Detailed GCSE Notes: The End of the Cold War 1970-1991 - Edexcel

What Was Détente?

Ever wondered what happens when two superpowers get tired of constantly preparing for war? Détente was essentially a "chill out" period between America and the Soviet Union during the 1970s. Both countries realised they were spending ridiculous amounts of money on weapons whilst their own people suffered.

The Soviets were particularly struggling - they were spending 20% of their entire budget on arms whilst their citizens were literally starving. Meanwhile, America had blown $120 billion on the Vietnam War and was dealing with serious inflation. Both sides desperately needed a break.

This peaceful period got a massive boost when President Nixon made a historic 7-day visit to China in 1972. It was the first time in 25 years that America had properly talked to communist China, and it gave the US some serious leverage when negotiating with the Soviets.

Did you know? Nixon's visit to China ended nearly 25 years of complete silence between the two superpowers!

SALT I Treaty 1972

In May 1972, Nixon and Soviet leader Brezhnev signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) - basically an agreement to stop the arms race from getting completely out of hand. This treaty had two main parts that actually mattered.

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty limited both sides to just two military sites with a maximum of 100 missiles each. These were designed to shoot down incoming nuclear missiles, so limiting them meant neither side could feel completely safe from attack.

The Interim Treaty put a 5-year limit on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched missiles. Interestingly, the Soviets were allowed more missiles (1,618 ICBMs vs America's 1,054), but the Americans had better technology.

The treaty had some major gaps though - it didn't limit strategic bombers or newer nuclear technology that could carry multiple warheads on a single missile. Still, it proved both sides genuinely wanted to avoid nuclear war.

Key fact: SALT I was the first time both superpowers publicly admitted they wanted peace instead of just preparing for war.

Détente Success Stories

Détente wasn't just about limiting weapons - it led to some genuinely cool moments that showed the world these enemies could actually cooperate. The end of the Vietnam War in 1973 happened partly because Soviet leader Brezhnev helped convince North Vietnam to negotiate peace.

Perhaps the most symbolic moment came with the Joint Space Mission in 1975. Three American astronauts and two Soviet cosmonauts actually met up in space and shook hands - imagine that handshake being broadcast around the world as a symbol of peace!

The Helsinki Agreements of 1975 brought together all 33 European nations (both NATO and Warsaw Pact countries) to agree on three key areas. They formally recognised European borders, promised to cooperate on trade and technology, and committed to respecting human rights like freedom of speech and movement.

However, the Soviets were paranoid that the West would use human rights agreements to spy on them, which created some tension even during this peaceful period.

Fun fact: The space handshake in 1975 was watched by millions and became one of the most iconic images of Cold War cooperation.

Afghanistan Invasion 1979

Just when things were going well, the Soviets completely ruined détente by invading Afghanistan on 24th December 1979. This decision marked the end of the peaceful period and kicked off what many call the "Second Cold War."

The Soviets invaded because Afghanistan was right on their border, and they were terrified of Islamic fundamentalism spreading into their own territory. They claimed Afghan leader Amin had asked for help, but then mysteriously Amin was assassinated (probably by Soviet troops) and replaced with a pro-Soviet leader called Karmal.

President Carter was absolutely furious and responded with the Carter Doctrine - basically saying America would use military force to protect countries in the Persian Gulf if necessary. He also created a Rapid Deployment Force and banned all US grain shipments and technology sales to the Soviet Union.

The invasion backfired spectacularly for the Soviets. It cost them $8 billion per year, led to massive casualties, and gave America the perfect excuse to get tough on communism again.

Remember: The Afghanistan invasion was the event that ended détente and started a new, more aggressive phase of the Cold War.

Consequences of Afghanistan

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan created a domino effect that made the Cold War much worse again. America didn't just complain - they actively helped Afghan fighters called the mujahideen with money and weapons to fight against Soviet forces.

The human cost was absolutely devastating. Over 1.5 million civilians died, along with 15,000 Soviet troops, and the war dragged on for 10 years. Meanwhile, the invasion led to widespread boycotts - the US convinced 60 nations to skip the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and later communist countries boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in revenge.

President Carter refused to sign SALT II, which would have led to even more arms reduction agreements. This meant the arms race started up again just when it seemed like both sides were getting sensible about nuclear weapons.

