COLD WAR: Topic 5 - The thaw & the move towards Detente 1963-72:
What events helped thaw relations in the Cold War (events of Sino-Soviet relations throughout the
Reasons Why the Superpowers Wanted Détente (a period of Detente, 1963-72)?
The Hotline, 1963
Cold War
peace between the 2 countries): To prevent any misunderstanding between the superpowers = system of direct communication (a ‘hotline’) = Stalin + Truman: 1949: The Communists took power in China after defeating
established between the White House in Washington + Kremlin in Moscow = allow discussion in times of crisis + the Nationalists (GMD) in a civil war. 1950: Mao Zedong visited Moscow + USSR
not used very often, but we know = Nixon + Brezhnev communicated on it = 1971 = war between India and & China signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship. Agreed that: USSR —-->
Pakistan. China $300 million worth of economic aid, and Soviet soldiers would be provided
The Vietnam War, 1964-75 US = lost 60,000 +/- soldiers during this war = showed that the US’s Messages sent to the USSR = by wire telegraph = 16,000km-long transatlantic cable from Washington to London
if China = attacked by Japan or US. China & USSR = supported NK during KW.
to Copenhagen to Stockholm to Helsinki + Moscow. Khrushchev : 1953: Sino-Soviet relations declined more. 1958: Khrushchev
military power did not always mean it could achieve its aims. War = so unpopular in the US that it led to visited Beijing but Mao & Khrushchev did not get on. K = criticised Mao’s
more people believing that military intervention = not a good way to deal with foreign policy. US = there The Limited/Partial Test Ban Treaty (LBTB), 1963 agricultural & industrial policies in China + Mao accused K of cowardice during
the CMC. Mao also complained that the Soviet invasion of Czech = attack on a
had been large-scale protests against the war. Many US citizens believed the US should take a less active After the 1st development of atomic weapons, both the US + USSR = carried out tests in the atmosphere. As
scientific understanding of the dangers of radioactive debris increased= gov of the 2 countries = increasingly fellow C state.
role in international affairs. US = spent around $170 billion = shortage of money to spend on problems in concerned about contaminating the environment.1963 = Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) = drawn up between the Brezhnev + Nixon: Mao = worried that USSR might launch an attack on China +
the US. US + USSR + Britain (B). their relationship became so poor that in 1969, fighting broke out between
Agreed = not to carry out any nuclear weapon tests explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, ‘in the atmosphere, Chinese and Soviet troops along the Chinese-Soviet border.
under water, or in outer space, or in any other environment if the explosion would cause radioactive debris to be Mao = decided to take a more friendly approach to the US = possibly US = ally
present outside the borders of the state carrying out the explosion’. After 1963, 113 more countries signed the against the USSR. Mao = believed that USSR = less likely to launch an attack on
Soviet Confidence USSR = felt = now the US’ equal in nuclear weapons = so could discuss arms treaty = showed that the USSR + US = setting an e.g to other countries = how to reduce comp over nuclear China if the US = Chinese ally.
weapons. Presidents:
limitation from a position of strength. USSR = also felt that since the US had been beaten by Vietnam (by 1. Truman: 1945-1953
1975), that they would be more cooperative with the USSR + actually recognize the USSR’s control over The Outer Space Treaty, 1967 2. Eisenhower: 1954-1961
= stopped the arms race spreading into space + said = no one could claim to own the Moon. It stated that: 3. JFK: 1961-1963
EE.
- The exploration + use of outer space = carried out for the benefit of all countries 4. Lyndon B. Johnson: 1964-1968
- Countries = not place nuclear weapons + weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on planets. 5. Nixon: 1968-1974
- The Moon + planets = used only for peaceful purposes.
Economic Issues USSR = wanted to cut spending on weapons + dedicate more money on improving -
-
Countries = responsible for damage caused by their space objects
Countries = avoid harmful contamination of space + planets.
living standards + modernizing its economy. Before = USSR = 30% of budget on defense, US = 13%. US =
Sino-US relations throughout the
Treaty = drawn up by the US + USSR + B + later signed by 12 countries.
$170 billion on the VW = shortage of money to spend on problems at home. A policy of détente would
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1968
allow the US to spend less money on weapons and more on trying to solve their social problems.
