End Of The Cold War Flashcards
(30 cards)
What were the Helsinki Accords?
It was the follow up agreements of SALT 1 between NATO and WP. The agreement were split into three areas:
- European Borders - Borders are inviolable (not altered by force).
- International Co-Operation - western and eastern relations will improve.
- Human Rights - people have complete freedom and human rights.
What were the limitations for the Soviet in the Helsinki Accords?
- Borders cannot be altered by force.
- Trade agreements are made with the West.
- People will have freedom of Speech, Religion and Movement across Europe.
Why were the Helsinki Accords important?
This improved relations with the USA and USSR as they work with and together, a joint USA-Soviet Space Mission is an example of this.
Why did the Soviets invade Afghanistan?
1) Afghanistan formed a important buffer zone between Iran (which is pro-america).
2) Moscow was determined not to let Muslim fundimentalism spread across its borders (stop communism).
3) Amin is rumoured to be talking to America which means the buffer zone will go.
What were the Events on the Soviets invasion of Afghanistan?
- In 1979, Soviet Forces invaded Afghnaistan.
- They claimed they had been invited by Amin (leader) to support his government against terrorists.
- Amin was assinated (certainly from Soviet Commandos) and replaced by the Pro-soviet Kamal.
- Soviets remained in Afghanistan for alsmost ten year fighting opponents.
What were the economic costs for the Soviets and US in Afghanistan?
Soviets:
- Finacial cost was approximatly 8 billion a year.
- 15,000 Soviet troops were killed.
US:
- USA supplied the Mujahideen (fighting Kamal) with weapons and billions of dollars.
What was the impact of the Afghanistan invasion on US-Soviet relation?
- The detente was offically over meaning that the US and USSR were no longer on good terms.
- Also it caused a new President to be elected, Reagan, to reclaim Americas position on the world stage and stand up to communism, this increased tension as the US now had a President who saw communism as evil.
- Also caused the boycotting of the Moscow and LA olympics increasing tension.
What was Americas reaction to the Soviets invasion of Afghanistan?
- America believed this was Soviet Union attempting to spread communism, went against the accords.
- SALT 2 was withdrew by President Carter and increased spending on arms.
- Carter decided to impose economic sanctions on the USSR and began sending money and weapons to the mujahideen.
- Carter Doctorine said the US would repel by force of any threat to US interest in the Persian Gulf.
What are the consequences for the USSR from the invasion of Afghanistan?
Negative:
- Finacial cost was approximatly 8 billion a year.
- 15,000 Soviet troops were killed.
- Trade bans aposed on them
Positive:
Afghan Government replaced
What was Gorbachev’s new thinking?
- Perestrokia - ‘Reconstruction’ his programme for reorganising and restructuring the Soviet State and Economy.
- Glasnost - ‘Openness’ or ‘Transparency’ describing Gorbachev’s new, more open attitude to governments and foreign relations.
- Dropping of the Brezehnev Doctorine - Russia would no longer get involved in domestic affairs of other SS.
- The Soviet Union would reduce spending on arms and defence and withdraw from Afghanistan.
The events of the falling of Soviets control on Eastern Europe, from May - October, 1989:
- May, Hungary take the femce down to the border of Austria.
- June, in Poland solidarity is legalised and wins a landslide victory in elections.
- September, East Germany huge numbers (125,000) leave for the west through Hungary to Austria.
- October, in East Germany Gorbachev refuses to help Governments with demonstrations.
The events of the falling of Soviets control on Eastern Europe, in November, 1989:
- East German government announces the bording crosser to west Berlin will be open, the wall is teared down by people.
- Czechoslovakia, the ‘Velvet Revolution’ overthrows the communist government and new anti-communist president is elected.
The events of the falling of Soviets control on Eastern Europe, in December 1989:
1) Romania the communist leader Ceasusescu is overthrown and executed.
2) Bulgaria communist leader Mladenov resigns and free elections are held the following year.
How did the Soviet Union finally End?
Yugoslavia in December 1990, breaks into 6 countries: Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnian-Herzegvia, Kosova and Macedonia.
What is Détente and why did the USA and USSR follow a policy of Detente in the 1970’s?
Detente is a period of peace between the groups that were previously at war or hostile to eachother. They did this:
- To avoid plunging the world into nuclear war.
