changes in cold war relationships lo: explain how the cold war progressed after vietnam
TRANSCRIPT
Changes in Cold War Relationships
LO: Explain how the Cold War progressed after Vietnam
End of Vietnam
1973 = US troops leave Vietnam
1976 = Ho Chi Minh had made Vietnam a single Communist country
In pairs, think of 3 reasons why both superpowers would welcome
detente• To reduce the risk of a
nuclear war
• To reduce the cost of the arms race
• Learnt lesson from Vietnam war (wanted better relations with USSR and China)
Nixon was a strong anti-Communist but wanted friendly relations with the USSR and China in 1970s.
I want to…
limit the arms race
Discourage Soviet and Chinese expansion
The USA and China were still distrustful of the USSR but were prepared to ‘hold their noses’ and improve relations with each other.
1971 – USA agreed that communist China should join the United Nations
The US table tennis team played matches in Peking, giving rise to the term ‘ping-pong diplomacy’
1972 – Nixon made an historic ‘journey for peace’ in China
Chronology – Put the events in order in your books
Ping-Pong Diplomacy
Nixon wantsdetente
China joinsUN
USSR and China‘hold their noses’
Nixon - Journey for
Peace
Détente with the USSR
1972 – Nixon flew to Moscow (the first president to do so since FDR in 1944)
SALT: Strategic Arm Limitation Talks
• SALT I (1972)
• Limited number of ICBMs (missiles) and ABMs
• Agreed not to test ICBMs
Helsinki Accords, 1975
• 37 countries (including USA and USSR) signed an agreement
• High point of détente
• USA recognised frontiers of Eastern Europe and Soviet dominance there
• Promise to respect basic human rights
SALT: Strategic Arm Limitation Talks
• SALT II (1979) • President Carter of USA tried to
get further deals on arms limitations
• Slow progress• 1979 – Soviet Union invaded
Afghanistan• Diplomatic links broken• Carter withdrew US Olympic team
from 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.
Reagan – The 80s
•Aggressive anti-Soviet policy
•Both sides developing new weapons
•USA developed neutron bomb – could kill many people without much damage to property
Star Wars1983 – US scientists began
working on the Strategic Defence Initiative or “Star Wars”.
This was a kind of giant shield in space which would shoot down enemy missiles.
One reason for this was to bring down communism in the USSR by forcing the USSR to spend huge sums of money on arms rather than other investments.
Despite this, talks on reducing arms continued.
START: (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks) aimed to reduce nuclear weapons but little progress was made and the treaty was never signed.
Match the Key Words to their meanings
“Star Wars” US President in the 1980s
Detente Type of missile
Reagan Giant shield in space that could shoot down enemy missiles
ICBM Strategic Arms Limitations Talks
SALT Agreement signed by 37 countries to recognise Soviet frontiers and agree on basic human rights
Helsinki Accords Relaxation
START Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
The End of the Cold War
1987 – Both USA and USSR agrees to destroy all medium- and short-range weapons in Europe within three years
1989 – Soviet troops left Afghanistan
1989 – Gorbachev tells leaders of communist-controlled Eastern Europe
We will no longer be able to defend you
In other words, the Soviet Union was
removing its control from Eastern Europe
What might happen to
communist-controlled countries
In Europe?
During the next 12 months, communist governments throughout Eastern Europe were overthrown.
The Cold War had ended.
Communist control of Eastern Europe had collapsed.
Chronology – Put the events in order in your books
Nixon fliesTo Moscow
HelsinkiAccords
SALT I
Soviets leaveof Afghanistan
SALT II
1979Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
1980USA boycott
Moscow Olympics
Star Wars
STARTGorbachev
wants detente
Berlin Wallfalls
End of Cold War