Beginning of dtente and treaties of 1967 & 1968: The 1967 Outer Space Treaty meant no nuclear weapons could be placed in space by either superpower The 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty agreed that neither superpower would supply nuclear weapons to other states or help them develop them.
SALT 1, Helsinki Conference, Apollo-Soyuz mission: SALT 1: o The USA and USSR agreed there would be no more production of strategic ballistic missiles. o Both powers stated that submarines carrying nuclear weapons would only be introduced when the existing stocks of intercontinental ballistic missiles became obsolete o The ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty meant that both sides could have two ABM systems each that would allow them to shoot down incoming nuclear missiles. Helsinki Agreements: o Security o Co-operation o Human Rights o The Helsinki Agreement recognised Soviet control over Eastern Europe, concluded a trade agreement, and Russia promised to respect human rights (which it later ignored and confirmed the iron curtain). The Apollo-Soyuz mission o A joint space mission where an American Apollo spacecraft and a Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked high above the earth o Demonstrated co-operation in space, different to the race of the 60s between the superpowers
Kabul Revolution: April 1978 - dramatic overthrow of gov. & new communist president Mohammed Taraki wanted to build socialism in Afghanistan became an ally of USSR. Opportunity for Brezhnev to extend his power into the oil rich middle east. By 1979: civil war broke out between Islamic fighters and the government so Taraki was forced to accept Hafizullah Amin head of the army - as the prime minister. October 1979: Amin supporters assassinated Taraki and Amin claimed Presidency.
Reasons for soviet invasion of Afghanistan: Amin was communist but rumoured to be an American spy so USSr didnt trust him, also unpopular with many muslims so if the muslims took over many nearby Soviet Republics would do the same and become non communist Islamic States. Brezhnev believed the USA would tolerate the invasion to prevent war. Soviets killed Amin and Babrak Kamal became president. Over ten years 1.5 million people died in the disastrous invasion.
President Carters immediate reaction to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: Carter Doctrine: USA wouldnt allow USSR to gain territory in the oil-rich Middle East, formed an alliance with China and Israel to support afghan rebels so the CIA provided weapons for the Islamic organisation that was fighting to free Afghanistan from Soviets (Mujahiden), he imposed economic sanctions that virtually stopped all soviet trade, he ended diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.
Failure of SALT 2: As a consequence of the Afghanistan invasion, the US senate refused to ratify the treaty so it never became law.
American boycott of Moscow Olympics: Around sixty countries refused to attend the games as a form of protest of the invasion and instead created a alternative Olympics in Philadelphia , called the Olympic Boycott Games.
What is the Second Cold War: The period between 1979 and 1985, which represented a new low in superpower relations.
President Reagans attitude: Dtente fell apart under President Carter. Reagan (1981) wanted to win the Cold War by fighting again. He rejected the idea of peaceful co- existence.
Evil Empire speech: Speech of March 1983, cold war was a moral war and America had a moral duty to invest in nuclear wars to fight the aggressive impulses of an evil empire.
Reagans vision of SDI: Strategic Defence Initiative (Star Wars, SDI) planned to create an umbrella that would intercept soviet nuclear missiles in space and destroy them before they could do any harm. Broke the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which effectively ended dtente and peace in space.
Problems created by SDI: Broke dtente, USSR could not keep up with the arms race. Soviet economy was falling and feared computers and new technology would undermine communism and provide opportunities for opposition.
Shift in the arms race: The space race became an arms race and the USSR couldnt catch up.
Gorbachevs vision for communism: He hoped to be communisms saviour as its last leader
Gorbachevs relationship with the west: At his first meeting with Reagan in 1985 he stated that Reagan was primitive and he looks like a caveman and is mentally retarded.
Gorbachevs new thinking: Perestroika (restructuring) economic reforms to make the struggling soviet economy more efficient. Glasnost (openness) censorship of the press was to be relaxed.
1985 USA USSR Strengths Booming economy Computer technology Space technology Conventional military forces Leaders of the free world NATO allies Warsaw Pact Allies Greater number of allies than the USA Weaknesses Fewer nuclear missiles than the USSR Expensive Afghan War Failing economy Old technology Ruined reputation by Chernobyl
Three Summits and the INF Treaty: Geneva o November 1985 Reagan wanted to persuade peace and Gorbachev (even though he was weaker) wanted Reagan to drop the SDI programme. o Personal relationship although no decision on arms control. Reykjavik o October 1986 more ambitious Reagan wanted to scrap all ballistic nuclear missiles but wouldnt drop his SDI programme. INF Treaty o Treaty eliminated all nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5500 kilometres. o First treaty to reduce number of nuclear missiles between superpowers.
Gorbachevs attitude to Eastern Europe: December 1988 he announced USSR would no longer solely trade with communist states over capitalist. Keen for Eastern European states to have glasnost and perestroika. Withdrew soviet troops from Eastern Europe to save money.
Break-up of Eastern Bloc: Gorbachev unable to contain reform. Importance of: Ronald Reagan Mikhail Gorbachev Leonid Brezhnev Jimmy Carter Boris Yeltsin
Important Events: 1967 Outer Space Treaty 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty 1972 SALT 1 1975 Helsinki Conference 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission 1978 Kabul Revolution 1979 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1980 Moscow Olympic Games 1983 Reagans Evil Empire speech 1983 Reagan proposes SDI 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games 1985 Geneva Summit 1986 Chernobyl disaster 1986 Reykjavik Summit 1987 INF Treaty 1989 Communist gov. falls in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall 1991 Warsaw Pact dissolved 1991 Gang of Eight removes Gorbachev from power 1991 Gorbachev resigns and announces the fall of the Soviet Union