The Rise and Fall of the Detente Era 1963-84

Question 1

Name the 4 main causes of detente

Answer 1

Distracted Superpowers

Fear of Nuclear War

Independent European Initiatives

Soviet Economic Weakness

Question 2

Explain why ‘Distracted Superpowers’ helped to cause detente

Answer 2

US and USSR needed to stabilise relations in Europe because were dealing with other conflicts:

• The Sino-Soviet Conflict
• The Vietnam War

The Soviets desired Western acceptance of their eastern Empire

Question 3

How did ‘Fear of Nuclear War’ help to cause detente?

Answer 3

Arms race led to MAD, and following the close call of the Cuban Missile Crisis - both sides willing to negotiate to avoid nuclear war

Question 4

Explain why ‘Independent European Initiatives’ helped to cause detente

Answer 4

France and the FRG less confident in the US’s desire to defend them, so wanted to assert their independence by:

1. France left NATO + developed the EEC looking for USSR cooperation.
2. The FRG desire to reunify with through peacful means (Ostpolitik)

Question 5

Explain why ‘Soviet Economic Weakness’ helped to cause detente?

Answer 5

Because of Khrushchev’s overspending, the USSR needed to boost economy by:

1. Cutting the arms race
2. Gaining access to Western consumer goods _{^{(get some butter in there)}}

Question 6

What was the US’s aim for Arms limitation?

Answer 6

Reduce the threat of their use

Question 7

What has the period after the Cuban Missile Crisis up until 1975 been known as?

Why?

Answer 7

The ‘Long Peace’

Due to a stabilisation in relations that caused detente

Question 8

Why, despite both being Communist, did the Sino-Soviet conflict occur?

What was the specific conflict and when?

Answer 8

Mao: Thought the Soviets were appeasers of capitalism

Soviets: Felt that the Chinese wanted to overthrow them as the leading Communist state

They fought the Sino-Soviet border conflict in 1969

Question 9

To contain the spread of Communism from North Vietnam, what 2 actions had the US taken by 1966?

Answer 9

Placed over 500,000 troops in South Vietnam

Fought a bitter guerilla war with Vietcong fighters

Question 10

What was the impact of the US’s guerilla war with the Vietcong on:

1. The troops themselves?
2. The US public?
3. The US’s NATO allies?

Answer 10

1. Troops: huge loss of life and morale
2. Public: huge loss of support
3. NATO: respect (did not support US actions)

Question 11

What was the end result of the Vietnam War?

Answer 11

• 1972: The US pull out of Vietnam having failed to make significant progress
• 1975: The South successfully invaded by the North

Question 12

How did the US, in 1972, exploit the Sino-Soviet split?

Answer 12

1972:

Nixon visited Mao and agreed to rapprochement in relations

Made the USSR seek improved relations with US (to avoid being ganged up on)

Question 13

When was the Test Ban Treaty signed?

What did it pledge?

Who signed it?

Who didn’t?

Answer 13

1963

Banned nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space

Signed by:

• USA
• Britain
• USSR

NOT signed by:

• France
• China

Question 14

When was the Non-Proliferation Treaty signed?

What did it pledge?

Who signed it?

Answer 14

July 1968

Pledged:

1. Not to transfer nuclear weapons to other countries
2. Not to assist their manufacture

Signed by:

• USA
• Britain
• USSR
• FRG

Question 15

When was SALT (I) signed?

What did it pledge?

What allowances did it make for the USSR?

Who signed it?

Answer 15

May 1972

1. Froze construction of missile launchers, SLBMs and long-range bombers
2. They were only allowed two anti-ballistic missile screens ensuring MAD

The USSR was allowed more missiles as the US had more MIRVs that could hit multiple targets

Between US and USSR

Question 16

When was SALT (II) created?

What did it pledge?

Why did the US never ratify it?

Answer 16

June 1979

Pledged further arms limitations

US never ratified because the Soviets invaded Afghanistan

Question 17

When did France withdraw from NATO?

Answer 17

In 1966

Question 18

Why did France try to weaken the USA financially in 1966?

Answer 18

1. In order to enhance national prestige
2. To end the ‘bloc’ mentality of the Cold War

Question 19

What did France’s attempting to weaken the US financially almost lead to?

What was the actual result?

Answer 19

Almost led to a US withdrawal from Europe

BUT

President Johnson persuaded the Senate to maintain a presence due to his negotiations with Brezhnev over arms limitations

Question 20

How did West Germany hope to achieve their long-term goal of reuniting with the East in detente?

Answer 20

Through Ostpolitik

Question 21

Briefly define Ostpolitik

Answer 21

Recognising the division of Europe and post-war borders to gain better relations

Question 22

Which two countries did West Germany set up trade missions with in pursuit of Ostpolitik?

Answer 22

Yugoslavia + Romania

Question 23

When was the Hamel Report signed?

What did it pledge?

Was it good for detente?

