1. The Cold War Thaws

2. Eastern Europe
Nikita Khrushchev followed Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union.
Destalinization was the purging of the country of Stalin’s memory.
When Hungary tried to gain independence the Soviets invaded and kept communist control.

3. Eastern Europe
Leonid Brezhnev limited basic human rights such as freedom of speech and worship.
China & the Soviets ended their treaty because China wanted to spread their own brand of communism and not be the USSR’s junior partner.
Détente – a policy of lessened Cold War tensions

4. Nixon & Reagan
Nixon was able to ease tensions through the SALT treaties.
Nixon and Reagan weren’t able to end the Cold War but tensions were definitely eased during their presidencies.