfer nuclear weapons to other countries
2. Not to assist their manufacture

Signed by:

• USA
• Britain
• USSR
• FRG

Question 15

When was SALT (I) signed?

What did it pledge (2)?

What allowances did it make for the USSR

Who signed it?

Answer 15

May 1972

1. Froze construction of missile launchers, SLBMs and long-range bombers
2. They were only allowed two anti-ballistic missile screens ensuring MAD

The USSR was allowed more missiles as the US had more MIRVs that could hit multiple targets

Signed between US and USSR

Question 16

When was SALT (II) created?

What did it pledge?

Why did the US never ratify it?

Answer 16

June 1979

Pledged further arms limitations

BUT the US never ratified the Treaty because the Soviets invaded Afghanistan

Question 17

When did France withdraw from NATO?

Answer 17

In 1966

Question 18

Why did France try to weaken the USA financially in 1966?

Answer 18

1. In order to enhance national (French) prestige
2. To end the ‘bloc’ mentality of the Cold War

Question 19

What did France’s attempting to weaken the US financially almost lead to?

What was the actual result?

Answer 19

Almost led to a US withdrawal from Europe

BUT

President Johnson persuaded the Senate to maintain a presence due to his negotiations with Brezhnev over arms limitations

Question 20

How did West Germany hope to achieve their long-term goal of reuniting with the East in detente?

Answer 20

Through Ostpolitik

Question 21

Briefly define Ostpolitik

Answer 21

Recognising the division of Europe and post-war borders to gain better relations

Question 22

Which two countries did West Germany set up trade missions with in pursuit of Ostpolitik?

Answer 22

1. Yugoslavia
2. Romania

Question 23

When was the Hamel Report signed?

What did it pledge?

Was it good for detente?

Answer 23

1967

It committed NATO to defending the West

BUT

Also committed tp reaching detente with the East

So yeah - good diplomatic compromising for detente!

Question 24

What official thing did the USSR create to try to stop satellite states from creating independent initiatives with the West?

Define it

Answer 24

Through the Bucharest Declaration:

Attempted to define what the whole bloc wanted from detente

Question 25

When did Alexander Dubcek become leader of the Czech Communist Party?

Answer 25

January **1968**

Question 26

What was Dubcek's vision for the Czechoslovakian Communist system?

Answer 26

Wanted to change the system to make it more **_democratic_** and **_indepedent_** of the USSR

Question 27

What was Dubcek's programme for change called? What did it entail?

Answer 27

The '_Prague Spring_' Opened the door to **westernisation** He also **abolished censorship**, leading to **_anti-Soviet propaganda_**

Question 28

What happened in Czechoslovakia on the 20-21 August 1968?

Answer 28

**Twenty divisions** of Warsaw Pact troop **invaded** Czechosovakia and **ended** the Prague Spring

Question 29

How did Brezhnev justify the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops? What did this principle become known as?

Answer 29

_The Brezhnev Doctrine_ A **threat** to socialism in **one country** was a threat to the **others** - justified *collective intervention*

Question 30

When did Willy Brandt become Chancellor of the FRG?

Answer 30

1964

Question 31

What was Willy Brandt significant plan for foreign policy known as?

Answer 31

Ostpolitik

Question 32

How did Brandt gain support from other naitons for Ostpolitik?

Answer 32

By emphasising that he **did not wish to quit** NATO or the EC

Question 33

When was the Moscow Treaty signed? Who was it between? What did it declare? (2)

Answer 33

August **1970** FRG and USSR Declared that: 1. They had **no territorial claims** 2. The **Polish frontier** was '**invoilable**'

Question 34

How did the Moscow Treaty benefit: 1. The USSR? 2. The FRG?

Answer 34

1. The Soviets had their **Empire recognised** 2. Societs conceded that the FRG had the **right to work for unification**

Question 35

Briefly define the Warsaw and Prague Treaties?

Answer 35

Similar agreements to the _Moscow Treaty_ except for **Poland** and **Czechoslovakia** e.g. no claim to territory and borders 'invoilable'

Question 36

When was the Four-Power Treaty on Berlin signed? What did it pledge? (4)

Answer 36

September **1971** Pledged: 1. The USSR allowed **unimpeded traffic** between **West Berlin** and **FRG** 2. Recognition of **ties** between West Berlin and FRG 3. Recognition of the right of West Berliners to **visit the East** 4. USA, UK, and France agree that West Berlin **not legally part of the FRG**

Question 37

When was the Basic Treaty signed?

Answer 37

December 1972 1. The FRG recognised the GDR as an **equal and sovereign state** 2. Both FRG and GDR represented at the **UN**

Question 38

The FRG insisted that it still considered people of the GDR to be ____ \_\_\_\_, and hoped that the magnetic ____ and ____ forces of the West would draw them across

Answer 38

The FRG insisted that it still considered people of the GDR to be **German citizens**, and hoped that the magnetic **social** and **economic** forces of the West would draw them across

Question 39

When were the **Helsinki Accords** signed?

Answer 39

August **1975**

Question 40

What was in 'basket one' of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 40

1. Insistence on the **peaceful settlement** of disputes 2. Insistence on the **inviolability** of borders

Question 41

What was in 'basket two' of the Helsinki Accords? (4 bits)

Answer 41

Stressed **cooperation** in: 1. Economics 2. Science 3. Technology 4. The environment

Question 42

What was in 'basket three' of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 42

Called for **cooperation** in: 1. **Humanitarian** areas 2. **Cultural** areas

Question 43

How did hardliners like Ronald Reagan see the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 43

As a 'new Yalta' accepting **Soviet abuses**

Question 44

How did some people see the Helsinki Accords in reference to the Soviet Empire?

Answer 44

As a '**time-bomb**' at the heart of the Soviet Empire that was **undermining** it - the USSR unlikely to stick to **human rights agreements**

Question 45

How did the Soviets damage relations with the West in **1976**?

Answer 45

By placing **SS-20** medium range nuclear missiles in **central Europe**

Question 46

What happened in **1979** that spelled the end for detente? And what US response destroyed detente (date)?

Answer 46

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan _1983_: US put **Pershing and Cruise Missiles** in Europe

Question 47

What stance did Margaret Thatcher take on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 47

Same **hardline** stance taken by Reagan **against** the **USSR**

Question 48

The FRG and France were determined not to let the ____ \_\_\_\_ of _____ derail Ostpolitik

Answer 48

The FRG and France were determined not to let the **Soviet invasion of Afghanistan** derail Ostpolitik

Question 49

Where in Poland did strikes break out in the 1980s and over what?

Answer 49

In the shipyards of **Gdansk** over **price increases**

Question 50

What did the 1980s strikes in the shipyards of Gdansk over prices increases lead to? (2)

Answer 50

1. The Polish government **recognised** the _Solidarity_ movement as an **independent trade union** 2. Membership of Solidarity rose to **8 million** and it began to **dismantle** the Communist party organisation from **within**

Question 51

What was the US stance on the rise of the Solidarity movement in Poland?

Answer 51

The US warned **against Soviet intervention**, saying the Polish should be left to sort it our **themselves**

Question 52

What did the US's 'let the Polish sort themselves out back off USSR' stance on the Solidarity movement's rise lead to the new leader **Jaruzelski** doing in 1982?

Answer 52

Gave Jaruzelski green light to declare **martial law** and in October 1982 Solidarity was **outlawed**

Question 53

How did the FRG try to **maintain detente** as all this Solidarity stuff was happening in Poland? How did this compare to the US and UK?

Answer 53

Tried **not to criticise** the suppression of Solidarity - unlike **US and UK**