End of the Cold War

What was detente and how did it happen

It was a period of cooling tensions after the crises

What were the three parts of detente

• SALT 1

• Helsinki conference

• SALT 2

What did SALT stand for

Strategic arms limitation treaty

What were the agreements of SALT 1

Both sides promised to stop creating intercontinental ballistic missiles and ballistic missiles

What were the positive and negative consequences of SALT 1

+ve = reduced tensions and slowed the arms race

-ve = both sides still continued to create intermediate ballistic missiles

What were the terms of the Helsinki conference

• recognised border between east and west Germany

• Fostered trade

• Sharing scientific knowledge

• Settled conflicts via the UN

• Respected human rights

What were the positive and negative consequences of the Helsinki conference

+ve = decreased tensions

-ve = USSR maintained brehznev doctrine and they didn’t respect human rights

What was SALT 2

A treaty to reduced the amount of nuclear weapons to 2250 on both sides

Who disagreed with SALT 2

Margaret thatcher who believed that nukes kept the world safe as both sides feared MAD

Why did SALT 2 fail

• a 2250 weapons were still a lot

• It was never signed due to the soviet afghan war

Why did USSR intervention in Afghanistan start

Due to a civil war caused by the communist leader, Taraki being assassinated by Amina, a politician

Who opposed the soviets in Afghanistan

The mujahadeen who were a group trying to take control of the country who believed communism promoted atheism

Why did the US intervene with Afghanistan

They didn’t want communism to spread to Iran and the Persian gulf as they had ties

How did the US intervene with Afghanistan

• imposed economic sanctions

• Supported mujahadeen

• Instated the carter doctrine

What was the carter doctrine

It stated that if the USSR tried to gain control of the gulf, the US would use force

What did war with Afghanistan lead to

A period of rising tensions known as the second Cold War

Why did tensions rise at first during the second Cold War

Carter was succeeded by Reagan who was harshly anti communist and called USSR an evil empire and increased military spending

What was the Strategic defence initiative

Reagan wanted to develop weapons in space which could destroy nukes via lasers

What were the consequences of SDI

• it worsened relations as it shifted balance to US Due to USSRs lack of money

• it was seen as act of aggression as it broke the outer pace treaty

Who was the USSR leader after Brehznev

Andropov

Who was the USSR leader after Andropov

Chernenko

Who was the USSR leader after Chernenko

Gorbachev

What did Gorbachev inherit from brehznev

A bad economy, a war with Afghanistan and low living standards

What were the two terms of Gorbachev new thinking

Perestroika and Glastnost

What did perestroika do

It made the economy better via decentralisation, trade with west, ending of arms race, reduction of military spending

What did glastnost do

Freedom of speech, relaxed censorship, voting reforms and removal of corruption

What did Gorbachevs new thinking lead to

• abandonment of brehznev doctrine

• INF treaty

• Withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

• Decreased military spending

What was the INF treaty

Banned the making of intermediate missiles on both sides

How did Reagan view on communism change

He was charmed by Gorbachev rizz as he was open to the west and he proposed reforms which improved relations

What encouraged opposition against communism

The abandonment of the brehznev doctrine which lead to USSR losing control of satellite states and Gorbachev withdrawing troops from Eastern Europe

When did the Berlin Wall fall

1989

Why did the Berlin Wall fall

• East Germans could easily travel to west Germany as Hungary opened borders with Austria

• Gorbachev decided to take down the wall and he promised free elections which showed the public that USSR was losing control

Which countries became non communist as a result of Gorbachev allowing free elections

Poland, Hungary etc.

What was the major sign for the public that communism was over

Germany was reunified in 1990

Why did the Baltic republic become independent

They were inspired by success of east Europe and glasnost allowed it. Regardless of the power they were offered, they disagreed and became independent

Why did Gorbachev face oppositions within his own party

Some wanted more reforms whereas others wanted to return to old policies as the reforms didn’t provide much benefit to the economy

What happened due to the opposition against Gorbachev

A coup was arranged where they forced Gorbachev to resign but this was condemned by Yeltsin who was a politician. He rallied opposition against coup which showed how much communism failed

What happened on Christmas Day 1991

• Gorbachev resigned in 1991

• USSR dissolution followed and republics such as Latvia became independent

• Russia was the largest republic who was led by Yeltsin who adopted capitalism