The Brezhnev Era Flashcards
(127 cards)
1
Q
When did Kissinger secretly visit Moscow
A
April 1972
2
Q
when were the Paris Peace agreements finalised
A
Jan 1973
3
Q
When did the last US troops withdraw from Vietnam
A
March 1973
4
Q
Who were excluded from paris peace negotiaons
A
South Vietnam
5
Q
terms of paris peace agreement
A
1973
* ceasefire to begin Jan 1973
* each side’s forces would keep the areas they controlled at the time of the ceasefire
* within 60 days the US would withdraw its forces and POW would be exchanged
* a commission would be set up to consider the introduction of free elections in S.V
* free elections would consider the eventual reunification of Vietnam
6
Q
When did Kissinger announce that ‘peace is at hand’
A
31 Oct 1972
7
Q
what/when spring offensive
A
March 1972
Failed North Vietnamese army (PAVN) offensive to take control of the South
8
Q
When did Nixon win his second election
A
1972
won a landslide re-election, 60.7% of the vote
9
Q
Triggers for final peace settlement in Vietnam
A
- Spring Offensive, March 1972
- Esculation of US bombing campaigns (Linebacker I, May-Oct 1972 and Linebacker II, Dec 1972)
10
Q
Operation Linebacker II
A
- renewed US military efforts to appease Thieu who was outraged at the exclusion of SV from peace talks
- warning to NV that US would not abandon SV
- BOMBING OF HANOI AND ALL OTHER IMPORTANT NORTHERN CITIES
Led to international condemnation and Nixon’s approval ratings to fall to 32%
11
Q
When was the Paris Peace Accords ratified
A
Jan 1973
USA had to put significant pressure on Thieu to sign on behalf of SV
12
Q
When were most US forces out of Vietnam
A
End of March 1973
13
Q
When was watergate, significance for Vietnam’s war
A
- scandal which led to Nixon’s removal from office
- meant that while Nixon was concerned about SV’s viability, he was preoccupied with court proceedings etc. all throughout 1973 and he was forced to reisgn in Aug 1974
14
Q
who suceeded Nixon when he was forced to resign
A
Gerald Ford
Aug 1974
oversaw a foreign policy that led to the collapse of SV
15
Q
when did NV launch a military offensive to take SV and why
A
Dec 1974
Had been using guerilla tactics, but when thet saw the US was not going to intervene, esculated their conventional forces
16
Q
When did US congress reduce military aid to SV and by how much
A
1975
Granted only $700mill compaired to $1.45 bill requested
17
Q
When did NV ‘win the war’
A
30th April 1975
SV surrenders to the North
18
Q
Costs of the Vietnam war, US
A
- total cost of around $170 bill for the USA
- around 58,000 US troops killed and 300,000 injured
- about 2.7 US served in the war
- on their return many vets were ostracised by the peace movement that naively saw them as supporting US policies
- SEATO was abandoned in 1976
19
Q
When did Lon Nol overthrow the Cambodian prince and who was he pro
A
March 1970
Pro-US
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISTS FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH NV AND BEGAN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PRO-US GOVERNMENT
20
Q
Name of Cambodia’s communist government
A
Khmer Rouge
21
Q
When did the Khmer Rouge launch an offensive in the capital of Cambodia
A
Jan 1975
22
Q
When did the Khmer Rouge secure control of Cambodia
A
April 1975
23
Q
how many tons of bombs did the US drop on Cambodia
A
430,000
24
Q
Khmer Rouge revolution
A
- based on ruthless ideological cleansing
- aim was to destory Cambodia’s existing society and create a completely new agricultural country
- cities were emptied and their poulations were forced to teh countryside to work as farmers and live a peasant lifestyle
- estimated about 1mill people were killed during the revolution and almost half the population was turned to refugees
25
Cambodia-Vietnamese war
* Dec 1978, Soviet-backed Vietnamese forces invade Cambodia
* Jan 1979, Vietnam secure control of Cambodia, Khmer Rouge removed and Vietnamese backed gov installed
26
Costs of the Vietnam war, Vietnam
* Numbers range from 1.3 mill to 9mill killed across all hostilities
* From 1975, Vietnam faced hostility from the US, excluded from the UN, trade embargo, witheld formal recognition
