Key Questions How did American-Soviet relations improve?

1. From Cold War to Detente • Key Questions • How did American-Soviet relations improve? • Relations improved because of a desire by both sides to promote peaceful relations. • Both sides wanted to promote improved relations because of the threat of a war. • If there was a nuclear war, there would be no winners – MAD. • MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction – a balance of terror that discouraged aggression. • The huge cost of the Cold War was holding back social improvements. • In the USA, Nixon wanted to get out of Vietnam – better relations enabled this to happen. • The USSR and China both wanted better relations with the USA. • The USSR wanted US grain and technology in order to modernise its economy. • Shuttle diplomacy by Henry Kissinger for the USA encouraged a better relations. • Nixon visited China and recognised it and East Germany. • The USA and USSR signed SALT 1, which limited nuclear missiles (but not warheads). • The Helsinki (Finland) agreement recognised European frontiers. • How important was Nixon to the policy of detente? • Nixon was important because he initiated détente, he visited China and was prepared to • accept peaceful co-operation rather than confrontation.

2. From Cold War to Detente • Page 109 Notes – Nixon and Détente • Copy out the definition of Détente. • Nixon started out as a staunch anti-communist. • Because no-one could accuse him of being sympathetic to communism, he was able to • reach agreements with them. • A thaw in the Cold War was Nixon’s greatest achievement. • Reasons for détente: • - USA, USSR and China knew that they could never win a war • - USSR wanted US food and technology • - USSR and China feared each other and the USA • - USA wanted to get out of Vietnam, which meant • compromises with the communists.

3. From Cold War to Detente Nixon meets in the Oval Office with Vice President Gerald R. Ford, Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, and Chief of Staff Alexander Haig 1973

4. From Cold War to Detente • Page 110 Notes – Diplomatic Revolution • 1970 Nixon says that the USA and the communist countries should accept their • differences and try to get along instead of threatening to destroy each other. • Mainly the idea of Dr Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s foreign policy advisor. • Shuttle diplomacy, with diplomats travelling between countries. • Nixon wanted to discourage Chinese and Soviet expansion, reduce the cost of the arms. • USSR and China needed to boost their economies to produce more consumer goods for their people. • USSR and China mistrusted each other wanted • to use the USA as a bargaining counter. Dr Henry Kissinger

5. From Cold War to Detente Nixon and Bhrezhnev

6. From Cold War to Detente • Page 111 Notes – Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) • 1972 • Aim to reduce the danger of a nuclear war • USA promised to accept that they would not try to destroy communism in the USSR. • Nixon agreed to increased trade links with the USSR. • USA supplied cheap grain to the USSR. • USA agreed to recognise the existence of (communist) East Germany. • USSR guaranteed the security of West Berlin. (the Cold War began over Berlin) • Copy the list of the important treaties 1963 to 1980 from page 111. • 1979: SALT 2 not ratified (agreed) because the USSR invaded • Afghanistan. • 1980 President Carter stops US athletes attending the Moscow • Olympics.

7. From Cold War to Detente Nixon and Mao

8. From Cold War to Detente • Page 112 Notes – Nixon and China • 1949 Mao seizes power and China • becomes communist. • USA only recognises Taiwan (Formosa) as China. • US companies not allowed to trade with communists. • Chinese supply weapons to both North Vietnamese • and Koreans. • 1972 Henry Kissinger arranges for Nixon to visit China. • Designed to help end the Vietnam war and to put pressure on the USSR.

9. From Cold War to Detente • Page 113 Notes – How successful was Nixon? • Reduced hostility between China and the USA. • Trade began between USA and China. • Cultural, scientific and sporting exchanges. • “Liaison offices” – unofficial embassies opened. • 1979 official recognition of the Peoples Republic of • China. • Chance of war reduced. • Many Americans became ore tolerant of communists. • Nixon’s achievements mark the beginning of the end • of the Cold War.