17.5 The Cold War Thaws

1. 17.5 The Cold War Thaws Ms. Bielefeld Spring 2012 This is how I feel…Please Be nice today.

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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