* 643,000 tons of bombs on NV and 700,000 tons on SV, destruction of prime agricultural land
* use of agent orange and blue led to poisoning of 6mill acres of land
* 1.5 mill left the country after becoming communist
27
US domestic media pressures on Vietnam war
o First ever ‘TV war’ (with over 60% of US homes having televisions)
o Media reporting, scrutiny and criticism e.g. CBS Reported Walter Cronkite reported the war to be “unwinnable” after the Tet Offensive (January 1968)
o Negative publicity reflected poorly on the US image e.g. 1973 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of napalm attack in Vietnam (‘The Terror of War’)
28
Domestic pressures on war, civil rights movement
o The war was criticised by influential leading figures e.g. Martin Luther King Jr
o Rioting by civil rights protestors in the summer of 1968
o Protestors clashed with police at the Democratic Party National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois (August 1968)
29
My Lai Massacre
(March 16th 1968)
US military operation in Vietnam, that despite supposedly having killed up to 90 NLF fighters, was revealed to be a massacre that killed up to 504 innocents (civilians etc)
30
US domestic pressures on war, trial of Lieutenant William Calley Jr
o The reality of the ‘My Lai Massacre’ was revealed through the media (stirring public outcry/condemnation of these actions by US forces)
o Led to the controversial trial of Lieutenant William Calley Jr. by court-martial for his involvement in the massacre (charged with the murder of 22 civilians)
March 1971: Calley is convicted of the murder of 22 innocent civilians
August 1971: Calley is sentenced to life imprisonment
President Nixon commuted the sentence three days later
o Alongside significant support for pardoning Calley, the events/trial/pardon served to intensify anti-war sentiments and demonstrations
31
US domestic pressures, anti -war demonstrations
o US Invasion of Cambodia was launched in April 1970
o Anti-war demonstrations were held at Kent State University, Ohio against the US invasion of Cambodia by President Nixon:
Ohio National Guard would open fire on the protests after violence erupted at the demonstrations (killing 4 people and injuring 11 people) KENT STATE SHOOTING
32
REASONS FOR THE VICTORY OF NORTH VIETNAM:
Weaknesses of the South Vietnamese army/forces (inferiorly armed/trained)
US Tactics (‘High tech war of attrition’) vs NLF tactics (‘guerilla warfare’)
Domestic pressures on US conduct in the war (‘Primacy of the domestic’)
Superpower backing for North Vietnam (by both the USSR and PRC)
33
what does detente refer to
* period of easing to hostility or strained relations
Arguable that Détente could not occur under President Johnson (1963-69) due to his need to not appear ‘soft of communism’ (to maintain ‘Dixiecrat’ support)
President Nixon (1969-74) served as Vice President to Eisenhower (so he faced much less pressure/criticism/concern that he would align to the communists, LINK TO JOHNSON WANTING TO WIN ELCTION IN HIS OWN RIGHT AND NEEDED TO APPEASE TO PUSH DOMESTIC POLICY THROUGH
34
Aims of Sino-US detente
USA: Gain leverage in the Cold War (by developing an alliance with the USSR’s communist rival power) + Apply pressure on the USSR to cooperate in Détente, use in Vietnam negotiations
PRC: Advance international standing (as a regional/global communist power) + Reduced hostility/tensions with the USA, Mao wanted to economically develop China from the start of the 1970s and closer links with the US would facilitate this
35
When was the PRC given a seat for China on the UN security council
Oct 1971
36
Nixon's visit to Beijing
Feb 1972
* TP in developments, bought Sino-US confrontation to an end
* applied pressure for USSR to sign SALT I in May 1972
* HOWEVER DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF TAIWAN
37
When did Ford visit Beijing
Dec 1975
38
When did the USA and PRC both establish ‘Diplomatic Liaison Divisions’
May 1973
39
When did the US and Angola align in their response to the Angolan Civil War
Jan 1976
both supported the FNLA
40
When did formal diplomatic relations begin sino-us detente
1 Jan 1979
