end of the cold war 1970-91

detente

during 1970s usa and soviet union adopted detente

this helped both as each could spend on social problems instead of arms without the risk of war

SALT 1

strategic arms limitation treaty

antiballistic missile treaty: max 100 missiles in two sites

interim treaty: restricted number of icbms and slbms

helsinki accords

baskets of agreements

1- borders not to be altered

2- work closer together

3- respect human rights

SALT 2

detente was beginning to fade

american diplomats taken as hostages in tehran

american citizens urged action to be taken

soviet invasion of afghanistan

done to prevent muslim fundamentalism spreading

however america saw this as soviet union trying to spread communism

caused president carter to increase arms spending and withdraw salt 2

reagan and the second cold war

reagan doctrine: usa would support anti communist govts trying to support anticommunist govts trying to overthrow communist govts

reagan convinced congress to increase arms spending by over 20%

SDI; reagan anounced lasers in orbit to shoot down missiles

these changes triggered gorbachevs new thinking

gorbachevs new thinking

perestroika; reform. he wanted to reform the soviet state to include practices that made capitalism succesful

glasnost; transparency. people would be allowed to oppose the government

results of gorbachevs new thinking, summits

washington summit:

• signed the inf treaty, less land missiles

moscow summit:

• warsaw pact troops to leave afghanistan

matla summit:

• marked the end of the cold war

soviet dissolution

1989 gorbachev refuses to help east germany put down demonstrations

1989 ‘velvet revolution’ in czechslovakia

1989 yugoslavia vote to be independant

berlin wall fell and warsaw pact ended

europe reunited.

satellite states gained independence

gorbachev resigned under heavy opposition from communists