= a further step to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons = signed by the US + USSR + B + 59 other states =
treaty divided countries into 2 categories: nuclear weapon states (NWS) (US + USSR, China, France + Britain) and
Cold War
non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). Stated: NWS = work towards disarmament + play no part in helping other After China became communist = 1949, relations between the US +
China US = worried about the growing power of China (1st atomic bomb = 1964 + 1st nuclear missile = nations develop such weapons. The NNWS agreed not to be involved = developing nuclear weapons. China = poor. The US fought the Chinese = Korean War + when
Treaty = accepted by the NNWS because, at the time of signing, few of them had the technological + financial China threatened Taiwan in 1954 + 1958, the US showed +
1966. Even though USSR & China = poor relationship (especially from 1963- CMC), Nixon (US p - 1968) = ability, or the desire to develop nuclear weapons = also understood = clear step to prevent the spread of nuclear prepared to go to war to defend the island of Taiwan.
concerned - 2 CC could reach an agreement + threaten the US. If US = more friendly with China, through weapons.
In the 1960s = Mao’s followers criticised the US, calling them
détente = force the USSR into agreements with the US. SALT I, 1972 ‘capitalist dogs’. China = supportive of the communists during the
The pressures for improved relations led to an important agreement between the US + USSR = Strategic Arms
Limitation Treaty (SALT) = May 1972 (a 2nd treaty = signed = 1979). Vietnam War = brought China into hostility with the US who was
Treaty = result of several years of difficult negotiations between the superpowers about which weapons should fighting against the Vietnamese communists. China tested their
USSR = worried about US + China. However, if détente happened, the USSR would not need to worry be limited. SALT I was made up of several different agreements: 1st atomic bomb in 1964 = worried the US.
because the USSR + US = better terms. ● The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty - Stated that AMBs (defensive weapons) = allowed
at only 2 places in each country (US + USSR), + should have a max of 100 missiles each. April 1971 = US + China both entered teams in the World Table
● The Interim Treaty - Placed restrictions on the number of ICBMs + SLBMs. Each C = able to
have 740 SLBMs each. The USSR allowed more ICBMs because the US = more strategic
Tennis Championships in Japan. The Chinese team = told to avoid
the US team, but = some friendly contact between them = led to the
Technology USSR = falling behind in the new technologies involving computers + microchips. bombers. USSR = 1,618 ICBMs + US = 1,054. But, the US = found a way to attach more than one US team being invited to play matches in China. The US players =
warhead to a missile. It had developed multiple independently-targetable re-entry vehicles treated like guests + Chinese let them win games (the US players =
Improved relations = W might share some of its technology. (MIRVs) =didn't want to admit this to the USSR. Historian interpretations of no discussions:
wanting to stay ahead in the arms race + US trying to avoid conflict + trying to ‘keep the not particularly good).
peace’.
Presidential Popularity Nixon = had personal ambitions = hoped to gain public admiration for ● The Basic Principles Treaty – = focused on trying to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
It banned the placing of warheads on the seabed. It also set out steps for avoiding nuclear war.
As a result = good relations between the Chinese and US Table
Tennis Teams, Henry Kissinger, a US politician, visited China +
met the Chinese PM = the two men had meetings + established a
reducing Cold War tensions - he had promised = improve the US’ relationships with C like USSR + C North E.g: agreed = ‘make every effort to avoid this risk’.
friendly relationship. Since their meeting happened because of
Vietnam. SALT I had a number of weaknesses: table tennis these visits = known as ‘ping-pong diplomacy’.
- If NW looked likely = unrealistic to expect it to be avoided just because C had
signed a piece of paper, especially if both C still owned more than enough NW to
destroy the other multiple x over. Feb 1972 = President Nixon met Mao in Beijing. Mao + Nixon
The Arms Race 1960 = US = developed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). USSR = 1968 + - Treaty = did not cover MIRVs. signed the Shanghai Communique = both agreed that a peaceful
anti-ballistic missiles (ABM) designed to intercept ICBMs. US = 1972 = Created MAD theory neither
However, SALT 1 = significant impact: US & USSR wanted to reach an agreement - demonstrated their better solution should be found to fix the problem with Taiwan.
relations publicly.
country wanted to risk war which would lead to their own destruction + CMC led to these realizations. Shortly after signing SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow + 1973: Brezhnev visited Washington. 1974,
negotiations began for SALT 2, in which it was hoped agreement could be found on matters not solved by SALT 1
(MIRVs).
Social Problems US = many social problems. Inequality between rich and poor, white, and black, had
led to rioting in cities on a massive scale. 1960s: Civil Rights Movement = occurring (B people =
campaigning for equal rights - the right to vote). 1968: The assassination of the civil rights leader, MLK =
What events helped thaw relations in the Cold War (events of Sino-Soviet relations throughout the
Reasons Why the Superpowers Wanted Détente (a period of Detente, 1963-72)?
