detente

• What was the main focus of the arms race after World War II?

  Developing missiles with nuclear warheads
• What does 'Mutually Assured Destruction' (MAD) imply?

  Both sides would be destroyed in a war
• How did the Cuban Missile Crisis impact USA-Soviet relations?

  It showed leaders could lose control of events
• What was the policy of détente aimed at achieving?

  • A more co-operative relationship
  • Stability in international relations
  • Avoiding nuclear war
• Who was elected president of the USA in 1968?

  Richard Nixon
• What was Nixon's goal regarding the Vietnam War?

  To take the USA out of the war
• What internal issues did the USA face in the late 1960s?

  Social problems and urban rioting
• What triggered the urban rioting in 1968?

  The assassination of Martin Luther King
• What economic issues was the Soviet Union facing?

  Economic problems and high military spending
• Why did the Soviet Union seek better relations with the USA?

  To cut spending on weapons and improve living standards
• What did the Soviets believe about their nuclear capabilities?

  They were equals to the USA in capability
• What lesson did the Vietnam War teach the Soviets about the USA?

  The USA military was not unbeatable
• What would be a 'safe' policy for the Soviets regarding military spending?

  Improving relations and spending less on weapons
• what does MAD stand for?

  mutually assured destruction
• mutually WHAT!!!

  Assured destruction
• who was the president during the period of detente

  Nixon
• | helsinki accords

  • 33 nations from NATO & warsaw pact met to build co-operation
  • announced 3 baskets on august 1975

  1. european borders

  • borders are inviolable, cannot be altered by force

  1. international co operation

  • will continue to work for closer relations between west & USSR-controlled countries eg: trade & joint space mission

  1. human rights

  • respect rights & individual freedom & free movement across europe
• how many nations met to make the helsinki accords?

  33
• what were each of the three baskets

  1. european borders
  2. international co-operation
  3. human rights
• what year were the 3 baskets made

  1975
• | Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)

  • Date Signed: 📅 May 1972
• Key Agreements for SALT 1:

  • Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty
  • Allowed only two sites per country with max 100 missiles each.
  • Interim Treaty 🚀
  • Limits on ICBMs & SLBMs:
  • USA: 1,054 ICBMs & 740 SLBMs
  • USSR: 1,618 ICBMs & 740 SLBMs
  • Soviet Union allowed more ICBMs since the USA had more strategic bombers.
  • Basic Principles Agreement ⚖️
  • Restrictions on nuclear warfare (e.g., no warheads on seabed).
  • Commitment to avoid nuclear conflict by exercising restraint.
• Significance of SALT 1:

  • Reduced Cold War tensions between the USA & USSR.
  • First major arms control agreement between superpowers.
  • Did not end the arms race but set groundwork for future treaties
• Weaknesses of SALT 1:

  • if nuclear war was likely, it's unrealistic to expect it to be avoided just because they signed a piece of paper
  • didn't cover new tech like MIRVs
• SALT 1 was between nixon & brezhnev
• Both countries:

  • Can spend less money on nuclear weapons

  • Have more money and time to concentrate on other issues.
• | USSR & why they chose detente

  • Poor living standards
  • Economy is not developing
  • Building nuclear weapons is expensive
• | US & why they chose detente

  • Wants to focus on ending the Vietnam War
  • Needs to address social problems that led to large-scale rioting in 1968
  • Building nuclear weapons is expensive.
• interim


  treaty
• what treaty put limitations on ICBMS

  Interim
• what did interim treaty do

  Limit amount of strategic bombs
• when was SALT 1 signed?

  may 1972
• when was SALT 1 signed?

  May 1972
• when was salt 1 signed!!!!

  may 1972