The whole mess helped get Ronald Reagan elected as US President, and he promised a much tougher approach to dealing with the Soviet Union. The Soviets had basically shot themselves in the foot - their invasion gave America the perfect excuse to become more aggressive towards communism.

Key point: Afghanistan became the Soviet Union's Vietnam - an expensive, unpopular war that weakened them significantly.

Reagan's Military Build-Up

President Reagan decided to end the Cold War by basically out-spending the Soviet Union into bankruptcy. He introduced loads of new defence technology that the Soviets simply couldn't afford to match, including stealth bombers invisible to radar and cruise missiles placed in Western Europe.

The most ambitious (and slightly mad) plan was Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) in 1983, nicknamed "Star Wars." Reagan wanted to put satellites with lasers in space that could shoot down any Soviet missiles. The technology was years away from actually working, but it completely freaked out the Soviets.

The Nuclear Utilization Target Selection (NUTS) strategy meant US missiles would target Soviet military bases rather than cities. This was designed to destroy Soviet nuclear weapons before they could be used, giving America a massive advantage.

The Soviet Union was in complete shock. They'd spent decades and enormous amounts of money building nuclear weapons, only to discover they might be useless against Reagan's new technology. Soviet people were already living in poverty, and now their government would have to spend even more on weapons just to keep up.

Strategic insight: Reagan's plan worked because he knew the Soviet economy couldn't handle another expensive arms race.

Gorbachev Takes Charge

When Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader in 1985, he inherited a complete mess. The Soviet economy was failing, people were living in poverty with little food or fuel, and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 showed just how far behind the Soviet Union had fallen technologically.

Gorbachev knew the old approach wasn't working, so he introduced revolutionary new policies. Perestroika (reconstruction) aimed to make the Soviet economy more like capitalism, whilst glasnost (openness) allowed people to speak more freely and made the government more honest.

Most importantly for ending the Cold War, Gorbachev ended the Brezhnev Doctrine - the threat of military action against any country wanting to leave the Soviet sphere. He also promised to reduce spending on nuclear weapons and finally withdrew Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

These changes were absolutely radical for a Soviet leader. Previous leaders had focused on competing with America rather than improving their own people's lives, but Gorbachev realised this approach was destroying the Soviet Union from within.

Game changer: Gorbachev was the first Soviet leader who cared more about fixing his own country than beating America.

Summit Meetings End the Cold War

Between 1985 and 1989, Gorbachev and Reagan (later Bush) held a series of summit meetings that gradually ended the Cold War through actual conversation rather than threats. These meetings showed that personal relationships between leaders could genuinely change world history.

The Geneva Summit in 1985 saw Gorbachev and Reagan meet for the first time and discover they actually got on well. The Reykjavik Summit in 1986 didn't produce formal agreements but proved both sides were serious about working together.

The breakthrough came at the Washington Summit in 1987 with the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Both countries agreed to destroy all land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500km - the first time they'd actually reduced their nuclear arsenals.

The Moscow Summit in 1988 saw Gorbachev announce major troop reductions and confirm Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Finally, the Malta Summit in 1989 between Gorbachev and new US President George Bush officially marked the end of the Cold War.

Historic moment: The INF Treaty was the first agreement that actually destroyed nuclear weapons rather than just limiting them.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall had been the ultimate symbol of Cold War division since 1961, but by 1989, Gorbachev's new policies were making it impossible to maintain. East Germans were already escaping to the West through Austria, and other Eastern European countries were giving their people more freedom.

In October 1989, Gorbachev told East Germans that if they wanted change, he wouldn't stop them - a complete reversal of previous Soviet policy. East Germans immediately began protesting, and Checkpoint Charlie was opened as thousands gathered there.

On 4th November 1989, over one million protesters gathered demanding democracy and an end to the Berlin Wall. The pressure became unstoppable, and on 9th November 1989, Gorbachev announced they could open the wall indefinitely.

The consequences were massive and immediate. Eastern European countries regained their freedom and voted out communist governments without fear of Soviet invasion. The Warsaw Pact ended, and Germany was reunified in 1990. By December 1991, the Soviet Union itself had collapsed, and Gorbachev fell from power.

End of an era: The fall of the Berlin Wall on 9th November 1989 symbolically ended the Cold War that had divided the world for over 40 years.