GCSE Modern History/Détente and Refreezing

In the 1970s, tension between the two superpowers relaxed. This period was known as détente.

Why did the Cold War thaw in 1970s?

• At the Helsinki conference in 1975 all countries recognized the borders set out at the end of the Second World War (including Germany/Berlin).
• The Vietnam War ended.
• Nuclear testing damaged the environment and cost a fortune. Anti-nuclear movements supported détente.
• The leaders held regular summit meetings.
• American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts shook hands in space.
• Both had extremely advanced weapons, and were spending large sums of money to develop them. They realised that this money could be better spent elsewhere.
• SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) 1 was signed, and progress was being made towards a SALT 2.

Why did the Cold War freeze again in the 80s?

• The USA boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics. In retaliation, the USSR and eastern Europe boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
• SALT 2, a USA-USSR agreement to limit nuclear weapons, collapsed because relations between the two countries had deteriorated too far.
• There was a revolution in Iran. The new leader was anti-American and anti-Communist, both superpowers were worried.
• Jimmy Carter criticised the USSR's suppression of dissidents in the USSR and eastern Europe.
• New nuclear weapons were being developed by both the USA and USSR.
• There were civil wars in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Angola where the USA and USSR funded opposing sides.
• Ronald Reagan was elected president. He funded the Strategic Defense Initiative ('Star Wars') and took a tougher line on the USSR. He called the USSR the 'Evil Empire' and was more very anti-Communist.
• The USSR was fighting for the pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan. The USA was supporting opponents of the government.