The end of the Cold War (1969- 1991) Flashcards
In what year did Richard Nixon become president?
1969
What year did Nixon visit China?
1972
What year did Nixon visit Moscow?
1974
What was Detente?
An easing of tensions between the USA and USSR
What does SALT stand for?
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
When was SALT signed?
May 1972
What terms were agreed through SALT?
- Anti Ballistic MIssiles would only be allowed in two
places, with a maximum of 100 missiles at each,
meaning that neither the USA or USSR would be able to
completely defend themselves from a nuclear attack
from the other - A 5 year freeze on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
(ICBMs) and Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles
(SLBMs) - Each side would be allowed to use satellites to check
if the other was obeying the rules
When was the space link up?
July 1975
What happened during the space link up?
(July 1975) - 3 US astronauts met 2 Soviet cosmonauts in
space, and the mission was broadcasted live on TV.
American and Soviet agencies shared information,
setting the stage for future cooperation
What’s the difference between an astronaut and a cosmonaut?
- (In layman’s terms) - Astronauts are American and
cosmonauts are Russian
When were the Helsinki agreements?
August 1975
What was agreed in Helsinki (1975)?
- All European borders were formally accepted, meaning
that the Soviet Union accepted West Germany, removing
the threat of Soviet invasion - There would be closer economic, scientific and cultural
links. including exchanges of ballets, orchestras and
theatre groups - There would be an increase in respect for human rights,
calling for greater respects of basic human freedoms,
e.g- speech and religion
Who signed the Helsinki agreements?
The USA, USSR and 33 other countries
Why was Brezhnev pleased with the Helsinki agreements?
They seemed to confirm Soviet domination of Eastern Europe
When was SALT II signed?
1979
What was supposed to be agreed through SALT II?
1979
- A limit of 2000 nuclear delivery vehicles for each side
- A limit of 1320 on Multiple independent Re-entry
vehicles (MIRV) for each side - A ban on construction of land based ICBM launchers
Why did SALT II affect the USA more than the USSR?
-The USSR had produced just enough weapons to go over the limits imposed by the treaty, so the USA had to destroy more weapons
How was Brezhnev internationally embarrassed through the Helsinki agreements?
- Opponents of communism in Eastern Europe started using it to criticise the lack of respect for human rights in communist countries
Why was SALT II never ratified?
- The US congress didn’t believe that the USSR would
obey the rules, and were worried about the 2000 Soviet
troops being stationed in Cuba
When was Leonid Brezhnev put into power?
1968
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
- The USSR wouldn’t allow any Warsaw pact country to
reform communism, and the Soviets had the right to
invade any country that was threatening the Eastern
Bloc
What does MIRV stand for?
Multiple independent re-entry vehicles
When was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
25th December 1979
Why did Russia support Afghanistan in 1978?
Communist Taraki had seized power and installed a communist government
How did Amin trigger the USSR into invading Afghanistan?
Politician Hafizullah Amin arranged for the murder of PM Taraki in September 1979, seizing control of Afghanistan, as well as beginning discussions with the USA.
This alarmed the USSR as they didn’t want American influence on their Southern border
Describe the events of the Afghan invasion
On the 24th December 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, killed Amin, and installed the pro Moscow leader - Babrak Kamal
Who was put as leader of Afghanistan after Amin’s assassination?
Babrak Kamal
Why was Afghanistan an important country for the superpowers?
- Oil trade was important for the USA
- Its borders served as a buffer zone for Russia
What type of reforms did Taraki bring?
- Communist ideologies
- Women’s rights
- Muslim intellectuals imprisoned/ tortured/ killed
Why did many Afghans disagree with Amin’s reforms?
They went against Islamic ideals
Why did the Soviets struggle in Afghanistan
The USA assisted Islamic fundamentalists with weapons and radios
- they werent used to fighting on deserted and mountainous land
Who were the Mujahideen?
Warlords committed to stopping the Soviets
What is a Jihad?
A holy war
Which Afghan group declared a Jihad
The Mujahideen
What were guerilla tactics?
Ambushes, sabotages, raids, “petty warfare”
What were the reasons for Soviet intervention in Afghanistan?
- To protect the PDPA from the Mujahideen
- Stop the spread of Islamic fundamentalism
- Prop up a friendly communist government
- Protect Soviet oil production
- Prevent American occupation of countries near the
USSR
How many Soviet troops were sent to Afghanistan between the 25th December 1979 and 1st January 1980?
- Over 50000
What was the PDPA?
- The People’s Democratic Party Of Afghanistan
(communist party)
When was Jimmy Carter elected?
1977
What was Jimmy Carter’s military response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
- The USA promised military aid to all countries that
bordered Afghanistan - They created the rapid deployment force, which was a
military force that could intervene anywhere in the world
at short notice - Called for a draft registration of 18-29 year olds so they
could be called up to join the army - Assistance given to the Mujahideen by using the CIA to secretly supply weapons to them
What was Jimmy Carter’s economic response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
- Cancelled all shipments of grain to the USSR,
forbidding American companies from selling technology
in the USSR - Boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympic games, 61 other
countries followed
When were the Moscow Olympics?
