2. Détente and the end of the cold war LO: To assess the causes and consequences of detente

3. What is the connection between these images? The lines shown are the re-entry vehicles -- one Peacekeeper can hold up to 10 nuclear warheads, each independently targeted. Each warhead, were it armed with a nuclear payload, would carry with it the explosive power of twenty-five Hiroshima-sized weapons.

4. Détente A French term meaning ‘relaxation’, used to describe the reduction in tension between two rival state and applied in particular to the periods of improved tension between the USA and USSR between 1971 and1979, and 1985 and 1991. A French term meaning ‘relaxation’, used to describe the reduction in tension between two rival state and applied in particular to the periods of improved tension between the USA and USSR between 1971 and1979, and 1985 and 1991.

5. Why did Détente happen? Think Why do 2 people get sick of arguing and fighting with each other? Why do relationships improve?

6. Why did Détente happen? Very costly: US / USSR spending $150m a day at one point - they would want to end the war so they didn’t have to spend so much money Both countries almost managed to destroy world during Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 so thought that they had better calm down New leaders who wanted peace: Nixon Civilians getting frustrated with Cold War tensions: nuclear shelters, etc.

7. Examples of Détente. Can you think of any general examples of Detente.

8. TASKS 1)Put the cards in chronological order and stick in your books 2)Colour code (with a key): Red – “hot”, Blue – “cold” 3)Use this information to complete the graph on a double page spread in your books, placing each event where you think it lay in terms of tension. 4)Highlight on your graph when detente started. 5)What do you think was the most important contributor to detente?

9. When did the Cold War ‘thaw’? 194519901970198019501960 1972 SALT I 1975 Helsinki Agreement 1979 SALT II 1945-50 Soviet expansion in e Europe Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet leader 1989 Berlin Wall falls 1991 Collapse of Communism in USSR 1960-1965 Berlin Wall Cuban Missile Crisis 1950-1960 Korean War Hungarian Rising 1965-1972 Vietnam War Nuclear Arms Race Sino-Soviet Split and Nixon’s Visit to China 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 1980 election of Ronald Reagan TENSION NO TENSION NB détente means a relaxing of tension. When did it happen? How well did the USA contain the Communist threat?

10. PLENARY http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/coldwar/coldwar.htm http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/pairs/coldwar.htm http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/flashcards/depression.shtml http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/coldwar/coldwar.htm http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/pairs/coldwar.htm http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/flashcards/depression.shtml