The Summits Between USA and the USSR 1985-88 Chap 22

What was the first summit and when

The Geneva Summit 1985

who attended the geneva conference

Reagan and a new Soviet leader Gorbachev

what were the geneva relations like and what were they described as doing

there was good chemistry between the two leaders

described as having ‘fireside chats’

what did the relations show at the geneva conferencr

both men had shifted their thinking about east-west relations towards being more open

why did reagan change his views

deeply scared of nuclear confrontation due to watching American TV show ‘The Day After’

what did reagan say to prove his change and when

State of Union Adress - ‘My dream is to see the day when nuclear weapons will be banished from the face of earth’

why did the USSR views change

gorbachev only saw a future for the arms race if they exited the arms race

what proved the change in views of the USSR

gorbachev declared an end tonthe ideological struggle between capitalism and communism

was there any tension at the geneva summit

there was tension over Reagan’s SDI with it leading to the agreement to another summit

what were the results of the Geneva summit

ensurement of the fact that a deeper process of détente was taking place

what was the 2nd summit and when did it take place

The Reykjavik summit 1986

what was the ussr experience like at the reykjavik summit

they condeded to many of the ussr’s demands due to their desperation to exit the cold war

how was the reykjavik summit seen at the time

as a failure due to no clear agreements being made

SDI was left for discussion at future summits

what was the true result of the reykjavik summit

the warm relations of geneva were built on as both sides gained a greater understanding of each other

what and when was the next summit after reykjavik

the washington summit 1987

what took place regarding missiles at the Washington summit?

major success in the form of the the intermediate- range Nuclear Forces Treaty or INF treaty of 1987

What was the INF treaty and what types did it include

destruction of all intermediate range missiles (500 to 5,500) held

american cruise missiles, soviet ss20’s

why was the INF treaty significant

first cold war agreement to remove a entire class/type of missiles

each country was allowed to observe either sides deconsteuction

soviet drop: right to point ss20’s at china, opposition to brit/france holding nuclear,

what territory change was decided at the washington summit

Gorbachev forms plan to withdraw from afghanistan announcing it publically in 1988 and taking place may 1989

why was the washington summit significant

large progress on real world problems

unexpected soviet cooperation and concessions

points largely to end of cold war

What was the next summit after washington and when

the moscow summit 1988

where there any concrete agreements at the moscow summit

only concrete agreements on student exchange programmes and fishing rights

what was the siginificance of the moscow summit

reagan was able to meet the russian people

at the moscow summit how did reagan utilise the location

reagan delivered a key speach at the moscow university covering topics about freedom and the vision of a future democratic russia

how was reagan’s moscow speach recieved

with great enthusiasm from the students and general public who were weary of the failures of communism

at the moscow summit what question was asked and how did reagan respond to it

reagan was asked if still saw the ussr as an the ‘evil empire’ and he responded ‘no. that was another time, another era’

when did reagan’s SDI start

reagan ordered the huge research programme to begin early 1983

what does SDI stand for

SDI is reagan’s strategic defence initiative

what was SDI

a system or shield to defend the usa from soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles

what was the secondary goal of the SDI

reagan believed it would render the soviet missile arsenal obsolete therefore allowing both sides to abolish nuclear weapons

how would the SDI operate

satelllites would track and shoot down icbms with lasers

why was the SDI nicknamed star wars

the release of the 1977 star wars film mixed with the titling of the USSR as the ‘evil empire’

how did the USSR view the SDI

as an escalation of arms race into space and progression of advanced technology that they could not afford to recreate

how did the USSR tackle the SDI

attempted to have it cancelled in the Geneva and Reykjavik summits then gave up by washington due to desperation to exit the cold war

was was the europe perspective of the SDI

Britain - skepticism regarding if it would work

France - fear it would increase tension

Ended up supporting it especially Germany’s Chancellor Helmut kohl

How did europes support of the SDI effect the USSR

the USSR were convinced it would become reality

what was the long term effect of the SDI

it was essential in cementing in the USSR’s mind it could no longer compete in the cold war bringing about the end of it

when did reagan retire and who came after and when

reagan retired in 1988 with the repulbican George H.W Bush taking office in January 1989

How did Bush view Gorbachev

key personality for developments, unsecure position, that he could not afford to undermine him

what why gorbachev in a weak position

his new thinking ‘glasnost’ and ‘perestroika’ policies were delivering to the public

the ‘hardline’ top rankers in communist party didnt like the consessions to american and could oust him

who tried to influence bush regarding gorbachev and the ussr

Condoleeza Rice, specialist adviser on soviet affairs, tried to convince bush the ‘new thinking’ policies were a trick to wrong foot the usa

how did gorbachev react to push back on improving relations

became more explicit in declaring the cold war as over in his eyes

July 1989 praised idea of ‘common european home’ in a speech rejecting notion of military blocs

how was gorbachevs july 1989 speech taken

a siginal for the end of soviet control over eastern europe and the end of the warsaw pact

was did gorbachevs july 1989 speach lead to

wave of anti communist revolutions across europe specifically the fall of the berlin wall in november 1989 which was a icon of the cold war divide

what would be the fina agreement of the cold war

bush would sign START in july 1991 due to fear of gorbachev’s instability following the revolutions

when would the soviet union collapse

december 1991