Summer 1980
What was the rapid deployment force?
A US military force that could be deployed anywhere in
the world at short notice
When was Ronald Reagan put into power?
1981
Who was Soviet leader after Brezhnev?
Yuri Andropov (1982-1984)
What phrase did Reagan use in a speech to the British house of commons in 1982 to describe the USSR?
He called them an “evil empire” and “the focus of evil in the modern world”
What was the Second Cold War?
A period in the 1980s when tensions between the USA and USSR increased again
How did Yuri Andropov respond to Reagan’s 1982 speech condemning the USSR?
He called him a “liar” and “insane”, with Moscow comparing Reagan to Hitler and saw him as provoking war
When was the SDI announced?
1983
What did SDI stand for?
Strategic defence initiative
What was the SDI?
A plan for a land and space based anti ballistic missile system to protect the USA from missiles using satellites and lasers, nicknamed “Star Wars”
How did Andropov respond to the SDI?
- He accused the USA of preparing a first strike attack on
the USSR - Asserted that Reagan was inventing new plans to
unleash a nuclear war in Europe in the best way, “in the
hope of winning it”
How did the SDI affect the USSR?
- They realised that they would have to spend more
money to counter the SDI - The Soviet economy was in ruin, and arms spending
could’ve caused their economy to collapse - They were behind in computer technology, while the
American computer market boomed in the 1980s - They were being pressured by Reagan to pull out of the
space race
What was evidence of Reagan’s increased military spending against the USSR?
- The USA began to develop the neutron bomb which
aimed to cause maximum loss of life, with minimum
damage to property - The USA spent $550b a year on conventional and
nuclear weapons, the USSR couldn’t match this
spending
When was Mikhael Gorbachev put in power?
March 1985
What two policies were part of Gorbachev’s “new thinking”?
Glasnost & Perestroika
What was Glasnost?
“Openness” - More freedom of speech and removal of
censorship
In Russia
What was Perestoika?
“Restructuring” - Reformed government and economy
In Russia
What were some examples of Glasnost?
- Censorship of press was relaxed, previously banned
literature was allowed, the media began to show
problems that the government had previously covered
up - Previously, anti-communism had been declared a
mental illness, and those who opposed it were locked
in mental asylums. Gorbachev released all of these
people, as well as thousands of other political prisoners - Gorbachev made it clear that expressing alternative
political views would no longer be a crime, hoping that
the Soviet people would support his reforms through
allowing open discussions - Information about Stalin’s crimes in the 1930s and 40s
were revealed for the first time, bringing negative
aspects of the USSR into the spotlight, undermining the
faith of the public in the Soviet system - Gorbachev was the first Soviet leader to visit factories,
supermarkets and even people in their homes, he was a
man of the people
When did the US congress refuse to ratify SALT II?
1980
What were some examples of Perestroika?
- The new constitution removed the Communist Party’s
right to be the only party in the USSR and allowed other
political parties.
- Gorbachev changed the Soviet government to include a parliament (Congress of People's Deputies) and a president.
- Previously, all businesses in the USSR had been owned
by the government. Gorbachev changed the law to
allow private businesses ownership in service and manufacturing
sectors. - The first free elections were held throughout the Soviet
Union in 1989, with voters being allowed a choice of
different candidates for the first time. - Foreign companies were allowed to open branches for
the first time ever; the first Soviet branch of McDonalds
opened in 1990
When did Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Geneva?
November 1985
What happened at the 1985 Geneva summit?
- Reagan stated that he wouldn’t give up his commitment
to the “star wars” defence system - Although nothing concrete was agreed, they did agree:
- To speed up arms talks
- Walk towards the abolition of chemical weapons
- Be more active on human rights issues
- Meet again in the future
When did Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Reykjavik?
1986
What happened at the 1986 Reykjavik summit?
- The meeting collapsed quickly, despite the two leaders
agreeing to huge reductions in nuclear arsenals including cutting ICBMs by 50%, they
became deadlocked on the issue of restricting Star
Wars - Reagan refused to give up SDI
Where was Gorbachev and Reagan’s 1986 summit?
Reykjavik
Where was Gorbachev and Reagan’s November 1985 summit?
Geneva
When was the INF treaty signed?
1987
What was agreed through the INF treaty?
- Stopped nuclear and ground launched ballistic missiles
and cruise missiles with a range between 500 and 5500
miles - Both parties were allowed to inspect each other’s
military installations
( Gorbachev had decided that he would sign a treaty
even if the USA didn’t stop the SDI as he needed to
stop making expensive nuclear weapons due to the
problems with the Russian economy )
How did the INF treaty benefit relations between the US and USSR?
- Paved the way for peace as well as future agreements,
including START I in 1991, also making Gorbachev more
popular in the West
What was START I?
