Notes Chapter 17 5 The Cold War Thaws

Notes Chapter 17 -5 “The Cold War Thaws”

The Soviets Dominate Eastern Europe: * Eastern European economies designed to Profit USSR * Khrushchev begins “destalinization” after Stalin dies * 1953 Hungary uses excuse to overthrow communist government. (Soviets come in and crush rebellion)

Eastern Europe: Cont. * Brezhnev takes over for USSR and returns to repressive ways toward free speech and religion * 1964 Czechoslovakia loosens censorship and Soviets come in and remove leader and exile him * China and USSR drift apart and even fight several border wars over which communist country was best

From Brinkmanship to Détente: * Fear of nuclear war after the Cuban missile crisis led to a desire to reduce tensions * Nixon’s policy of détente called for negotiations with USSR rather than just threatening war

Détente: Cont. * 1972 Nixon visits both China and the USSR * US tried to play the other 2 against each other * Nixon and Brezhnev sign SALT I treaty in 1972 * 1979 Carter signs SALT II treaty but congress does not pass due to Afghanistan

Détente Cools: * Reagan abandons Détente and both sides continue massive military spending * Reagan begins funding S. D. I. antimissile system causing more tension * When Gorbachev takes over in USSR tensions decrease until the USSR eventually breaks up

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