The road to detente

Question 1

How did bad Sino-Soviet relations strengthen the US?

Answer 1

1. The Sino-Soviet split encouraged the Soviets to seek detente with NATO and the USA

(avoid being ganged up against)

1. The US’s two great Communist enemies were now divided by mutual hatred

Question 2

What example of Soviet arse-licking of the US happened in August 1969?

Answer 2

A Soviet diplomat asked the US how they would respond to a pre-emptive strike against the PRC’s nuclear installations

Question 3

When the Soviets queried about how the US would respond to a pre-emptive strike from the Soviets on PRC nuclear installations, how did Nixon respond?

What can we infer from this?

Answer 3

Said he would not allow the PRC to be ‘smashed’ in a war between the PRC and the USSR.

The PRC was valuable to the US as they got more power from triangular diplomacy

Question 4

When did diplomatic contacts between the US and the PRC begin for the first time?

Answer 4

December 1969

Question 5

When did Nixon and Mao first meet to discuss rapprochement?

Answer 5

February 1972

Question 6

What did Mao and Nixon decide in their conference in 1972?

(2)

Answer 6

1. Neither side would seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific, and would oppose efforts of any other country [namely the USSR] from trying to do so
2. The future of Taiwan would be settled peacefully

Question 7

How did the negotiations between the US and PRC affect the USSR?

(Impact and action)

Answer 7

1. Major blow for USSR
2. Soviets hoped to prevent an alliance between the US and PRC by improving relations with the US and agreeing to arms limitations on nuclear weapons

Question 8

How many years did SALT I freeze on the construction of missile launchers, ICMBs, SLBMs, and long-range bombers?

Answer 8

5

Question 9

Where were the two anti-ballistic missile screens agreed on in SALT I situated?

Answer 9

Washington and Moscow

Question 10

What was agreed at SALT I about future negotiations?

What did the USSR hope to gain from it?

Answer 10

Conference on security

1. USSR hoped would result in legal recogonition of European post-war borders

Question 11

What was President Johnson’s argument for the Vietnam War?

What was the response of the US’s European allies?

Answer 11

The war was a vital part of the global confrontation with communism

European allies rejected this, concentrating instead on easing tensions within Europe

Question 12

Despite being welcomed, how did Test Ban Treaty and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty negatively impact Western Europe?

Answer 12

The treaties essentialy assumed a world divided into two blocs led by their respective superpower.