Answer 23

1967

It committed NATO to defending the West

BUT

Also committed tp reaching detente with the East

Good diplomatic compromise

Question 24

What did the USSR create to try to stop satellite states from creating independent initiatives with the West?

Answer 24

Through the Bucharest Declaration:

Attempted to define what the whole bloc wanted from detente

Question 25

How did Brezhnev justify the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops? What did this principle become known as?

Answer 25

**The Brezhnev Doctrine** A **threat** to socialism in **one country** was a threat to the **others** - justified *collective intervention*

Question 26

When did Willy Brandt become Chancellor of the FRG?

Answer 26

1964

Question 27

What was Willy Brandt significant plan for foreign policy known as?

Answer 27

Ostpolitik

Question 28

How did Brandt gain support from other naitons for Ostpolitik?

Answer 28

By emphasising that he **did not wish to quit** NATO or the EEC

Question 29

When was the Moscow Treaty signed? Who was it between? What did it declare?

Answer 29

August **1970** FRG and USSR Declared that: 1. They had **no territorial claims** 2. The **Polish frontier** was '**invoilable**'

Question 30

How did the Moscow Treaty benefit: 1. The USSR? 2. The FRG?

Answer 30

1. The Soviets had their **Empire recognised** 2. Societs conceded that the FRG had the **right to work for unification**

Question 31

Briefly define the Warsaw and Prague Treaties?

Answer 31

Similar agreements to the **Moscow Treaty** except for **Poland** and **Czechoslovakia** e.g. no claim to territory and borders '**invoilable**'

Question 32

When was the Four-Power Treaty on Berlin signed? What did it pledge?

Answer 32

September **1971** Pledged: 1. The USSR allowed **unimpeded traffic** between **West Berlin** and **FRG** 2. Recognition of **ties** between West Berlin and FRG 3. Recognition of the right of West Berliners to **visit the East** 4. USA, UK, and France agree that West Berlin **not legally part of the FRG**

Question 33

When was the Basic Treaty signed?

Answer 33

December 1972 1. The FRG recognised the GDR as an **equal and sovereign state** 2. Both FRG and GDR represented at the **UN**

Question 34

When were the **Helsinki Accords** signed?

Answer 34

August **1975**

Question 35

What was in 'basket one' of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 35

1. Insistence on the **peaceful settlement** of disputes 2. Insistence on the **inviolability** of borders

Question 36

What was in 'basket two' of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 36

Stressed **cooperation** in: 1. Economics 2. Science 3. Technology 4. The environment

Question 37

What was in 'basket three' of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 37

Called for **cooperation** in: 1. **Humanitarian** areas 2. **Cultural** areas

Question 38

How did hardliners like Ronald Reagan see the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 38

As a 'new Yalta' accepting **Soviet abuses**

Question 39

How did some people see the Helsinki Accords in reference to the Soviet Empire?

Answer 39

As a '**time-bomb**' at the heart of the Soviet Empire that was **undermining** it - the USSR unlikely to stick to **human rights agreements**

Question 40

How did the Soviets damage relations with the West in **1976**?

Answer 40

By placing **SS-20** medium range nuclear missiles in **central Europe**

Question 41

What happened in **1979** that spelled the end for detente? And what US response destroyed detente?

Answer 41

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan **1983**: US put **Pershing and Cruise Missiles** in Europe

Question 42

What stance did Margaret Thatcher take on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 42

Same **hardline** stance taken by Reagan **against** the **USSR**

Question 43

What were the FRG and Francedetermined not to let derail Ostpolitik?

Answer 43

The Soviet invasion of **Afghanistan**

Question 44

How did the FRG try to **maintain detente** as the Solidarity Crisis was happening in Poland in 1984? How did this compare to the US and UK?

Answer 44

Tried **not to criticise** the suppression of Solidarity - unlike **US and UK**

Question 45

What was the USSR's aim for arms limitation?

Answer 45

Prevent the USA gaining an advantage

Question 46

What were the economic improvements achieved as a result of detente?

Answer 46

* **1974-5 96% rise in West-USSR trade** * **FRG** support for **Romania** + **GDR** * US **reduce defence** spending after Vietnam

Question 47

What were the limitations to economic improvement under detente?

Answer 47

**Jackson-Vanik Amendment** stops US-USSR trade **Continued economic decline** in USSR **COMECON** **Weakness** of eastern economy highlighted by poor conditions in **Poland 1980-82**

Question 48

What evidence is there that US foreign policy led to the 'new Cold War' 1979-84?

Answer 48

* **Carter** highlighted **human rights abuses** creating instabilty in east * **Reagan** takes **hardline**'Evil Empire' stance * Supports **Solidarity** 1980-82 * **New arms race** (SDI + Perishing 1983)

Question 49

What evidence is there that Soviet policy led to the 'new Cold War' 1979-84?

Answer 49

* **SS20s** in eastern Europe **1976** * Invasion of **Afghanistan 1979** * Shot down **Korean** pane **1983** * **Fear of US** by 'old guard' **Andropov** + **Chernenko** * Ineffective leadership