The end of the Cold War 1970-91

Question 1

What was the outerspace treaty 1967

Answer 1

Superpowers agreed that no nuclear weapons would be placed in space

Question 2

What was the non Proliferation treaty 1968

Answer 2

Superpowers agreed not to supply nuclear weapons or information to other states.

Question 3

What was SALT 1 1972

Answer 3

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty-Imposed limits on nuclear capability of both Superpowers

No further production of strategic ballistic missiles

Agreements on nuclear submarines

Question 4

What was the significance of SALT 1 1972

Answer 4

it was the first agreement to limit their nuclear weapons and showed they were able to co-operate on important issues.

Question 5

What was the Helsinki Conference 1975

Answer 5

Agreed greater co-operation in terms;

economy and trade,

Security and country boundaries

Human Rights – freedoms of speech, religion etc.

Question 6

What was the Apollo-Soyuz Mission 1975

Answer 6

Joint space mission shows co-operation in space exploration. An improved relationship and a change to the 1960s space rivalry

Question 7

What was the importance of the soviet invasion of afghanistan

Answer 7

Signalled the end of détente

Significantly worsened US-Soviet relations (e.g. Moscow Olympic boycott, breakdown of trade, Carter Doctrine)

Led to a disastrous war for the USSR that lasted 10 years

Question 8

What was the carter doctrine

Answer 8

President carter made it clear that the us would not allow the soviets to gain control of territory in the middle east

Question 9

What did president carter do as a react to the invasion of afghanistan

Answer 9

Formed alliances with china and Israel

To support Afghan rebels ( CIA supplied Mujahideen)

Ended diplomatic relations with the USSR

Question 10

What happened at the olympics of 1980 and 1984

Answer 10

Us led a boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and held their own games , USSR retaliated at LA in 1984

Question 11

When was the evil empire speech

Answer 11

March 1983

Question 12

What was the evil empire speech

Answer 12

In a speech in Reagan called the Soviet Union ‘The Evil Empire’.

Felt he could ‘win’ the Cold War by putting pressure on the Soviets

Question 13

What is SDI

Answer 13

Strategic Defence Initiative

Announced ability to shoot down Soviet missiles using lasers in space, giving the USA a huge advantage in the Arms race

Question 14

What are 4 affect of SDI on the relationship between USA and USSR

Answer 14

SDI broke from detente

USSR had fallen behind the US in terms of computer technology vital to the development of SDI

SDI was a turning point before the 2 sides had been evenly matched

The soviet economy could not support the development of space-based weapons

Question 15

What was the role Gorbachev in 1985-1991

Answer 15

He saw the problems in the USSR clearly

He realised the the USSR economy was nearly bankrupt

The Chernobyl disaster was a sign of crisis in the soviet system

He planned to revive communism through Glasnost and Perestroika

More prepared to speak to the USA

Question 16

What was Glasnost

Answer 16

openness (more freedom for people in the Soviet states)

Question 17

What was Perestroika

Answer 17

restructuring of Soviet economy

Question 18

What was the agreements made at the Geneva summit in 1985

Answer 18

No formal agreement made but Reagan and

Gorbachev began to develop a constructive relationship.

Question 19

What was the agreements made at the Reykjavik summit in 1986

Answer 19

No major decisions made – disagreements about ballistic missiles and SDI.

Question 20

What was the agreements made at the Washington summit in 1987

Answer 20

INF Treaty Very significant as it reduced the number of missiles that both sides had. All missiles with a range of 500-5500 km eliminated.
First time agreement on REDUCING missiles

Question 21

What lead to the Collapse of Communism in E Europe 1989

Answer 21

Gorbachev’s reforms (e.g. withdrawing troops) led to increased desire for more change and communist regimes across E Europe collapsed.

Question 22

What lead to the Fall of the Berlin Wall, November 1989

Answer 22

After collapse of Hungarian communist government people started leaving E Germany through Hungary. This forced the E German government to open the Berlin Border and when this was announced people flooded to the wall and began dismantling it. This was broadcast around the world and was a hugely significant event.

Question 23

What lead to the Fall of the Soviet Union 1991

Answer 23

After a coup (‘The gang of Eight’) against Gorbachev failed in August, he tried to save Communism by introducing a new constitution.

This was never accepted and he officially announced his resignation and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December.
This finally signalled the end of the Cold War.