1.7, 1.8 - Second Cold War

Vocabulary flashcards covering the rise and fall of Detente, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties, the Helsinki Accords, and the escalating tensions of the Second Cold War.

SALT 2 - 1979

An agreement aimed to limit nuclear weapons. more complex and detailed than SALT 1

Why relations started to fade

• Democrats and republics both believed USSR can’t be trusted

• USSR backed communist groups

• USA embassy in Iran taken 60 american hostages for 444 days, public humilation

• USA wanted stronger, more aggressive policy

Why did SALT 2 fail?

• soviet invasion of Afghanistan in Dec 1979 marked end of detente. seen as soviet aggression

• USA lost trust

• Carter withdrew SALT 2 from the senate while still being approved

Why did USSR invade?

When brehznev heard Afghanistan leader Amin was talking to USA about possible support, he decided to act - assasinated Amin on 27th december

Moscow Olympics Boycott

A $1980$ event where over $60$ nations boycotted the games in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, showed influence USA had on others, USA told if their atheletes went their passports would be gone, USSR was furious

SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative)

A program made public on March $1983$, nicknamed 'Star Wars', which broke the $1967$ Outer Space Treaty.

Gorbachev new thinking

• become leader of USSR, march 1985

• fix USSR problems

• oversaw collapse of USSR

Reagan saw this as a real chance to end the cold war, and adopt a more open approach to the USSR