After US and China reached an agreement on Taiwan in Dec 1978, Deng conceded that the US should cease to aid Taiwan militarily and assured the US the issue would be solved peacefully
41
When did USA and PRC establish embassies in their respective countries
March 1979
42
What were the foundations for Superpower detente
* Washington-Moscow Hotline Agreement (June 1963)
* Moscow Test Ban Treaty (August 1963)
* Glassboro Summit (June 1967)
* Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (July 1968)
43
Mutual aims of superpower detente
Cooperation/diplomacy
Rejecting MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)
44
USA aims in superpower detente
* Advance the USA’s global prestige/power (‘get back on top’)
* Military de-escalation (enabling the ability to cut down the expensive military)
* Bring ‘US foreign policy ‘back from Vietnam’ (apply pressure on Minh to end the war)
45
USSR aims in superpower detente
* Pursue parity with USA
* End capitalism
* Counter the Sino-US alliance
46
Moscow superpower summit
* May 1972
* Agree on SALT I
* Set out guidelines for US-Soviet relations, Basic Principles Agreement
47
Basic Principles Agreement
* May 1972
* agreed upon at Moscow summit
* 12 principles agreed upon
* included, have to conduct their relations based on peaceful co-existance, determination to avoid situations which would damage peaceful co-existance, acceptance of a special responsibility
* BASICALLY OUTLINED COMMITMENT TO PREVENTING NUCLEAR WAR
48
Limitations of the Basic Principles Agreement
had no legal status
USSR placed more emphasis on and took more seriously than USA
RECOGNISED PARITY BETWEEN THE POWERS WHICH WAS THE BASIS OF DETENTE FOR USSR
49
SALT I
May 1972
* ABM Treaty: Limiting both superpowers to maximum of 2 ABM sites each, with no more than 100 missiles each, one around a capotal city and one by an ICBM site
* Interim Treaty: Interim limits placed on ICBMs/SLBMs, amounted to a freeze on strategic missiles, to remain valid for 5 years
50
Limits to SALT I
failed to restrict new technologies, no defined limits on cruise missile systems, due to expire in 1977
51
washington superpower summit
June 1973
Success for diplomacy: ‘Agreement on the Prevention of Nuclear War’ (both superpowers pledge to seek diplomacy/resolution to conflict to prevent MAD)
BUT MORE SYMBOLIC THAN ANYTHING
Kissinger calls a 'bland set of principles'
52
Moscow Superpower summit
June -July 1974
* Success for diplomacy: ‘Threshold Ban Treaty’ (banned testing nuclear weapons exceeding 150 kilotons)
53
Vladivostok Summit
Nov 1974
* preliminery moves towards SALT II, through an agreement on a 10 yr plan framework
* USSR agreed to equal levels of ICBM launchers and SLBM launchers
* Further arms limitation agreements made (allowing both superpowers a maximum of 1320 MIRVs and 2400 Ballistic missiles each)
54
Why would there not be a smooth transition from Vladivostok to SALT II
* USA argued that limitation on air-surface missiles applied only to ballistic missiles, while USSR argued it included cruise missiles
55
Carter's arms reductions proposal when he came to power
* MARCH 1977
* much more drastic than Ford's, more arms reductions than before
* reducing the strategic systems further than Vladivostok agreement, reducing number of launchers for missiles with MIRVS, ban on development and testing new ICBM's, ban on all types of cruise missiles
* Brezhnev regarded Vladivostok agreement as binding so thought Carter was acting in a unilateral and unacceptable manner, THE PROPSALS DEMANDED A MORE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN USSR FORCES
56
Apollo-Soyuz space docking
July 17th 1975
- marked the high point of detente
- unprecedented cooperation
57
When did Carter beome president
Jan 1977
(Reagan had run against Ford as a republican nominee on a platform of anti-detente and criticism of Vietnam which damaged Ford's campaign)
58
Vienna Summit
* June 1979
* signing if SALT II ( but never actually ratified)
* first agreement on the REDUCTION of strategic arms to 2250 per superpower
59
when did Ford ban the use of the word detente in his adminstration
March 1976
60
Who was Willy Brandt
* Mayor of West Berlin, 1957-66
* Foreign Minister of West Germany, 1966-69
