How the Cold War ended, 1980-1990 Flashcards
(35 cards)
When did Yuri Andropov become the Soviet leader?
1982.
When did Konstantin Chernenko become the Soviet leader?
1984.
When was the Reykjavik summit between Reagan and Gorbachev?
October 1986.
When and where was the INF agreement signed?
Washington, December 1987.
What was the INF agreement?
An arms control treaty.
When did the Berlin Wall fall?
November 1989.
When was Germany reunified?
1990.
When was the USSR formally dissolved?
December 1991.
When did Mikhail Gorbachev become the Soviet leader?
1985.
What foreign policy did Reagan introduce?
Militarised counter-revolution.
What made Reagan’s approach different from Carter’s?
He was much more hard-line and was willing to pursue a ‘second Cold War’ on all fronts.
What were the key features of the Militarised Counter-revolution?
-Increased nuclear arms
-The Reagan Doctrine
-
What was the Star Wars program?
Reagan’s attempt to develop anti-ballistic missile systems in space. It wasn’t taken very seriously by the Soviets because they believed it was a bluff.
Why did Reagan increase nuclear arms again?
Because he knew that the Soviets couldn’t keep up. It was a way to get meaningful concessions from the USSR through a position of strength.
What was the Reagan Doctrine?
A policy designed to undermine soviet influence in the Third World. The US supported anti-communist governments and anti-communist rebels, even if they were extremist and violent. Covert methods were used more often than direct action.
What was Solidarity?
A Polish independent trade union. It later became a political party that won the 1989 democratic elections in Poland.
Who made Reagan’s approach more effective? Why?
Margaret Thatcher. They had a shared view of the USSR and pressured it on both fronts. She agreed to have US nuclear missiles based in Britain.
Who was Erich Honecker?
The East German leader from 1971-1989.
What were the two main pressures on the USSR during this time?
Economic problems and calls for political reform in Eastern Europe.
Why was Soviet leadership ineffective regarding international relationships in 1980-85?
The gerontocracy.
Which three domestic policies did Gorbachev introduce?
Glasnost, Perestroika, Democratisation
What was the name of Gorbachev’s foreign policy?
New Political Thinking.
Name the 5 summits of 1985-89.
In order, ideally.
Geneva - 1985
Reykjavik - 1986
Washington - 1987
Moscow - 1988
Malta - 1989
What happened at the Geneva Summit of 1985?
Reagan and Gorbachev met. The foundations for future negotiations were laid, even if nothing concrete was agreed upon.
