The End Of The Cold War Flashcards
When did America withdraw from Vietnam?
1972
What did the Helsinki agreement state in 1975?
It recognised soviet control over Eastern Europe, promised to respect human rights and they recognised the official borders.
How did the USA mend relations with China?
In 1971 the US dropped its veto and China was allowed to join the UN.
What caused détente?
After the Vietnam war, the USA wanted to stay out of world affairs and the arms race was very expensive for both superpowers.
What was the problem with the non-proliferation treaty?
It did not stop other countries from developing nuclear weapons.
When did American astronauts and soviet cosmonauts shake hands in space?
1975
What was SDI?
The point of the programme was to develop an anti-ballistic missile system through putting up lasers in space so that the USA could prevent nuclear attacks.
When was SDI introduced?
1983
Why did SDI make tensions increase?
It went against what had been discussed in SALT and the USSR became worried as if this idea were to succeed, the idea of MAD would not exist anymore which would leave the USSR vulnerable.
When did the USSR invade Afghanistan?
1979
Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan?
It wanted to prop up a communist government there as there were many Muslims in Russia and the USSR did not want a rebellion against communism. It wanted to expand its ideology into the Middle East.
Who were the USSR fighting and why?
They were fighting the Mujahideen as they were strongly religious and communism did not allow religion.
Why did America boycott the Olympics in 1980?
Due to the soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
How did the USA react to the USSR placing missiles in Eastern Europe?
The is military developed missiles in retaliation to the SS20 missiles.
How did president carter criticise the Soviet Union?
He criticised the imprisonment and arrest of people who opposed the government.
When did Ronald Reagan become president?
1980
What was reagan’s attitude to the USSR?
He called it an evil empire as he was strongly anti-communist.
What was the effect of Reagan spending more money on arms?
Some poorer Americans had their welfare cut, it increased tensions as a nuclear war seemed to be on the horizon and missiles were being placed in Europe as if they were ready to attack.
How did the USA retaliate to the soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
They supplied the Mujahideen with weapons.
Why were the mujahideen difficult to defeat?
The money they had meant that they got more recruits so they were bigger in numbers and they used the mountainous terrain to their advantage which the red army struggled to cope with.
When did Brezhnev die?
1982
What factors led to relations between the USA and USSR worsening between 1979-1983?
SDI, placing of missiles in Europe and Reagan increasing the spending on weapons and the soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
What does MAD stand for?
Mutually assured destruction
Why did the USSR boycott the Olympics in LA in 1984?
As the USA had boycotted their Olympics in1980.