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Flashcards in Detente Deck (80)
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1
Q

When did Nixon become US president?

A

1969

2
Q

What was Kissinger’s policy?

A

Realpolitik

3
Q

What does “realpolitik” mean?

A

Practical issues of arms reduction, rather than ideological differences.

4
Q

What is detente?

A

The period of relaxation whereby the US and USSR attempted to reach general agreements.

5
Q

What did Vietnam have to do with detente?

A

1969 the war US government cost $30 billion.

6
Q

What did Economics have to do with detente?

A

US - Inflation reached 6% in 1970

  • Unemployment rose to more than 5% in early 1970s
  • End of Bretton Woods currency
7
Q

What did detente offer for the US economic problems?

A

A partial solution to the USA’s economic concerns

8
Q

What is nuclear parity?

A

Reduction of arms

9
Q

Why did the USSR want nuclear parity?

A

Because they could not produce nuclear weapons as effectively as the USA

10
Q

How many nuclear weapons did the USA have compared to the USSR in 1969?

A

USA-28200

USSR-11000

11
Q

Where did inflation reach in 1970?

A

6%

12
Q

What did unemployment rise to in the USA?

A

More than 5% in the early 1970s

13
Q

What currency did they end?

A

Bretton Woods currency introducing free floating currency

14
Q

What did China have to do with detente?

A

Deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations & USA’s willingness to negotiate with China scared the USSR

15
Q

What were the reasons for detente pertaining to the THIRD WORLD?

A

Brezhnev was committed to extended USSR’s soviet influence in the 3rd world
- attempt to placate the USA so they could extend their influence without conflict

16
Q

When was the Moscow Summit?

A

May 1972

17
Q

What were the key features of the Moscow Summit?

A

Set out the basis of a new relationship between Nixon & Brezhnev
SALT - Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

18
Q

When was the SALT I treaty?

A

MAY 1972

19
Q

What were the key features of SALT I?

A

The ABM treaty
Interim Agreement on Offensive Missiles
Basic Principles Agreement
* Temporary measure & led to immediate discussions for permanent treaties SALT II

20
Q

What were the key features of the ANTI BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY?

A

USA & USSR only had 2 missile shields each
Each ABM shield restricted to 100 missiles
Further development of ABM technology was restricted & enforced by over sight commissioner

21
Q

What were the key features of the INTERIM AGREEMENT ON OFFENSIVE MISSILE?

A

Limited the number of missile launchers

Was due to last 5years w. The anticipation of a full agreement in 1977

22
Q

What were the key features of the BASIC PRINCIPLES AGREEMENT?

A

12 fundamental principles designed to underpin superpower relations

  • they would peacefully coexist
  • recognise each other as equals
  • exercise restraint to avoid conflict
  • joint commercial commission negotiated trade deals
23
Q

What were the key features of European Ostpolitik?

A

European gov. worked together to address the problems created by a divided Europe
Stabilised superpower relations EAST & WEST signed the Berlin Agreement

24
Q

When were the Helsinki Accords?

A

1975

25
Q

What were the 3 baskets of the Helsinki Accords?

A

B1- security needs - pledge to respect each other’s sovereignty
B2- economic,cultural,scientific & environmental issues - cooperate on matters of mutual interest to foster good trade
B3- human rights - pledge to respect human rights of their citizens & relax travel restrictions

26
Q

What was the significance of the Helsinki Accords?

A

B2- highlighted inferiority of communist economies

B3- travel restrictions were relaxed but it attracted Eastern Europeans to western life

27
Q

When was the Oil Price Shock?

A

OCT 1973

28
Q

What did the Oil Price Shock do?

A

OPEC - destabilised international economy
In response to the Yom Kippur War OPEC launched an oil embargo against Israel’s allies inc. USA
Led to a 4 fold increase in the price of oil in 1 year

29
Q

List the economic realities of Detente for the West.

A

West responded to OPEC with innovation & reform - creating efficient engines & new fuel sources
France spearheaded G7 to create economic stability compensating for Bretton Woods
1974&1978 return oil price to stability & the foundation of economic growth

30
Q

What were the economic realities of Detente for the East?

A

1945-70 SU economy performed relatively well reducing the wealth gap between them & USA
1970- economy began to decline

31
Q

In 1980 what was the GDP of the USSR compared to the USA?

A

The GDP of the USSR was 37% of the GDP of the USA.

32
Q

What were the 3main reasons of economic decline in the USSR??

A
  1. Brezhnev ordered the end of economic liberalisation & returned to central planning = unstained growth
  2. USSR borrowed money from the West - in 1970 inflation rates hit them hard
  3. Critics of detente in the USA tried to limit trade agreements ( Jackson-Vanick 1974 trade based on HR)
33
Q

Why was normalisation a success of detente?

A

Helsinki Accords 1975 - East & West relations could be managed
Basic Principles Agreement 1972 - established a framework for USA & USSR to resolve their differences

34
Q

Why was economic prosperity a success of detente?

A

Facilitated trade between the 2 superpowers
1974-74 USSR increase imports from the West (96%)
U.S. Defence spending reduced after withdrawal from Vietnam
1970 = $406 billion 1976 = $286 billion

35
Q

Why was the avoidance of nuclear war a success of detente?

