MS. BIELEFELDSPRING 2012

17.5 The Cold War Thaws

This is how I feel…PleaseBe nice today.

Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe

Destalinization & Rumblings of Protest Nikita Khrushchev—leader

of the USSR after Stalin dies (1953)

Citizens of Soviet-controlled governments protest communism

1956—Khrushchev sends Soviet military to put down Hungarian protesters against Communism

Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe

Revolt in Czechoslovakia Leonid Brezhnev—Soviet

leader after Khrushchev

Communist leader, Dubcek, loosens restrictions on speech & press Prague Spring

1968—Warsaw Pact troops block reforms in Czechoslovakia: sends in tanks to stop them

Soviet Policy in China

Soviet-Chinese split After friendship treaty in 1950,

tensions grow

Chinese & Soviets each want to lead world communism

Khrushchev ends economic aid & refuses to share nuclear secrets

Soviets & Chinese fight small skirmishes across the border

Today, Russia & China have good relations

Brinkmanship to Détente

Brinkmanship Breaks Down Causes repeated crises; nuclear

war a constant threat

John F. Kennedy—U.S. President during the Cuban Missile Crisis

Lyndon B. Johnson—President who increases U.S. involvement in Vietnam

Kept relations tense with the USSR

Brinkmanship to Détente

U.S. Turns to Détente Vietnam-era turmoil fuels desire for

less confrontational policy

Détente—policy of reducing Cold War tensions to avoid conflict

Richard Nixon—President who launches détente

Détente grows out of philosophy know as realpolitik “realistic politics”—recognizes need to be practical and flexible

Brinkmanship to Détente

Nixon Visits Communist Powers Nixon visits China and USSR, signs SALT I Treaty

SALT—Strategic Arms Limitation Talks—limit nuclear weapons

U.S. Pres. Richard Nixon & Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev at the signing of the SALT I Treaty in 1972.

Collapse of Détente

Policy Changes Nixon & Gerald Ford improve relations with USSR & China Jimmy Carter has concerns about Soviet policies but signs

SALT II Congress will not ratify SALT II due to Soviet invasion of

Afghanistan

President Jimmy Carter, left, and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev shake hands after signing the SALT II treaty, June 18, 1979.

Collapse of Détente

Reagan takes an anti-Communist Stance Ronald Reagan—anti-Communist

President takes office in 1981

Increases military spending, proposes a space-based missile defense program called “STAR WARS”

1985—new Soviet leadership allows easing of Cold War tensions