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Detente and the 'Second Cold War', 1970 to 85
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In the 1970s the superpowers tried to reduce tension, a policy called detente. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 brought it to an end.
Detente
Detente means a relaxing of tension.
SALT 1 (1972): Nixon and Brezhnev limited anti-ballistic missile systems and froze numbers of some nuclear missiles.
Helsinki Accords (1975): 35 countries accepted Europe's borders, agreed to cooperate, and promised to respect human rights.
SALT 2 (1979) was signed by Carter and Brezhnev, but the US Senate never ratified it.
SALT 1 (1972): Nixon and Brezhnev limited anti-ballistic missile systems and froze numbers of some nuclear missiles.
Helsinki Accords (1975): 35 countries accepted Europe's borders, agreed to cooperate, and promised to respect human rights.
SALT 2 (1979) was signed by Carter and Brezhnev, but the US Senate never ratified it.
The end of detente
In December 1979 the USSR invaded Afghanistan.
The Carter Doctrine (1980) said the USA would use force to defend its interests in the Persian Gulf.
The USA led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics; the USSR and its allies boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Carter Doctrine (1980) said the USA would use force to defend its interests in the Persian Gulf.
The USA led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics; the USSR and its allies boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Reagan and the Second Cold War
Ronald Reagan became president in 1981. He called the USSR an 'evil empire' and greatly increased military spending.
In 1983 he announced the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), nicknamed 'Star Wars': a plan for space-based defences against nuclear missiles. The USSR could not afford to match it.
In 1983 he announced the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), nicknamed 'Star Wars': a plan for space-based defences against nuclear missiles. The USSR could not afford to match it.
Explain the importance of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for US-Soviet relations.
- It convinced the USA that the USSR was expanding.
- The US Senate refused to ratify SALT 2, and Carter announced the Carter Doctrine.
- The Olympic boycotts followed, so detente ended and a 'Second Cold War' began.
Answer: It ended detente and began a new period of hostility.
Detente: SALT 1 1972, Helsinki 1975, SALT 2 1979 (not ratified). Afghanistan December 1979; Carter Doctrine; Olympic boycotts 1980 and 1984. Reagan from 1981; SDI 1983.
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