The Development Of The USA (1929-2000) - The Search For World Peace Since 1970 Flashcards
What were the reasons for Detente?
USSR wanted access to to US technology
Keen to decrease defence spending
Vietnam War
Threat of nuclear war
What was the Helsinki Agreement?
Security - accepted existence of West Germany
Human rights - respect freedom of speech, movement
Cooperation - closer cultural, economic and scientific links
What does Detente mean?
A reduction in tension
What does SALT stand for?
Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty
What was SALT I?
In 1972, the first agreement between the superpowers to successfully limit the number of nuclear weapons they held. The production of strategic ballistic missiles was stopped. Submarines carrying nuclear weapons were to only be introduced when existing stocks of intercontinental ballistic missiles became obsolete.
What was agreed to in 1975 as part of the Helsinki Agreement?
33 nations agree to:
Security - recognition of Europes frontiers and USSR accept West Germany
Human Rights - respect of basic freedoms such as thought, speech, religion and freedom from unfair arrest
Cooperation - economic, scientific and cultural links - closer political agreement
What were the four terms of SALT II in June 1979?
Limit of 2400 strategic nuclear delivery vehicles
Limit of 1320 multiple independently targetable re entry vehicles
Ban on construction of land based intercontinental ballistic missiles
Lasts until 1985 when it will be reviewed
What caused US Senate to refuse SALT II?
Oviedo invasion of Afghanistan in Dec 1979
What does Ping Pong diplomacy refer to?
Detente
Changing relations between US and China
Who was the leader of China?
Chairman Mao Zedong 1949-1976
People’s Republic of China had been communist since 1949
Who was the leader of the USA from 1969-1974?
President Richard Nixon
“If there is anything I want to do before I die, it is to go to China”
What had the relationship between China and the USA been like?
Difficult relations since communist revolution in 1947
Nixon hoped Chinese could help end Vietnam War
He hoped to split USSR and China
Relations had worsened between USSR and China in the late 1960s and Nixon hoped to exploit this
What was Ping-Pong diplomacy literally?
US team invited to play in China
Americans see it as a low stakes sport
Dominates news, takes spotlight off Vietnam
What is the result of Ping Pong diplomacy?
Lift a trade embargo
Vietnam war ends
UN
Nixon goes to China, first visit by US President in 22 years
What made the Soviets get involved in Afghanistan?
Brezhnev wanted to show 30 million USSR Muslims that there would be no changes to how the USSR was run
Saw Islamic fundamentalism as a threat
Dec 1979 - Jan 1980 - sent 50,000 troops to protect PDPA in Afghanistan
Why did President Carter take such a firm approach with the USSR?
Saw it as a stepping stone to possible Soviet control of West’s oil supplies
Carter was under pressure after Iran hostages
Hoped to improve relations with China
Already seen as weak
What happened to create a crisis in Afghanistan?
On 27 April 1978 PDPA (communist) overthrew Afghan government
Nur Mohammad Taki becomes PM of Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Traditional elite imprisoned, tortured and murdered, creating instability
Deputy PM Amin seizes power
Afghan Muslims declare a holy war on Amin (Mujahideen) using guerrilla tactics
What was Carter’s firm approach?
USA would use military force if necessary in the Persian Gulf region
Would provide military aid to Afghanistans border countries
Asked Senate to delay SALT II
USA cancel all shipments of grain to USSR and couldn’t send technology
US Olympic Committee boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics along with 61 other countries
What were Reagan’s beliefs?
No interest in detente
Called the USSR the evil empire
Believed that the USSR could be forced to disarm
What was the Strategic Defence Initiative also known as?
Star Wars Program
What equipment would the SDI involve?
Lasers
Space
Nuclear missiles
Sattelites
How would the SDI work?
Nuclear umbrella preventing Soviet bombs from reaching USA
Satellites with powerful lasers would intercept Soviet missiles and destroy them
It would render Soviet missiles useless, forcing them to disarm
Why did the SDI work?
Soviet leaders knew that they could not compete
They were behind USA in technology and didn’t have enough money
Deteriorated relations
What were the strategies under Gorbachev and Reagan?
Glasnost
Perestroika
Ended arms race with USA and signed agreements to do this
Stopped Soviet interference in European satellite states such as Poland
