Why did the Cold War end?

Question 1

Outer Space Treaty

Answer 1

Created in 1967, where superpowers agreed that no nuclear weapons would be placed in space

Question 2

Non Proliferation Treaty

Answer 2

Created in 1968, superpowers agreed not to supply nuclear weapons or information to other states

Question 3

Salt 1

Answer 3

Created in 1972, imposed limits on nuclear capability of both Superpowers, significant as it was the first agreement to limit their nuclear weapons.

Question 4

Helsinki Conference

Answer 4

Created in 1975, agreed greater co-operation in terms of trade, fighting terrorism and human rights and stabilised the USA and USSR’s relationship in Europe

Question 5

Apollo-Soyuz Mission

Answer 5

Created in 1975, this joint space mission showed co-operation in space exploration

Question 6

Kabul Revolution

Answer 6

Occurred in 1978, new communist president Taraki became an allu of USSR. The unstable new government in Afghanistan eventually led to civil war.

Question 7

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Answer 7

Occurred in 1979, Brezhnev ordered a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to help the communists retain control in Afghanistan. USA saw this as a clear act of aggression

Question 8

Moscow Olympics

Answer 8

Occurred in 1980, USA led a boycott of the Olympics in protest at Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Question 9

Leadership problems(USSR)

Answer 9

Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko died in quick succession between 1980-85

Question 10

Los Angeles Olympics

Answer 10

Occurred in 1984, USSR and 14 communist countries boycotted LA
Olympics in retaliation for Moscow

Question 11

Salt I specific agreements

Answer 11

The superpowers agreed:
To limit the increase in ICBMs and SLBMs(submarine-based missiles)
There would be a five year delay on the building of more missiles

Question 12

Role of Reagan

Answer 12

Reagan made his hatred for communism clear in his evil empire speech. He took a hard line against the Soviets and wanted to win the Cold War

Question 13

SDI

Answer 13

Reagan announced the Strategic Defence Initative in 1983. The idea was to find a way to he able to shoot down Soviet missiles during lasers in soace.

Question 14

Significance of Reagan’s SDis.

Answer 14

The Soviets did not have the money/technology to carry out similar research, so SDI made the Soviets look weak.
In order to compete in the arms race, the Soviet Union would risk becoming bankrupt.

Question 15

Role of Gorbachev

Answer 15

Gorbachev saw the problems in the USSR clearly. The Soviet economy was bankrupt because it couldn’t afford to support communism world-wide and compete with the USA in the nuclear arms race. The communist economic system was inefficient. He planned to revive communism through Glasnost and Perestroika. Also became more prepared to speak to the USA.

Question 16

Perestroika

Answer 16

Economic restructuring to make the economy more efficient

Question 17

Glasnost

Answer 17

New sense of openness both within the Soviet Union and also with the West

Question 18

Geneva Summit

Answer 18

Occurred in 1985, no formal agreement but Reagan and Gorbachev developed a constructive relationship

Question 19

Chernobyl disaster

Answer 19

Nuclear disaster in 1986 became a symbol of the crisis in the Soviet system

Question 20

Reykjavik Summit

Answer 20

Occurred in 1986, no major decisions but disagreements about ballistic missiles and SDI

Question 21

INF Treaty

Answer 21

Occurred in 1987, significant as it reduced the number of missiles both sides had. All missiles with a range of 500-5500km were eliminated. The treaty committed both sides to getting rid of all medium-range missiles in Europe in three years and was the first treaty to actually REDUCE the number of nuclear weapons

Question 22

Collapse of communism in Eastern Europe

Answer 22

Occurred in 1989, Gorbachev’s reforms led to increased desire for more change and communist regimes across Eastern Europe collapsed.

Question 23

Causes of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe( in 1989)

Answer 23

Human right protests - The communist states couldn’t answer those inside and outside their borders who condemned the injustices or communist society.
Economics - The Eastern bloc countries were heavily reliant on COMECON for their survival, which Gorbachev chose to aha don.
After 1985, Gorbachev refused to use Soviet or Warsaw Pact forces to control Eastern Europe.

Question 24

When was the Berlin Wall torn down?

Answer 24

In November 1989

Question 25

When was the opening of the borders?

Answer 25

In September 1989 Hungary opened its borders with Austria and East Germany opened its borders eith Austria.

Question 26

When was Ceausescu, the Romanian director, overthrown and shot!

Answer 26

December 1989

Question 27

When did communist governments resign!

Answer 27

In November 1989, the Communist governments of East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria all resigned

Question 28

Warsaw Pact dissolving

Answer 28

After collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe, the Warsaw Pact was formally dissolved in 1991

Question 29

Fall of the Soviet Union

Answer 29

In 1991, after a coup against Gorbachev by senior communist officials’ group called the Gang of Eight failed in August, he officially announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. Gorbachev’s authority was severely damaged by the coup and many senior members of the Communist Party blamed Gorbachev’s reforms for the break-up of the Eastern bloc.
Gorbachev was replaced as leader of the Soviet Union by Boris Yeltsin.