A

SALT I treaties (1972) established dialogue between West & East decreasing nuclear war
A degree of nuclear parity agreed but reducing the arms on both sides
Reduced the competitive nature of the arms race

36
Q

What did US critics describe detente as?

A

An Amoral Policy which ignored USSR’s violations

37
Q

What did Solzhenitsyn say about detente?

A

It should not continue whilst there is political repression in the USSR

38
Q

How many Senators supported Solzhenitsyn?

A

24

39
Q

What did George Meany say about Detente?

A

It was the new appeasement as it allowed the USSR to gain strength unchallenged by the U.S.

40
Q

What did George Meany’s Union do?

A

They refused to load grain on ships to the USSR

41
Q

What did Draper say about detente?

A

Trade with the USSR allowed them to grow stronger whilst the U.S. get nothing

42
Q

What did the SALT treaties allow according to detente critics?

A

It allowed the USSR to win the CW when the USA were winning

43
Q

What were the 3 main issues at the 1976 presidential election?

A
  1. Helsinki accords were meaningless
  2. Realpolitik failed to gain US supremacy
  3. Detente was being undermined by the USSR
44
Q

Why were the Helsinki Accords meaningless?

A

EE refused to follow agreement & violated human rights winning KGB suppression of Yuri Orlov’s monitoring group 1976 - led to the closing down

45
Q

What was Ford advised not to do?

A

Detente was so unpopular he was told not to mention it

46
Q

What did USSR Critics say about detente?

A

1969 - SHELEST criticised the policy because of the Vietnam War (fighting a communist nation)

47
Q

What did tensions over Vietnam nearly lead to?

A

The cancellation of the Moscow Summit 1972

48
Q

What was Voronov Shelepin & Podgorny concerned about?

A

Detente led to a bipolar world which do nothing to challenge US dominance in the West/East

49
Q

Why did the USA exclude the USSR over the Middle East?

A

The USSR had intelligence which they did not want to share = damaged relations

50
Q

Why did Russian commitment weaken after 1974?

A

Nixon’s fall in presidency

51
Q

Why did Nixon’s fall from power raise questions?

A

It raised questions about US stability & long term relationships

52
Q

Who did Ford appoint and why did it cause fear?

A

Ford appointed Rumsfeld who was more committed to strengthening the U.S. not relations = SU were scared they could no longer count on US commitment to detente

53
Q

What were the SU concerned about?

A

That the USA wanted to fight another CW by supporting anti communist groups in the 3rd world eg. Chilean

54
Q

When did Carter become president?

A

1977

55
Q

How did Carter view the SALT talks?

A

Slow progress

56
Q

What did Carter reject?

A

Vladivostok Framework

57
Q

What did Carter announce?

A

A new nuclear project creating 200 missiles & 23 new silos as well as Trident II

58
Q

What did the USA and USSR agree on in 1974?

A

Vladivostok Framework allowing an equal ceiling of 2400 missiles & bombers

59
Q

What did technical differences about new technologies lead to?

A

Carter rejected the VF

60
Q

What treaty did Carter back down at?

A

SALT II Treaty 1979 - agreed on ceilings

61
Q

When did the USSR invade Afghanistan?

A

Dec 1979

62
Q

How many troops did the USSR send to support Muhammed Taraki?

A

50,000

63
Q

Why did USSR send troops to Kabul?

A

To maintain USSR foothold in the Middle East & protect communism under attack

64
Q

Who was in favour of detente?

A

Vance

65
Q

Who was in favour of more assertive control?

A

Brzezinski

66
Q

What did the SU invasion go beyond?

A

Brezhnev Doctrine

67
Q

What happened after the SU invasion

A

More supported Brzezinski & assertive control

68
Q

What did Carter demand?

A

The removal of troops & for Afghanistan to stay non aligned

69
Q

What did Carter do in Feb 1980?

A

Launch a grain embargo against the USSR

70
Q

Who did the USA secretly send aid & supplies to?

A

Mujahideen

71
Q

What was Carter’s goal?

A

To make the war as expensive as possible to exploit economic issues in the East

72
Q

Why did Carter seem weak?

A

SU did not withdraw troops from Afghanistan

73
Q

When did Reagan become President?

A

1980

74
Q

What did Reagan restrict with the USSR?

A

Trade & denied then access to Western Technology

75
Q

What are SDI?

A

Strategic Defence Initiative (Star Wars)

76
Q

Why were SDI’s so important?

A

They could shoot down SU missiles before they land

77
Q

What did Reagan do pertaining to the 3rd World?

A

He supported anti communist regimes & referred to the USSR as the Evil Empire throughout his rhetoric

78
Q

When was Thatcher elected Prime Minister?

A

1979

79
Q

What is term given to Thatcher & Reagan’s similar beliefs?

A

Thatcher Reagan - love in

80
Q

List the 3 things Reagan & Thatcher both believed.

A

High Taxes & big government damages private enterprise
Defence spending - dedicated to Trident - important
Evil Empire - communism was a moral evil the West had to oppose