* Chancellor of West Germany, 1969-74, this appointment triggered a new phase and approach to East-West relations
61
What was Ostpolitik
term used to define a new approach to European East - West relations
62
Willy Brandt's objectives
* recognise East Germany and the territorial changes post WW2, particuarly the creation of the Oder-Neisse border
* wanted reunification of germany
* strategy was to negotiate with USSR and GDR
63
Aims of W.Germany E.Detente
* Normalise relations and promote economic cooperation/links between the FRG and GDR
* Peaceful reunification of Germany (long-term aim)
64
USSR attitude to European detente
Pleased by confirmed division/borders of Germany (security)
65
USA attitude to E.Detente
Concerned by risk of losing influence over (West) Germany
66
Non-Aggression Pact
* aka Treaty of Moscow
* Aug 1970
* West Germany accepts the post-war borders
* NON AGGRESSION PACT
67
German-Polish treaty
Dec 1970
West Germany accepts post-war borders with Poland (along the Oder-Neisse river)
68
When was Ulbricht replaced as Communist party chief in E Germany
May 1971
Replaced with Erich Honecker
Ulbricht had been regarded as the last stalinist
Shift in leadership allowed for a shift in relations
69
Basic Treaty
* major breakthrough in E.Detente
* Dec 1972
* TWO SIDES OF GERMANY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FORMALLY RECOGNISING EACH OTHER and agreed to seek peaceful resolution to conflicts
* agreed to potential economic relations
70
What did Ostpolitik secure
the division/security/sovereignty of Germany + improved diplomacy/cooperation/relations/tensions between the FRG and GDR
71
By when had both W and E Germany been admitted to the UN
Sep 1973
72
Date of Helsinki Accords
Aug 1975
73
Baskets in Helsinki accords
* BASKET 1 = Security in Europe
* BASKET 2 = Cooperation on Economics, Science, Technology and Environment
* BASKET 3 = Cooperation of Humanitarianism and Human Rights
74
Significance of Basket 2
represented a positive step for global cooperation/diplomacy
75
Significance of Basket 3
Became significant as the commitment to Human Rights would become a cause of growing criticism for the USSR (Niall Ferguson described the ‘Butterfly Effect’ = that the helsinki accords was a ‘fatal step’ in the fall of the USSR as opposition groups and the USA would use it to criticise it for not adhering to it)
76
USSR refuse to end the deployment of SS-20s in Europe or reduce stocks of heavy missiles
Mid 1978
77
who was Pope John Paul II
(Catholic Pope, 1978-2005): He was Polish, and the USSR was concerned he would influence anti-communist opposition in Poland (concerned following his visit to Poland in 1979)
78
Main reason for renewed Cold War hostilities, second cold war
* SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN
79
When was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
24th Dec 1979
Operation Storm-333: 85,000 troops
JUSTIFY IT AS A DEFENSIVE ACT AND ARGUE IT IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AGREEMENT
Install a pro-Soviet new leader of Afghanistan in Jan
80
Soviet interests in Afghanistan
* shared border
* Afghanistan was a socialist state and ally of the USSR
* worried Afghanistan could become a USA ally and therefore threat to Soviet security
* INTERVENTION VIEWED AS A SECURITY NECESSITY
81
Operation Cyclone
July 1979
US operation by the CIA to support rebels in Afghanistan
Against the USSR backed gov
82
Reasons for Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
* concerned about losing communist influence in the unstable PDPA regime
* Concerened that the emerging leader could become aligned with the USA
83
Outcomes of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
* international condemnation
* end of detente, SALT II would not be ratified
* Shift of US foreign policy and responses by Carter, USA boycott 1980 Moscow olympics, introduces trade embargoes of grain, tech, strategic item
84
Measures Carter set out against the USSR
Jan 1980
* response to Afghanistan
* deferral of action on cultural and economic exchanges
* major restrictions on Soviet fishing privileges in USA waters
* A ban on the sale of high technology and strategic items
