Why did the Cold War end? Flashcards
Outer Space Treaty
Created in 1967, where superpowers agreed that no nuclear weapons would be placed in space
Non Proliferation Treaty
Created in 1968, superpowers agreed not to supply nuclear weapons or information to other states
Salt 1
Created in 1972, imposed limits on nuclear capability of both Superpowers, significant as it was the first agreement to limit their nuclear weapons.
Helsinki Conference
Created in 1975, agreed greater co-operation in terms of trade, fighting terrorism and human rights and stabilised the USA and USSR’s relationship in Europe
Apollo-Soyuz Mission
Created in 1975, this joint space mission showed co-operation in space exploration
Kabul Revolution
Occurred in 1978, new communist president Taraki became an allu of USSR. The unstable new government in Afghanistan eventually led to civil war.
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Occurred in 1979, Brezhnev ordered a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to help the communists retain control in Afghanistan. USA saw this as a clear act of aggression
Moscow Olympics
Occurred in 1980, USA led a boycott of the Olympics in protest at Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Leadership problems(USSR)
Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko died in quick succession between 1980-85
Los Angeles Olympics
Occurred in 1984, USSR and 14 communist countries boycotted LA
Olympics in retaliation for Moscow
Salt I specific agreements
The superpowers agreed:
To limit the increase in ICBMs and SLBMs(submarine-based missiles)
There would be a five year delay on the building of more missiles
Role of Reagan
Reagan made his hatred for communism clear in his evil empire speech. He took a hard line against the Soviets and wanted to win the Cold War
SDI
Reagan announced the Strategic Defence Initative in 1983. The idea was to find a way to he able to shoot down Soviet missiles during lasers in soace.
Significance of Reagan’s SDis.
The Soviets did not have the money/technology to carry out similar research, so SDI made the Soviets look weak.
In order to compete in the arms race, the Soviet Union would risk becoming bankrupt.
Role of Gorbachev
Gorbachev saw the problems in the USSR clearly. The Soviet economy was bankrupt because it couldn’t afford to support communism world-wide and compete with the USA in the nuclear arms race. The communist economic system was inefficient. He planned to revive communism through Glasnost and Perestroika. Also became more prepared to speak to the USA.
Perestroika
Economic restructuring to make the economy more efficient
Glasnost
New sense of openness both within the Soviet Union and also with the West
Geneva Summit
Occurred in 1985, no formal agreement but Reagan and Gorbachev developed a constructive relationship
Chernobyl disaster
Nuclear disaster in 1986 became a symbol of the crisis in the Soviet system
Reykjavik Summit
Occurred in 1986, no major decisions but disagreements about ballistic missiles and SDI
INF Treaty
Occurred in 1987, significant as it reduced the number of missiles both sides had. All missiles with a range of 500-5500km were eliminated. The treaty committed both sides to getting rid of all medium-range missiles in Europe in three years and was the first treaty to actually REDUCE the number of nuclear weapons
Collapse of communism in Eastern Europe
Occurred in 1989, Gorbachev’s reforms led to increased desire for more change and communist regimes across Eastern Europe collapsed.
Causes of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe( in 1989)
Human right protests - The communist states couldn’t answer those inside and outside their borders who condemned the injustices or communist society.
Economics - The Eastern bloc countries were heavily reliant on COMECON for their survival, which Gorbachev chose to aha don.
After 1985, Gorbachev refused to use Soviet or Warsaw Pact forces to control Eastern Europe.
When was the Berlin Wall torn down?
In November 1989
When was the opening of the borders?
In September 1989 Hungary opened its borders with Austria and East Germany opened its borders eith Austria.
When was Ceausescu, the Romanian director, overthrown and shot!
December 1989
When did communist governments resign!
In November 1989, the Communist governments of East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria all resigned
Warsaw Pact dissolving
After collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe, the Warsaw Pact was formally dissolved in 1991
Fall of the Soviet Union
In 1991, after a coup against Gorbachev by senior communist officials’ group called the Gang of Eight failed in August, he officially announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. Gorbachev’s authority was severely damaged by the coup and many senior members of the Communist Party blamed Gorbachev’s reforms for the break-up of the Eastern bloc.
Gorbachev was replaced as leader of the Soviet Union by Boris Yeltsin.