- USA public putting pressure on the Government to take less active role in international relations due to unpopularity of the Vietnam War, 60,000 americans killed.
- USA have large social problem that demand attention and resources, causeing urban rioting ona mass scale from MLK assasination.
- Detente allows USA and USSR to spread their money on other problems e.g Ghettos, 1968 riots.
What was the date, agreements, limitations and importance of SALT 1?
Date - May 1972
Importance - The basic principles agreement laid down the rules for the conduct of nuclear warfare and setout steps out steps for avoiding a nuclear warfare.
Agreements - The amount of missiles each country was allowed to have and where they could have them.
Limitations - There was a max of two Anti-Balistic Missile sites with maximum of 100 missiles. USA allowed 1,054 ICBM’s and 740 SLBM’s, USSR 1,618 ICBM’s and 740 SLBM’s because US had more strategic bombers
What was the date, agreements, limitations and importance of SALT 2?
Date - Never finalised due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Importance - It reduced the chance of nuclear wars as it restricted each sides amount of long distance missiles.
Agreements - It established that both countries had the same nuclear weapons
Limitations - Restrictions on missile launchers and strategic bombers, as well as a ban on testing or developing new types of ICBM.
What were Reagan’s policies?
- Reagan Docterine - The USA would not only support anti-communist governments but also antin-communist groups trying to overthrow communist governments.
- Speech to a Christian group in 1983, he described the Soviet Union as an ‘Evil Empire’.
- Increased Arms spending each year, in 1982 by 13% and then in 1983 by 8% and then 1984 by 8%.
What are the examples of the Reagan Docterine in Action?
- Support was given to insurgent groups in Central America like El Salvador and Nicuragua.
- In Grenada (a carribean island) was invaded by the US forces and toppled the communist government there.
What is the Strategic Defense Initiative?
SDI also known as ‘Star Wars’, was a program to have satellites in orbit which could shoot down powerful lasers on soviet missiles and prevent them from hitting then US mainland and the soviets were not able to do anything about this.
What USSR’s problems exploited by Reagan?
- Soviet Economy was not strong enough to support another Arms Race.
- USSR heavily behind with Computer technology.
- They have already invested lots in military that is now out-dated.
- USSR are already in a expensive war in Afghanistan (8 Bil a year).
What were the problems facing Gorbachev inthe USSR?
- Lack of Transparency and Trust - The USSR had tried to cover up the Chernobyl disaster.
- Economic - The standard of living was horrendous due to no investment in the economy but in the Arms Race under Brezhenev. Also there exports were low due to low quality and supporting communist reigimes was expensive, 3 billion roubles a year in Cuba.
- Poor Leadership - Brezhnev died in 1982, Andropov in 1984 and Cherenkov 1985 so non of them had time to impliment their long-term plans.
- Reliant on Force to Survive
- Protests in Satellite States - Low standard of living and lack of human rights caused Unrest, especially in Poland where the where forced under Martial Law.
What were the 5 Summit’s between the USSR and US, and their disscussions and outcomes?
- November, Geneva 1985 - First Gorbachev and Reagan meet and changed his hardliner foreign minister. No formal agreements but established good relationship.
- October, Reykjavik 1986 - Gorbachev proposed phasing out (gradually) nuclear weapons if the americans give up the SDI program. No formal agreement but bettering a relationship.
- December, Washington 1987 - Gorbachev wanted to reduce arms spending and better relations with west. They signed ‘the Intermidiate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty’, abolishing missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km.
- Moscow 1988 - Problems with the INF treaty were resolved and Gorbachev announces Warsaw Pact troops will leave Afghanistan.
- Malta 1989 - Gorbachev met with the new US president George Bush. No agreements but saw this as the end of the Cold War, Gorbachev says ‘I will never start a hot war against the USA’.
What are the for and against point to say the collapse of the Berlin Wall was important?
Agree:
Friends and relatives were reunited after 30 years.
Symbolises the end of the Cold War and Soviet Control.
Paves way for other communist governments to fall.
Shows the world the USSR will not intervine militarily.
Proves the end of the Brezhnev Docterine.
Disagree:
East Germans were already leaving through Austria.
Just a symbol.