- The Treaty for Reduction and Limitation of Strategic
Arms, leading to the destruction of over 6,000 nuclear
warheads
What does the INF treaty stand for?
The Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty
What was the Sinatra Doctrine?
Gorbachev’s policy that all Eastern European countries could be allowed to choose their own government
When was the Sinatra Doctrine?
1989 - Gorbachev uses it jokingly in a speech
When did Gorbachev withdraw forces from Afghanistan,
ending the Afghan conflict?
1989
How and when did Communism fall in East Germany?
- In October 1989, Gorbachev tells East Germany that
Soviet troops wouldn’t put down East German
demonstrations.
[23rd Oct] - 300000 people protest in Leipzig
[4th Nov] - 1 million people protest in East Berlin
[9th Nov] - Berlin Wall is opened
[3rd Oct 1990] - Germany is reunified into one country
What date was the Berlin Wall opened?
9th November 1989
What date were East and West Germany reunited
3rd October 1990
How did communism fall in Czechoslovakia?
- Reforms known as the “Velvet Revolution” were
orchestrated by a group called the Civic Forum. - People power was the driving force and there was little
violence, the government was forced to respond to
calls for reformation, and Vaclav Havel was elected in
1989
How did communism fall in Poland?
- Poland experienced strikes and free elections in 1989
- “Solidarity” was the party that dethroned communism,
which was a trade union based party, electing
Mazowiecki as their PM
How did communism fall in Hungary?
- Reforms came from within the Hungarian party itself,
encouraged by Gorbachev - Reformers sacked their president, and free elections
were held in 1990, won by the Democratic Forum; a
Hungarian Republic was proclaimed
Describe the events of the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany
[1989] - Demonstrations occurred in East Germany calling for a change in the system of government.
[May 1989] - Hungary then opens their borders with
Austria. East Germans then crossed the border into Hungary to get into West Germany.
[Oct 1989] - Gorbachev visits East Germany and states that the USSR would no longer interfere with their international affairs
[4th Nov 1989] - Largest demonstration in East German history occurs with over 1 million people gathering in East Berlin demanding free elections and democracy
[9th Nov 1989] - East German government announces the opening of the border crossing into West Germany. and people begin destroying the Berlin Wall
[3rd Oct 1990] - East and West Germany formally reunited
[1991] - Germany joins NATO and Warsaw pact is dissolved
What year did Germany join NATO
1991
In what year was the Warsaw Pact dissolved
1991
How many republics was the USSR made up of
15
Who was the first ever democratically elected president of the USSR?
Boris Yeltsin
What was the population of the USSR compared to the whole of the Russia?
USSR = 200million Russia = 148million
What year was the August coup
1991
Describe the events of the August coup
- In August of 1991, a group of hard lined communists
arrested Gorbachev, and sent tanks into Moscow to take
over the city. - They declared on TV that they were reversing
Gorbachev’s policies, however they did not have the
support of the people. - Boris Yeltsin lead resistance to the communists,
bringing people to the streets in protest - the
communists gave up - On the 26th December 1991, Gorbachev signed a
declaration bringing the USSR to an end, giving all
Eastern bloc countries independence
why did the USSR lose public support after the invasion of Afghanistan
because the Soviet people were angry at falling living standards, which had deteriorated as a direct result of high spending in Afghanistan
why did the Afghanistan invasion embarrass Brezhnev
- it undermined the USSRs strong military reputation
- in January 1980, the UN condemned the invasion
- in 1980, the USA and over 50 other countries boycotted the Moscow olympics in protest to the Soviet Afghan war
What were some consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan
- superpowers began to move away from Detente
- Brezhnev was internationally embarassed
- Soviets lost public support
- tensions between the US and USSR began to resurface
- Cater doctrine introduced
why did Carter stop the SALT 2 treaty from being debated in the senate
- because he saw the Afghanistan invasion as an act of Communist expansionism
- he was also worried that the USSR was trying to gain influence over the Persian Gulf, close to the Afghan border. This oil rich area had close economic ties with the West, Carter thought that the Soviet influence threatened US interests there
When did east and west germany become one
oct 1990
what was the symbolism of the unification of Germany
- showed the decline of Communism
- showed that Europe was no longer ideologically divided between east and west
consequences of detente
- Arms race was expensive and both sides began to realise that money for nuclear weapons would be better spent to improve living conditions at home
- In 1972, SALT 1 was signed by Nixon and Brezhnev and the agreement restricted the number of ICBMs both sides could have
- In 1975, American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts met and symbolically shook hands in space
what happened between 1977 and 79 that made relations spur a bit during detente
the USSR began to replace its out of date nuclear missiles in Eastern Europe with SS-20 missiles (a new type of battlefield nuclear weapon)
- This led the west to believe that the Soviets had not abandoned the idea of nuclear war or Expansionism in Europe
- USA responded by developing Cruise missiles and arms race was back on
What was the Carter doctrine?
Stated that the US was extending its policy of containment and said that the USA was prepared to use force to stop any country from gaining control over the oil-rich states of the Middle East
