Topic 5

Question 1

Mutually Assured Destruction

Answer 1

The belief that USA and USSR had the ability to destroy each other several times over. Neither would have survived a nuclear war. MAD would keep the peace.

Question 2

The Hotline

Answer 2

After the miscommunication during the Cuban Missile crises, a hotline was setup between USA and USSR to discuss in times of crises.

Question 3

The Limited Test Ban Treaty, 1963

Answer 3

Both countries became worried about contaminating the environment when testing bombs. USA, Britain and USSR agreed that they would not carry out nuclear weapon tests underwater or in outerspace. After 1963, 113 other countries signed the treaty

Question 4

The Outer Space Treaty, 1967

Answer 4

Stopped the arms race from reaching the moon. It stated:

Outer space exploration should be for the benefit of all countries

States should not place weapons on the moon or planets

States should avoid contamination of space

Question 5

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1968

Answer 5

Created nuclear weapon states (NWS) and non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). Many NNWS accepted because they didn’t have money or technology and they knew the importance of keeping peace

Question 6

What were the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS)

Answer 6

Soviet Union, USA, China, France, Britain

Question 7

What problems did Richard Nixon cause the USA

Answer 7

Richard Nixon cost the USA billions of dollars and 60,000 American lives in the Vietnam war, causing a shortage of money and retaliation among the American people

Question 8

Problems within the USA

Answer 8

$170 Billion dollars spent on war - less money spent on Civil Rights. USA therefore had to stop spending money on weapons and more on its people

Question 9

Consequences of USSR joining forces with China

Answer 9

It could threaten the USA. But if the USA were friendly with China, that would mean that the USSR would be forced into an agreement with the USA

Question 10

Soviet Union’s reasons for Détente

Answer 10

Soviets felt that USA was equal in nuclear power.

By discussing arms limitation, USA may recognise Soviet control over Europe.

Soviets were also suffering economically

Question 11

China and the Soviet Union

Answer 11

Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship agreed that:

Soviet Union would provide economic aid worth $300 million

Soviet military assistance would be provided if China was attacked by either Japan or the USA

Question 12

China and USA

Answer 12

After friendly ping-pong matches, USA would get invited to China for matches

Henry Kissinger, US secretary of state, negotiated the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (SALT 1)

Mao and Nixon signed the Shanghai Communique which they both agreed that Taiwan was part of China

Question 13

Ostpolitik

Answer 13

By establishing peace between East and West in Europe, other European countries would follow and establish peace

Question 14

What treaties did SALT 1 make?

Answer 14

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
The Interim Treaty

Question 15

Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty

Answer 15

ABMs were allowed at only two sites in each country

They should have a maximum of 100 missiles each

Question 16

The Interim Treaty

Answer 16

Placed restrictions on the number of ICBMs and SLBMs each country had

LIMITATION: USA found a loophole - It made MIRVs, but it did not admit it to the Soviets

Question 17

Limitations to SALT 1

Answer 17

Unrealistic to expect it to be avoided just because other countries signed a piece of paper… lol

MIRVs were a loophole and carried multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile

Question 18

Impact of SALT 1

Answer 18

Symbolic importance - USA and USSR wanted agreements and wanted to demonstrate their better relations publicly.

Negotiations also began for SALT 2 in 1974, which made agreements on matter that were not solved in SALT 1