* embargo on grain
* US military and economic assistance to enhance that states security
85
Carter doctrine what/when
Jan 1980
* promised Soviet intervention in the middle east against Soviet advances
* reinforced need for US to strengthen its relations with China
86
Soviet view on response to invasion in Afghanistan
the US leadership had used the intervention in Afghanistan as a pretxt that enabled them to dismantle detente and revive the arms race
87
Aims of Reagan
* President from Jan 1981
* First president not to pursue containment - he wanted to win the Cold War
* Strong anti-communist and anti-detente attitude
* Focused on rearmament
* Wanted to advance US global prestige, power and influence
88
How much was spent on US military in 1985
$28mill every hour
89
How high did US national debt become in Sep 1985
£2trill
90
when was Andrapov leader of the USSR
Nov 1982-Feb 1984
91
When did START talks begin, and when were they abandoned
* began in mid 1982
* USA deployed missiles in Europe in Nov 1983 which led to the USSR abandoning the talks
92
Poor leadership decisions by Andropov
* Initial denial of Soviet involvement in shooting down of KAL007, sep 1983
* Military mobilisation in response to Operation Able Archer, Nov 1983
93
USSR economy 1980-5
* Economic growth fell from 5.9% a year in the 1950s to 1.9% a year
* Tital military spending represented 20% of GDP, 1980-3
* SIGNFICANT COSTS OF BEING A SUPERPOWER (supporting Vietnam $10bn, supporting Ethiopia $7bn, subsidies to E.Euope $17bn pa)
94
US military developments under Reagan
* F117 Nighthawk (1981)
* B1 Lancer Bomber
* B2 Stealth Bomber
* Trident submarine-delivered Nuclear missiles
95
What/when Reagan's evil empire speech
March 1983
Reagan describes the USSR as an 'evil empire' and a 'focus of evil'
96
when did Thatcher and Reagan first meet
feb 1981
begins a honeymoon in Anglo-American relations
97
SDI
* Strategic Defence Initiative
* March 1983
* Space-satellite program for missile/laser systems to defend against Soviet missiles
* would become a later source of tension at summits
98
Shooting down of KAL007
Sep 1983
Passenger airline shot down in USSR airspace
Killed 269 people includig 61 Americans
Andrapov initially denies, damaged Soviet image/standing
Alarms Reagn, didn't realise how close to nuclear war
99
Operation Able Archer
Nov 1983
NATO military exercise in preperation of a nuclear attack
WRONGLY PERCEIVED BY THE USSR AS A PREPERATION FOR NUCLEAR WAR, Regan didn't realise how close they had come to nuclear war
100
When were Pershing and Cruise missiles placed in the UK and West Germany
Nov 1983
101
How much economic aid did the USA provide to the Mujahadeen rebels in Afghanistan
$3bill
$630 million under Regan in 1987
102
Pope John Paul II
* 1978, Polish pope chosen
* Led to Catholic church becoming more invokved in Polish political affairs
* June 1979, visited his homeland, 12 mill poles witnessed the pope expressing his views on intnernational reconcilliation
103
Dates of Chernenko's leadership
Feb 1984-March 1985
104
Poor leadership decisions, chernenko
* boycotting the LA olympics in 1984
* Prevented EG leader, Honecker from visiting the FRG
105
Forming of Solidarity in Poland
* By 1980, Poland was experiencing a severe economic crisis, triggered strikes by Polish workers - 300,000 on strike in July and Aug
* in order to ease the unrest, the gov decided to officially accept the first independent Polish tarde union CALLED SOLIDARITY
* was not a political movement, just wanted to reform teh state's relationship with the people
106
how many members did solidarity have in 1981
10mill
strikes erupted throughout the country
107
when was Jaruzelki elected leader in Poland
July 1981
108
What did Jaruzelki do in Dec 1981
declares martial law, solidarity is banned/crushed
and solidarity leaders were arrested, and union was eventually banned
109
Result of martial law in poland
economic crisis, USA imposed economic sanctions
solidarity was not defeated, just went into hiding
110
andrapov statement on Reagan
28th Sep 1983
Regan's administration was seen as pursuing a militaristic one which threatened peace because it was seeking to establish the US as a dominant global power
