Unit 3.2 - 1979 - 84 The SECOND Cold War

Question 1

Flashpoints in US-Soviet relations

Answer 1

1. The Afghan War
2. Olympic Boycotts
3. Reagan
4. SDI

Question 2

Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan?

Answer 2

1. In Iran, revolutionists depose the Shah and established a Muslim fundamentalist government.
2. Afghanistan = buffer zone between Iran and Soviet Union.
3. Moscow was determined not to let Muslim fundamentalists endanger communism and spread across its borders.
4. Amin, a Muslim fundamentalist, staged a coup that toppled the pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan.
5. Brezhnev hears rumours that Amin was discussing American Support with President Carter.
6. Soviets claim that they were invited to Afghanistan to support Amin’s government against terrorists.
7. Amin assassinated by Soviet commandos and replaced by pro-Soviet Kamal.
8. The Soviets occupied Afghanistan for almost 10 years after this, fighting opponents of Kamal.

Question 3

How did President Carter react to the Afghan War?

Answer 3

• Believed that this was an example of Soviets trying to spread communism through violence.
• “biggest threat to world peace since WW2”
• Withdrew the SALT 2 proposal and increased spending on arms in order to intimidate.
• Ultimately ends Detente

Question 4

What was the Carter Doctrine?

Answer 4

US would repel by force, if necessary, any threat to American interests in the Persian Gulf.

The Doctrine was modelled on the Truman Doctrine and Carter began sending military aid to the Mujahideen (Muslim fundamentalists) and imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union.

Question 5

Economic Sanctions meaning

Answer 5

measures taken to damage a country’s economy

Question 6

What was the impact of the Afghan war on USA-USSR relations?

Answer 6

1. increased tensions
2. ended detente
3. SALT 2 discussions ended
4. USA spent more money on weapons and the USSR in the Afghan war - fuelled the arms race
5. Carter Doctrine
6. Second Cold War

Question 7

The Olympic Boycotts: 1980 Moscow Olympic Games

Answer 7

The USA + over 60 nations that supported the US boycott.

The USSR wanted to use the Olympics as a way to promote communism to a huge television audience.

Question 8

The Olympic Boycotts: 1984 Los Angeles

Answer 8

USSR and all satellite states boycott

Question 9

Impact of the Olympic Boycotts on US-USSR relations

Answer 9

The boycotts fit into this Second Cold War context. The USA and the Soviet Union openly discredited each other’s political leadership. The boycotts brought politics into the Olympics. This went against the institution’s aims for unity and friendship.2

Increased tensions

Question 10

What was SDI?

Answer 10

Strategic Defence Initiative: Star Wars

Place a series of satellites in orbit - carry powerful lasers that could shoot down Soviet missiles and prevent them from harming the USA.

Question 11

SDI went against the terms of the…

Answer 11

outer space treaty

Question 12

Although the SDI was not yet a reality…

Answer 12

Reagan spoke of it as though it was (bluffing)

Question 13

What impact did SDI have on US-USSR relations?

Answer 13

Soviet Union under pressure - would have to spend huge sums to create their own SDI - but the Soviet economy was not strong enough - felt deflated/inferior

The Soviet Union had devoted huge resources to catching up with American missile technology. Now their missiles would be redundant and a new system was needed.