Why did Détente begin and why did it fail to last?

1. Sam IBH2 European History November 10, 2010 Why did Détente begin and why did it fail to last? Thesis: Détente began because of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the need for improved relationships between China, the USA, and the USSR and failed because of the failure of foreign policies.

2. CAUSES OF DÉTENTE

3. Cuban Missile Crisis • TOPIC SENTENCE: The Cuban Missile crisis was the crisis-point of the Cold War. It was the straw that would have broken the camel’s back. This was what officially started détente. • All the heightened tension, communist (Castro’s) Cuba, and failure by Kennedy to invade Cuba attributed to starting the Cuban Missile Crisis • Cuban Missile Crisis was the American spy plane that was shot down • America began its naval blockade that kept USSR ships with missiles from coming in • USSR continued to build its military bases • Attack seemed inevitable from either side • Discussions began between Khruschev and Kennedy that still threatened to bring the US and USSR to a nuclear war • Each side trying to get the other to dismantle and/or remove their nuclear weapons • Both sides eventually too frightened and crisis finished • Managed to come up with the First Arms Limitation Treaty of 1963 • THUS, DÉTENTE BEGAN

4. CHINA • TOPIC SENTENCE: Détente began because of China’s foreign fears and the ensuing small amount of nuclear weapons versus the USA. • Fearful of her isolation in the world. • Fearful of what USA had done in Vietnam.  • China was also worried by her worsening relations with USSR. • China’s stockpile of nuclear weapons was a lot smaller than that of USA.

5. USA  • TOPIC SENTENCE: Détente began because the USA realized that there were better ways of approaching containment that would be more beneficial to the USA. • Realized that there were better ways of containing communism than the ways that she done in previous years. • Also aware of the massive cost of weapons production and maintaining a huge armed force. • A peaceful relationship with the USSR would be very beneficial to USA especially after the cost of the Vietnam War

6. USSR • TOPIC SENTENCE: Détente began because USSR wanted to improve living standards in USSR and it knew of China’s growing relationship with the USA • USSR was spending a huge amount on weapons at the expense of basic household goods. • Living standards were poor • USSR was also aware that her relationship with China was far from good while USA was trying to improve hers with China.

7. WHY DID DÉTENTE FAIL?

8. USA – USSR failures (Carter era) • TOPIC SENTENCE: Failure of the US foreign policy due to events of Vietnam war and Watergate scandal, and Carter HUGELY involved in human rights. Also the power struggle in USSR due to Brezhnev’s illness and their subsequent takeovers added to US suspicion. It was the beginning of a widening gap. • Vietnam war • US foreign policy shaky after WaterGate Scandal • Carter preoccupied with human rights, made USSR impatient • SALT 2. • Counter argument: Carter-Brezhnev summit in Vienna in 1979 agreed to further limit stockpiles of weapon • Counter counter argument: The US senate refused to ratify the treaty.  Further evidence of failure of foreign policy • Communist invasions in Nicaragua in 1979 and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan  Brezhnev was ill and aging and a power struggle was taking place behind the scenes. The USSR were concerned about Islamic extremism in the ME hence their actions in Afghanistan.  ADDED TO SUSPICION OF US because of PERCEIVED TENSIONS

9. USA – USSR failures (Reagan era) • TOPIC SENTENCE: The USA were extremely suspicious of the intentions of the USSR in Middle East. Also had bad foreign policy in the US. US embarrassed by Vietnam, Watergate, and Iranian hostage. THE SWING TO EXTREME RIGHT, which would bring about “New Cold War”. • Reagan elected in 1980 (right wing Republican). Referred to USSR as an ‘evil empire • Thatcher and Reagan relationship was bad for the USSR and communism in general

10. CONCLUSION The Cuban Missile Crisis and the clauses in the foreign policies were what started Détente. In the wake of the failures of foreign policies and the events that had to show for this; détente failed as well. Détente signified the beginning of the end of the Cold War and in failing became the starting point for the New Cold War. The New Cold War would span until 1991 after the disbanding of the USSR, but it can be said that the introduction to the threat of nukes had changed the course of the war and the USA and the USSR entirely.