2. detente why and impact
TRANSCRIPT
LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Explain the reasons that Détente took place between the USA and USSR
• Describe the impact of Détente
The process of détente in the 1970s ensured that, for a time at least, tensions were
reduced between the USA and USSR. But why did this happen?
There were four main reasons that détente
took place:
1.The Vietnam War2.Money problems in
the USA and Soviet Union
3.Fear of war4.China
The Vietnam War
Vietnam had caused a huge shock for the
USA.
It had struggled to beat a small, poor
country. And thousands of US
soldiers had lost their lives.
As a result of Vietnam, the US was much less confident
about Cold War victory.
It had also grown tired of overseas
war and did not want to fall into another
one.
Fear of war
Both sides also worried about what could happen in a
nuclear war.
The Cuban Missile Crisis had shown how
close such a war could be and caused fear amongst both sides'
leaders.
People in east and west were also scared
of nuclear war.
In the west the campaign group CND
(Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) was
strong. This led to countries such as France and the UK
putting pressure on the USA too.
Money problems
Both sides were also facing money problems in
the 1970s.
The USA and USSR were both struggling to pay for domestic policies e.g.
education, employment so could not afford to keep
building weapons.
In 1973, each sides’ financial problems became even worse.
The 1973 Oil Price Crisis saw the price of oil quadruple, which
led to price increases for all products in all
countries.
China
China had a, influence on détente, especially
after developing nuclear weapons in
1964.
Although it was officially a Communist country, China was not a firm supporter of the Soviet Union.
The USA and China began to develop better
relations. US President Richard Nixon visited
China in 1972.
The Soviet Union worried that this relationship
would weaken them and so sought better relations
with the USA too.
There are many different theories about détente and how successful it
was.
Some people believe it played an
important role in reducing tensions; others that it had
little impact.
Nuclear weapons
SALT I and SALT II did place some limits on the number of nuclear weapons each side had.
However it didn’t stop new ones being develop, or new
countries getting their own bomb.
The Iron Curtain
The Helsinki Accords did nothing substantial.
They simply confirmed Soviet control of
Eastern Europe. And the USSR ignored promises on human
rights.
The end of détente
Although the impact of détente is debated, it is agreed that it
existed until 1979, when it came to a
sudden end.
The USA was becoming richer and so had less need to save money.
Also more people being elected in the USA favoured being firm
with the Soviet Union, not neogtiating.
The Soviet Union still needed oil.
It was worried when the pro-Soviet Afghanistan
government looked liked being
overthrown by Muslim group, the
Mujahedeen.
In December 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. This
angered the USA and ended detente.
It even led to the USA refusing to take part in the 1980 Soviet
Olympics, and the USSR doing the same in
1984.