The Hotline, 1963
Cold War
peace between the 2 countries): To prevent any misunderstanding between the superpowers = system of direct communication (a ‘hotline’) = Stalin + Truman: 1949: The Communists took power in China after defeating
established between the White House in Washington + Kremlin in Moscow = allow discussion in times of crisis + the Nationalists (GMD) in a civil war. 1950: Mao Zedong visited Moscow + USSR
not used very often, but we know = Nixon + Brezhnev communicated on it = 1971 = war between India and & China signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship. Agreed that: USSR —-->
Pakistan. China $300 million worth of economic aid, and Soviet soldiers would be provided
The Vietnam War, 1964-75 US = lost 60,000 +/- soldiers during this war = showed that the US’s Messages sent to the USSR = by wire telegraph = 16,000km-long transatlantic cable from Washington to London
if China = attacked by Japan or US. China & USSR = supported NK during KW.
to Copenhagen to Stockholm to Helsinki + Moscow. Khrushchev : 1953: Sino-Soviet relations declined more. 1958: Khrushchev
military power did not always mean it could achieve its aims. War = so unpopular in the US that it led to visited Beijing but Mao & Khrushchev did not get on. K = criticised Mao’s
more people believing that military intervention = not a good way to deal with foreign policy. US = there The Limited/Partial Test Ban Treaty (LBTB), 1963 agricultural & industrial policies in China + Mao accused K of cowardice during
the CMC. Mao also complained that the Soviet invasion of Czech = attack on a
had been large-scale protests against the war. Many US citizens believed the US should take a less active After the 1st development of atomic weapons, both the US + USSR = carried out tests in the atmosphere. As
scientific understanding of the dangers of radioactive debris increased= gov of the 2 countries = increasingly fellow C state.
role in international affairs. US = spent around $170 billion = shortage of money to spend on problems in concerned about contaminating the environment.1963 = Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) = drawn up between the Brezhnev + Nixon: Mao = worried that USSR might launch an attack on China +
the US. US + USSR + Britain (B). their relationship became so poor that in 1969, fighting broke out between
Agreed = not to carry out any nuclear weapon tests explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, ‘in the atmosphere, Chinese and Soviet troops along the Chinese-Soviet border.
under water, or in outer space, or in any other environment if the explosion would cause radioactive debris to be Mao = decided to take a more friendly approach to the US = possibly US = ally
present outside the borders of the state carrying out the explosion’. After 1963, 113 more countries signed the against the USSR. Mao = believed that USSR = less likely to launch an attack on
Soviet Confidence USSR = felt = now the US’ equal in nuclear weapons = so could discuss arms treaty = showed that the USSR + US = setting an e.g to other countries = how to reduce comp over nuclear China if the US = Chinese ally.
weapons. Presidents:
limitation from a position of strength. USSR = also felt that since the US had been beaten by Vietnam (by 1. Truman: 1945-1953
1975), that they would be more cooperative with the USSR + actually recognize the USSR’s control over The Outer Space Treaty, 1967 2. Eisenhower: 1954-1961
= stopped the arms race spreading into space + said = no one could claim to own the Moon. It stated that: 3. JFK: 1961-1963
EE.
- The exploration + use of outer space = carried out for the benefit of all countries 4. Lyndon B. Johnson: 1964-1968
- Countries = not place nuclear weapons + weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on planets. 5. Nixon: 1968-1974
- The Moon + planets = used only for peaceful purposes.
Economic Issues USSR = wanted to cut spending on weapons + dedicate more money on improving -
-
Countries = responsible for damage caused by their space objects
Countries = avoid harmful contamination of space + planets.
living standards + modernizing its economy. Before = USSR = 30% of budget on defense, US = 13%. US =
Sino-US relations throughout the
Treaty = drawn up by the US + USSR + B + later signed by 12 countries.
$170 billion on the VW = shortage of money to spend on problems at home. A policy of détente would
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1968
allow the US to spend less money on weapons and more on trying to solve their social problems.
