The End of the Cold War 1970-91: Flashpoints

Question 1

Background of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Answer 1

1968 USSR sent tanks into Czechoslovakia to put down Prague Spring, US condemned but made no action. 1979 USSR sent troops into Afghanistan, country with communist government, to take control after president assassinated. US reacted very strongly.

Question 2

Events of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Answer 2

• USSR saw Afghanistan within sphere of influence. Meant President Taraki’s government must be Soviet backed communist
• When Taraki assassinated in civil war & replaced by Hafizullah Amin, USSR felt influence threatened
• Brezhnev ordered Soviet troops to invade December 1979. Barbrak Karmal president, Amin and supporters killed
• Brezhnev wrongly believed US and Jimmy Carter wouldn’t object
• Soviet troops had to stay to keep Karmal in power, Afghan rebels Mujahideen resisted this.

Question 3

Why was carter worried about Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Answer 3

• US worried USSR would get more control in middle east
• Successful invasion might mean Soviet influence in Iran
• Iran could block Middle Easte Oil exports at straits of Hormuz. Middle East Oil essential to US

Question 4

The Carter Doctrine

Answer 4

January 1980
* Threatened to use force if USSR tried to take control of Perusian Gulf
* US imposed economic sanctions, no trade with USSR
* US, US allies, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan secretly assisted Mujahideen, Meant US and allies directly backing a war against USSR
* US ceased cooperating with USSR and began confronting it

Question 5

Consequences of End of SALT 2

Answer 5

• 1980 US broke off diplomatic relations with USSR so US senate refused to sign SALT 2
• US began to build up conventional and nuclear weapons. began developing cruise and pershing missiles for deployment in Europe
• Soviets responded by developing their own mid-range weapon the SS20 missile
• US-Soviet arms race began to speed up again

Question 6

The Olympic Boycotts

Answer 6

• US boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in retaliation of Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
• In retaliation to US boycott, USSR boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games
• Brought an end to cooperation and sporting competition between US and USSR that characterised Détente

Question 7

Consequences of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for US

Answer 7

• Many Americans no longer trust USSR
• Helped lead to election of Reagan November 1980. Anti-communist and hard-line towards USSR

Question 8

Consequences of Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan in USSR

Answer 8

• Soviet troops remain in Afghanistan to keep Barbrak Karmal in power
• Troops under attack from Mujahideen, rising casualties on both sides
• Pressure on Soviet leadership to end unpopular war

Question 9

The US during the second cold war

Answer 9

• recovered after defeat in Vietnam War, after failing to stop spread of communism
• Beginning to develop information technology
• increasingly determined to stop and roll back communism
• prepared to fund anti-communist forces in Central America and Southern Africa

Question 10

The USSR in second cold war

Answer 10

• In decline, poor living standards
• Ageing leadership, Brezhnev died 1982, replaced by Andropov and then Chernyenko. All 3 over 70.
• Ageing technology in economy 20% of US
• struggling to deal with anti-communist protest in Eastern Europe, especially Poland with trade union ‘Solidarity’ demanding reforms

Question 11

Events deteriorating US-Soviet relations 1979-1984

Answer 11

• Olympic Boycotts (1980 and 1984)
• Election of anti-communist Reagan
• Increased expenditure on missiles and US Strategic Defence Initiative, USSR retaliated but couldn’t keep up with smaller economy
• on-going war in Afghanistan
• breakdown of SALT 2 Arms negotiations
• shooting down of KAL007 September 1983

Question 12

Reagan’s Strategic Defence Inintiative (SDI)

Answer 12

Previously, nuclear strategy based on MAD, if US and USSR would destroy each other too risky to start a nuclear war. But Reagan wanted to win cold war so launched SDI, AKA ‘Star Wars’, March 1983. SDI plan to have sattelites, lasers, and mirrors to destroy ICBMs before reaching US.
Badly damaged East-West relations, USSR argued it broke 1967 Outer Space Treaty and gave US decisive advantage. December 1983 Soviet negotiators walked out of Arms control talks in Geneva