1. The definition of détente is the easing of hostilities
or strained relations between countries.
2. A) The Cuban Missile Crisis would be an important
factor in creating the détente because it showed that
both countries really would go to war and it wasn’t
just a random possibility.
B) American involvement in the Vietnam War lead to the
détente because it showed that the American method of
containing communism wasn’t working and it made them
reconsider their policies towards it. The war also
greatly demoralized the country as it was loss for the
otherwise undefeated Americans.
C) The Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia was
practically the Soviet version of Vietnam; it played
out differently but had the same demoralizing effect
on the country. In this case the Red Army who thought
they were liberating the country from a budding
capitalist were shunned by the local population. This
has a demoralizing effect on the USSR and showed how
communism had weakened.
D) At this point in the Cold War it became apparent
that neither the US nor the USSR was really going to
gain the upper hand. This coupled with the fact that
both countries were now even in terms of military and
nuclear strength and if they went to war MAD was
assured; it made them both more willing to sit down at
the negotiation table.
E) Economic problems in both countries meant that they
had to move money around in their budgets, both
countries ended up moving a lot of money from their
military spending elsewhere resulting in two weakened
nations who were more likely to make peace with each
other.
F) The Sino-Soviet Split between the USSR and China,
which resulted in improved relations between the US
and China pushed the USSR towards détente because now
the US had a powerful friend located right next to
them. Since this friend could potentially attack the
USSR or act as a staging ground for US attack it’s no
surprise that the USSR would want to reduce some
tensions to feel safer.
3. Arms Race: SALT
SALT otherwise known as the Strategic Arms Limitation
Act, was a treaty that essentially froze the arms race
between the US and the USSR. It limited the amount of
nuclear weapons and methods of delivering nuclear in
both countries. Negotiations lasted between 1969 and
1971, the pace of negotiation alternated between
Vienna and Helsinki. The leaders of the two countries
at the time were Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon.
Human Rights: Helsinki Accord
The Helsinki Accord was a declaration signed by the
USSR, the US and a multitude of other countries. The
goal of the document was to improve relations between
the Communist Bloc and the West. One of main points
was about respecting human rights. The declaration was
signed on August 1, 1975.