17.5 the cold war thaws
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17.5 The Cold War Thaws. Ms. Bielefeld Spring 2012. This is how I feel …Please Be nice today. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe. Destalinization & Rumblings of Protest Nikita Khrushchev —leader of the USSR after Stalin dies (1953) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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