Section 3 Cold War Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is detente?
“The relaxing tensions between rivals” - use to describe the relations between the USSR + US in the late 60s-70s
Describe SALT 1 (give 4 points)
Stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
No further production of ballistic weapons (short-range, lightweight missiles)
No new nuclear missile launchers
Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty limited both sides to two ABM deployment areas
Describe the effectiveness of SALT 1 (give 4 points)
-Slowed down the arms race by limiting the number of bombers each side could have
-Led to further negotiation that resulted in the SALT 2 treaty in 1979.
-Ensured that neither side has a decisive advantage in strategic nuclear weapons.
-(INEFFECTIVE) Did not cover intermediate nuclear weapons which both sides still continued to deploy.
When was/what was the Helsinki Conference?
1975- Helsinki agreements were signed in Helinski (Finland) by most European countries as well as the USA and USSR. Agreements were made on security, trade cooperation, human rights and borders.
What was the importance of the Helsinki Conference? (give 3 points)
-Helped USA and USSR form a stable relationship.
-Represents a high point of detente.
-Coincided with more US/Soviet cooperation, led to Apollo-Soyuz (1975) joint space mission and trade agreements.
What were some limits to Helsinki? (give 2 arguments)
-Soviet Union continued to focus on eastern bloc countries and apply the Brezhnev Doctrine.
-USA continued to prioritise its interests in countries it could influence like Chile.
What was SALT 2? (give 5 points)
-Under negotiation since 1972
-Based on the Vladivostok accords (1974) which were agreements between US and USSR
-Signed in Vienna in June 1979 by Carter and Brezhnev
-Each superpower limited to 2250 warheads
-Limits on new launch systems including multi-warhead missiles
Why did SALT 2 fail? (give 3 points)
-Some West German politicians opposed the treaty, fearing it would weaken the defence of west Germany. Believed after the treaty USA would be less likely to use nuclear weapons if Germany was attacked by soviet union.
-Some US politicians believed the treaty was agreed to too many demands from Soviets.
-US/Soviet relations soured after the soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979). US senate never approved the treaty so never became official US policy.
How successful was SALT 1 and SALT 2? (give 2 arguments for, 1 against)
-Only limited the number of warheads they head- did not reduce them.
-Arms control agreements limited the number of anti ballistic missiles, intercostal ballistic weapons and nuclear weapons.
- Reduce possibility of nuclear war as neither side had first strike capacity (could not destroy all of the other sides nuclear weapons at once)
Who is Ronald Regan?
US president in 1981- believed USA had a mission from God to win the Cold War
Who is Mikhail Gorbachev?
Leader of soviet union in 1985- he recognised the soviet union could not win cold war.
Describe Reagan and the Evil Empire. (give 3 points)
-Reagan way of describing the Soviet Union was that it was an evil empire
-He kick-started the arms race again
-USA poured lots of money into the arms race
Describe the Crisis in the Soviet Union ( give 4 points)
- Super poor after war with Afghanistan
-Living standards were terrible
-Soviet union did not have USA computing expertise
-USSR cannot keep up with the USA missile tech.
Describe the Geneva Summit (give 2 points)
-November 1985, Gorbachev and Regan met
-They were getting on and agreed to more meetings
Impact of Gorbachev and Reagans changing attitudes? (give 3 points)
-Represented easing cold war tensions
-Led to greater cooperation between US and Soviet Union
-Led to arms control agreements like the INF treaty and START 1
Why did Reagan have a chance of heart? (give 3 points)
-Public were against arms race- especially in Europe
-Gorbachev was super popular- Gorbymania on west Europe and US.
-Reagan liked Gorbachev and wanted to improve relations. Margaret Thatcher wanted to get involved so she said she wanted to do bizz with him as well.
What was Gorbachev like a leader? (5 points)
-Recognised the failing economy and the unhappy people.
-Introduced perestroika (restructuring)
-Introduced glasnost (openness)
-Desperate to stop Soviet war in Afghanistan
-Very slow to allow democratic elections (try to cover up Chernobyl as well)
Describe the INF treaty (give 4 points)
-INF treaty was December 1987
-INF means Inter-range Nuclear Forces.
-INF treaty got ride of all missiles that has a range of 500-5500km (better than SALT 1)
-INF treaty largely applied in Europe.
What is the cause of the Soviet Invasion in Afghanistan? (give 2 points)
-1968 Soviet union sent tanks into Czechoslovakia to crush Prague Spring, USA did not care
-Dec 1979 Soviet union sent troops to Afghanistan (who was communist) to take control after the president was assassinated. USA was fuming. But Brezchnev is confused because why did you not care about Czechoslovakia?
Consequence of Soviet invasion in Afghanistan
Afghan rebels know as the Mujahideen formed
Why was Carter so fuming about this Afghanistan invasion? (give 3 points)
-USA was worried that the Soviet Union would get more control in the Middle east
-Successful invasion could cause Soviet influence Iran.
-Iran could block Middle East oil exports at the Straits of Hormuz. Oil was essential to US prosperity.
What did the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan (1979) lead to? (give 3 events)
-Marked the end of détente and begin of second cold war
-Led to Carter Doctrine
-Led to Olympic boycotts of 1980 and 1984
What was the Carter doctrine? (give 4 points)
-1980 Jimmy Carter threatens to use force if Soviets try to take control of the Persian Gulf
-USA imposed economic sanctions- no trade with the Soviet union.
-US, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan secretly funded Mujahideen.
-USA ceased cooperation with Soviet Union
Describe the Olympic Boycotts (1984 and 1980) give 3 points.
-USA boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympic Game as a result of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan
-In retaliation Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles games.
-Ended cooperation and sporting competition between USA and Soviet Union.