Second Half Of The Cold War Flashcards
When did Detente emerge?
In the last 1960s and early 1970s
Why did Detente emerge? Give 4 reasons.
1) Threat of a nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis had a sobering effect on all concerned.
2) Both USA and Soviet Union were keen on arms limitations talks in order to reduce their arms defending spending.
3) After Nixon became president, it was hoped that USA improved trade and technology and made an ally of arms reduction, then Brezhnev might persuade his North Vietnamese ally to negotiate an end to the war.
4) Nixon had visited China 3 months earlier and Brezhnev did not want to see a Chinese-US alliance develop as the Soviet leader was keen to gain access to US technology.
When was SALT I?
began in 1969 and were completed in 1972
Define SALT
strategic arms limitation talks.
Give key factors of Salt I (2)
What was its significance? (2)
when was salt II?(2)
- stopped increases in any more short-range missiles.
- USA and USSR limited themselves to one ABM system each.
- it was the first agreement between the superpowers that successfully limited the number of nuclear weapons they had hence it improved relations.
- it also improved relations because the superpowers had to put trust in each other for the reason they were both limited to one ABM system each which they would both place in their capital cities, therefore, other cities and towns were vulnerable to attack yet they had to trust each other.
Salt II- 1979.
- 2250 intermediate range- USA and Ussr agreed to reduce their stocks.
- neither side fulfilled their targets due to Afghanistan Revolution
When was the Helsinki Agreements? Who signed it?
Give 3 key areas? (3 facts for each area)
-was signed in 1975. The USA and the USSR along with 33 other nations made declarations about three distinct international issues.
1) Security- recognition of Europe’s boundaries including E and W G.
- No country would interfere with the international affairs of another country and
- all disputes would be settled peacefully.
2) Co-operation- Economic co-op as USA would buy oil from USSR and USSR would buy wheat from USA.
- Scientific- sharing info and research.
- Education co-op through cultural exchanges
3) Human Rights:
- both sides would respect:
- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of info.
2 consequences of Salt treaties?
1) Tensions decreased as the USA and USSR agreed to stop producing short-range missiles and have 1 ABM system; less of a threat as they had to trust each other because the rest of the cities were vulnerable so relations improve and tensions decreased.
2) Salt treaties increased Detente and the period was more relaxed due to the arms limitation talks which meant that the countries were less hostile towards each other and increased peace.
When and why was there a revolution in Afghanistan?(2)
- 1979.
- Amin was a Communist leader who was determined to drive on with reforms that could be seen as extreme in a country such as Afghanistan such as women to not wear their headscarves and to become more literate.
- Mujahadin, Muslim rebels, rebelled against Amin and there were many outbreaks of protests such as burning down schools and colleges.
Why did Soviet get involved in Afganistan? (2)
1) Brezhnev was concerned about the growing power of Islamic fundamentalism and wanted to show the 30 million Muslims in the Soviet Union that there would be no changes in the way the Soviet Union was run.
2) Afghanistan bordered with the USSR and he did not want the violence from their country spreading into the Soviet Union as he knew the Muslim Soviets on the border would be inclined to help the other Muslims- which will essentially go against Communism so he wanted to control the chaos.
Give facts as to what Soviets did in Afghanistan.
- More than 50,000 Soviet troops were sent to Afghanistan to restore order and protect the PDPA from the Mujahideen.
- 13,000 Soviets died.
Why were USA concerned about USSR being in Afghanistan?
1) USA did not want USSR to gain access to the Middle East through Afghan.
2) Policy of Containment.
3) USA had interests in the Middle East(esp Iran) due to oil and USA had been ousted from Iran therefore there was a fear of losing power.
4) Against the ‘Helsinki Agreements’ of not interefering with another country and went against the principles of detente.
How did the US respond to the USSR invasion of Afghanistan and what did the USSR do? (4)
1) Carter Doctrine,1980- USA would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests, especially oil interests, in the Persian Gulf region and promised aid to all the countries bordering Afghanistan.
2) Carter asked the Senate to not ratify the SALT 2 Treaty.
3) Carter pressed the USOC to boycott the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and 61 countries followed example.
4) Soviet Union retaliated four years later by boycotting the LA Olympic Games
List a timeline from the revolution in Afghanistan to the boycotting of Moscow Games.
1) Communist revolution in Afghan-1978
2) USSR invaded Afghan in 1979
3) Carter issued the Carter Doctrine-1980
4) US boycotted the Moscow Olympics-1980
List reasons for the end of detente(5) from USSR and US.
USA:
1) boycotted the Moscow Olympic games in 1980-61 countries followed suit.
2) Carter stopped cultural, trade and technological exchanges with the USSR.
3) C pulled out the SALT II discussion in 1980.
4) Americans refused to stop developing MIRVs and Carter demanded radical reductions in nuclear weapons during the SALT negotiations.
5) Nixon visited Chine in 1972 and negotiated a trade agreement.
USSR:
1) Brezhnev’s worsening health left USSR without clear direction and the SALT negotiations became increasingly difficult.
2) USSR invaded Afg in 1979.
3) Did not take Helsinki human rights agreement seriously
4) Unwilling to reduce their number of ICBMs
5) USSR sent aid to the Communist government in Afghan and USA was sending aid to the Mujahideen to revolt against the Communist gov.
Was Reagan like Carter?
Reagan had a far tougher line with the Soviet than Carter as had no interest in detente and was prepared to confront the Soviet Union whenever possible. He described the Soviet Union as an ‘evil empire’ and was expressively anti-Communist.