111
Why were the US scared of communism spreading into the Americas
because of Cuba being communist
their strategies in the Americas and especialy the Caribbean reflected this fear
112
Cuba and military assistance
sent more troops overseas during the Cold War tahn all other countries apart from teh USA
113
Arab-Israeli, 'Yom Kippur war'
1973
* Oct 6th, Egypt and Syria attack the sinai province
* Oct 22nd, provisional ceasefire agreed
* May 1974, Conflict is ended through successful 'shuttle diplomacy' by Kissinger
114
Significance of Yom Kippur war
* undermined detente to an extent
* USA gained influence in the Middle East (Egypt/Israel/Iran)
* Soviets align closer to more extremist states/powers
* Arab oil countries place embargoes on exporting on exporting oil to the USA due to their support of Israel (400% oil price increase)
115
Angolan civil war, events
* 1975-6
* Fought between the Soviet and Cuban backed MPLA against USA and Chinese backed FNLA and US backed Unita
* Nov 1975, Portugal withdraw from Angola, civil war breaks out
* MPLA had successfully secured control by Jan 1976
116
Significance of Angolan Civil war
* detente was shaken, Kissinger says 'detente won't survive another Angola'
* superpowers backing direct opponents
* fuelled concerns of expansionism by the USSR, successful MPLA victory and a 20 year treaty of friendship in Oct 1976
117
How many military advisors did China send the FNLA in 1974
June 1974
120 military advisors
118
How much did Ford send to the FNLA
July 1975
Kissinger convinced him to send $25 mill in supplies as well as $16mill in arms
119
How many cuban troops supporting the MPLA in 1976
12,000
120
Cuba and Angola
relationsjip continued to the end of the cold war
1988, Cuba had 52,000 troops in the country
provided significant assitance in the form of thousands of experts in the fields of infrastructure development, health carfe and eductation
121
Ogaden civil war
* Ethiopia controlled by the Derg regime since 1974
* July 1977, Somalia invades the Ogaden region of Ethiopia
* USSR BACKS ETHIOPIA AGAINST FORMER SOVIET-ALLY SOMALIA, providees $7bill
* Cuba provided about 15,000 troops to support Ethiopia in Nov 1977
* March 1978, Ethiopia secure victory, Somalia has mostly withdrawn
122
Signifiance of Ogaden war
* undermined detente, exacerbated concerns of Soviet expansionism
* US national security advisor under Brezinski said 'detente had been buried in the sands of the Ogaden'
123
Cuba and Ethiopia
by Feb1978 there were about 15,000 Cuban soldiers in Ethiopia
USA accuse Moscow of using Cuba to extend its own power
any form of rapprochement between the US and Cuba were profoundly damaged by this intervention
124
US intervention in Chile
1973
* Sep 1970, Allende becomes President (begins USSR/Cuban relations)
* Sep 1973, USA supported a CIA-backed army coup which overthrows Allende
* UNDERMINES DETENTE, DEMONSTRATES US WILLINGNESS TO INTERVENE IN THIRD WORLD
125
US intervention in Grenada
* Oct 1983, Reagan (fearing Grenada would become communist after a military coup) assembled a 7000 strong invasion force
* No evidence of USSR or Cuban intent
* USSR viewed the invasion as an example of US imperialism and ordered Soviet negotiators out of the Geneva talks
* USA forced to use its veto in the UN against a censure
* Reagan says that Grenada was 'a Soviet-Cuban colony... we got there just in time'
126
US intervention in Nicaragua
1979
* 1971-9, Civil War between Somoza regime (controlled since 1936) and the left-wing FSLN
* July 1979, FSLN successfully overthrow the Somoza regime
* USA provides backing to the Contras (rebels)due to concern over Soviet/Cuban influence over the region
* Reagan adminstration carried out illegal and questionable activities, mined Nicaraguan harbours
* STRAINS DETENTE
127
US intervention in El Salvador
1979-84
* Oct 1979, coup overthrows the unpopular repressive regime (replaced with revolutionary military government)
* USA provided support to the military government (around $1 bill by 1984) due to concern of instability/falling to influence of communism etc
* STRAINS DETENTE, US INTERVENING TO PREVENT COMMUNIST INFLUENCE
