Year 11 - History
Détente and SALT I
Period study: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils undergo a period study which tells a story about a period that shaped the world we live in today: the Cold War. They look at the key events, developments, people and stories that defined the relationship between the USA and the USSR in this period.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the significance of the SALT you treaty.
Key Notes
- The USA and USSR followed a policy of Détente during the 1970s.
- The USA and USSR wanted to divert money spent on the arms race to address domestic social and economic problems.
- The USA pursued a policy of Détente because they thought it would help them to end their involvement in the Vietnam War.
- The SALT I agreement included important limitations on arms and agreements between the USA and the USSR to cooperate.
- SALT I had significant limitations, for example, not all nuclear weapons were covered by the agreement.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Détente: the relaxation of tensions between states which were previously hostile towards one another
- arms race: when countries compete with each other to build up their military strength
- domestic: issues that exist within a country, rather than those related to its relationship with other countries
- interim: something that is temporary
- rapprochement: the development of friendlier relations between countries that have been enemies
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The period of Détente in the 1970s did not mark the beginning of the end of the Cold War.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The USA and USSR followed a policy of Détente during the 1970s. The USA and USSR wanted to divert money spent on the arms race to address domestic social and economic problems.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Détente'
the relaxation of tensions between states which were previously hostile towards one another.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The period of Détente in the 1970s did not mark the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Correction: Although there was a reduction in tensions between the USA and the USSR during the early 1970s, tensions had increased again by the end of the decade.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Berlin, 1958-61: increased tensions Study Guide
- Berlin, 1961-63: the Berlin Wall Study Guide
- Causes of tension between the USA and USSR by 1945 Study Guide
- Cold War crises, 1958-70 Study Guide
- Gorbachev's 'new thinking' Study Guide
- Reagan and the 'Second Cold War' Study Guide
- Soviet influence over Eastern Europe by 1948 Study Guide
- The Berlin Crisis (1948) Study Guide
- The Cold War arms race Study Guide
- The collapse of the Soviet Union Study Guide
- The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Study Guide
- The Cuban Revolution and the Bay of Pigs Invasion Study Guide
- The end of the Cold War, 1970-91 Study Guide
- The fall of the Berlin Wall Study Guide
- The Helsinki Accords and SALT II Study Guide
- The Hungarian Uprising (1956) Study Guide
- The impact of the atomic bomb on US-Soviet relations Study Guide
- The origins of the Cold War (1941-58) Study Guide
- The Prague Spring (1968) Study Guide
- The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Study Guide
- The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968) Study Guide
- The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan Study Guide
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