How did the arms race feature as part of détente?

Learning objective – to be able to explain the development of the arms race during the period of détente. I can describe the key features of the arms race and how it featured as part of the détente era. Grade D I can explain the key features of the arms race and how it featured as part of the détente era. Grade B I can evaluate the impact of the arms race and how it featured as part of the détente era. Grade A

Starter - What does this diagram tell you about the arms race in the 1960s?

How did the arms race develop during the Cold War?

What were the key developments of the arms race between 1945 and 1960? Stockpiling weapons Delivery systems ‘Brinkmanship’ MAD

What were the key features of the arms race before the Cuban Missile Crisis? The Missile Gap – Up to the early 1960s, the USA had many more nuclear weapons compared with the USSR. However, this ‘missile gap’ began to close when the USSR invested more money to build more [and bigger] nuclear weapons. Delivery systems – The USA had superior delivery systems where they developed the B-52 bombers which could accurately drop bombs on the USSR. The USSR had no such accurate delivery systems. Strategic placement – The USA had missiles much closer to the USSR than the USSR had on the USA. This ensured that the USA had a greater chance of being more accurate with their missiles.

What were the key features of the arms race after the Cuban Missile Crisis? MAD – With a more equal footing in the arms race, the idea of MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction - emerged which could be defined as that both sides had so many weapons a nuclear war would likely to lead to the destruction of both. A real deterrent to use nuclear weapons. Test Ban Treaty – Signed in 1963, the Test Ban Treaty saw the USA and USSR agree to ban the testing of all nuclear weapons in the earth’s atmosphere and only test weapons underground. This was the first step to control nuclear weapons. Kennedy’s ‘common interests’ speech – Kennedy followed up signing the test Ban Treaty in June 1963 with a speech outlining both sides needed to focus on ‘common interests’. This was seen as the start of détente. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – Signed in 1968 and agreed that no superpower would supply or help develop other states having nuclear weapons. This stopped nuclear conflict in other areas of the world.

What was the SALT I agreement? Why? Richard Nixon wanted to be seen as a world statesman. Both superpowers feared MAD and had the desire to limit nuclear capability in order to limit the chance of nuclear war. What? SALT stood for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks and imposed limits on USA and USSR nuclear capability. Agreement of no further production of strategic ballistic missiles [short range missiles]. Submarine based missiles only introduced when ICBM became obsolete. The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty agreed to shoot down incoming nuclear missiles. Significant? Signed in Moscow in 1972, it was the first agreement to limit nuclear capability – although temporary as it was intended to last five years. Seen as the high point of détente. Although this agreement did not affect existing nuclear stocks.

What was the SALT II agreement? Why? Because SALT I was only ever temporary, negotiations for a longer term deal – SALT II – began in 1972. Further nuclear reductions was an objective of US President, Jimmy Carter. What? Part of the SALT II negotiations involved the Vladivostok Agreement in 1974 in which both sides committed to reduce nuclear stocks to 2250 warheads. The negotiations were opposed by the West German government, who feared that further arms reductions would leave them vulnerable to attack from the east. American right-wingers thought détente had gone too far with SALT I and did not want further agreements. SALT II was signed in June 1979. However, US Congress refused to ratify SALT II after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan at the end of 1979, and it never became law. Significant? SALT II highlighted the growing opposition to détente in US and was a victim of the end of détente.

Task – use a copy of the comic strip and annotate it with events for each of the stages of the arms race.

Task How di each of the following events contribute to the development of the arms race during the Cold War. The Test Ban Treaty - 1963 The Missile Gap – 1960s The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - 1968 Vladivostok Agreement - 1974 SALT I – 1972 SALT II - 1979

Plenary Tweet my lesson Write a tweet of no more than 140 characters that summarises your learning.