Unit 8.8 - The End of the Cold War Flashcards
Détente
The relaxation of strained relations between countries
Examples (3) of détente between the Soviet Union and US
President Nixon visited Russia and signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty with Leader Brezhnev to halt the amount of missiles each had. In addition, Nixon visited China and sent grain shipments to the USSR to ease tensions directly with the Soviet Union and through helping their tense relationship with China
Effect of Soviet-Afghan War on the Soviet Union
It undermined Soviet legitimacy and Afghanistan developed new ways of participating politically. By the end, the war had put a strain on the Soviet Union’s economic system and left their leadership vulnerable to attempts to reform
Actions President Ronald Reagan took to increase tensions between the Soviets and US
He called the Soviet Union the evil empire and sent military aid to help the Afghans
What helped bring an end to the Cold War?
U.S. military technological developments
Example (1) of U.S. Military Technological Developments
Presiden Ronald Regan proposed the idea of a defense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, or Star Wars) which would destroy any Soviet missiles targeting the US or its allies. It caused conflict in the Soviet Union as liberal Soviets wanted reforms but this would be very expensive to combat, which would strengthen the hand of conservative Soviets.
What, within the Soviet Union, caused the end of the Cold War?
Public discontent and economic weakness
Mikhail Gorbachev
A leader of the Soviet Union more progressive than the rest and whose principles would ultimately allow for economic reform in the USSR and in return other countries also to gain more freedom such as Germany.
Perestroika
Attempts to restructure Russia’s economy to allow for elements of free enterprise
Glasnost
A policy that would open up Russia’s society and give them more political freedom
“One aspect of Gorbachev’s reform program was an ______ to economic support for Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe”
end
“Gorbachev also implied that Soviet Army would _____ _____ come to the rescue of communist regimes in Eastern Europe”
no longer
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)
A treaty signed by Ronald Regan and Gorbachev that restricted intermediate (between) nuclear weapons