= a further step to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons = signed by the US + USSR + B + 59 other states =
treaty divided countries into 2 categories: nuclear weapon states (NWS) (US + USSR, China, France + Britain) and
Cold War
non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). Stated: NWS = work towards disarmament + play no part in helping other After China became communist = 1949, relations between the US +
China US = worried about the growing power of China (1st atomic bomb = 1964 + 1st nuclear missile = nations develop such weapons. The NNWS agreed not to be involved = developing nuclear weapons. China = poor. The US fought the Chinese = Korean War + when
Treaty = accepted by the NNWS because, at the time of signing, few of them had the technological + financial China threatened Taiwan in 1954 + 1958, the US showed +
1966. Even though USSR & China = poor relationship (especially from 1963- CMC), Nixon (US p - 1968) = ability, or the desire to develop nuclear weapons = also understood = clear step to prevent the spread of nuclear prepared to go to war to defend the island of Taiwan.
concerned - 2 CC could reach an agreement + threaten the US. If US = more friendly with China, through weapons.
In the 1960s = Mao’s followers criticised the US, calling them
détente = force the USSR into agreements with the US. SALT I, 1972 ‘capitalist dogs’. China = supportive of the communists during the
The pressures for improved relations led to an important agreement between the US + USSR = Strategic Arms
Limitation Treaty (SALT) = May 1972 (a 2nd treaty = signed = 1979). Vietnam War = brought China into hostility with the US who was
Treaty = result of several years of difficult negotiations between the superpowers about which weapons should fighting against the Vietnamese communists. China tested their
USSR = worried about US + China. However, if détente happened, the USSR would not need to worry be limited. SALT I was made up of several different agreements: 1st atomic bomb in 1964 = worried the US.
because the USSR + US = better terms. ● The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty - Stated that AMBs (defensive weapons) = allowed
at only 2 places in each country (US + USSR), + should have a max of 100 missiles each. April 1971 = US + China both entered teams in the World Table
● The Interim Treaty - Placed restrictions on the number of ICBMs + SLBMs. Each C = able to
have 740 SLBMs each. The USSR allowed more ICBMs because the US = more strategic
Tennis Championships in Japan. The Chinese team = told to avoid
the US team, but = some friendly contact between them = led to the
Technology USSR = falling behind in the new technologies involving computers + microchips. bombers. USSR = 1,618 ICBMs + US = 1,054. But, the US = found a way to attach more than one US team being invited to play matches in China. The US players =
warhead to a missile. It had developed multiple independently-targetable re-entry vehicles treated like guests + Chinese let them win games (the US players =
Improved relations = W might share some of its technology. (MIRVs) =didn't want to admit this to the USSR. Historian interpretations of no discussions:
wanting to stay ahead in the arms race + US trying to avoid conflict + trying to ‘keep the not particularly good).
peace’.
Presidential Popularity Nixon = had personal ambitions = hoped to gain public admiration for ● The Basic Principles Treaty – = focused on trying to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
It banned the placing of warheads on the seabed. It also set out steps for avoiding nuclear war.
As a result = good relations between the Chinese and US Table
Tennis Teams, Henry Kissinger, a US politician, visited China +
met the Chinese PM = the two men had meetings + established a
reducing Cold War tensions - he had promised = improve the US’ relationships with C like USSR + C North E.g: agreed = ‘make every effort to avoid this risk’.
friendly relationship. Since their meeting happened because of
Vietnam. SALT I had a number of weaknesses: table tennis these visits = known as ‘ping-pong diplomacy’.
- If NW looked likely = unrealistic to expect it to be avoided just because C had
signed a piece of paper, especially if both C still owned more than enough NW to
destroy the other multiple x over. Feb 1972 = President Nixon met Mao in Beijing. Mao + Nixon
The Arms Race 1960 = US = developed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). USSR = 1968 + - Treaty = did not cover MIRVs. signed the Shanghai Communique = both agreed that a peaceful
anti-ballistic missiles (ABM) designed to intercept ICBMs. US = 1972 = Created MAD theory neither
However, SALT 1 = significant impact: US & USSR wanted to reach an agreement - demonstrated their better solution should be found to fix the problem with Taiwan.
relations publicly.
country wanted to risk war which would lead to their own destruction + CMC led to these realizations. Shortly after signing SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow + 1973: Brezhnev visited Washington. 1974,
negotiations began for SALT 2, in which it was hoped agreement could be found on matters not solved by SALT 1
(MIRVs).
Social Problems US = many social problems. Inequality between rich and poor, white, and black, had
led to rioting in cities on a massive scale. 1960s: Civil Rights Movement = occurring (B people =
campaigning for equal rights - the right to vote). 1968: The assassination of the civil rights leader, MLK =
