The Cold War Ends: Détente, SALT I and II, Glasnost, Perestroika
1970’s a period of détente (lessening of tensions)
SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty) I and II.
The two treaties became the basis of all subsequent arms control agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union.
SALT I was signed in 1972, and SALT II in 1979.
Both treaties failed.
They were supposed to bring sweeping reductions of strategic arsenals or strict constraints on qualitative improvements, but all the treaty did was reduce uncertainties in superpower relations.
Setbacks to Détente include Afghanistan War and Ronald
Reagan presidency SDI “Star Wars” Lasers, Tried to bankrupt Russia with
expensive weapons
Gorbachev becomes Russian leader in 1984
Glasnost (Openess) allowed
Gorbachev wrote Perestroika ( literally means restructuring) about reforming the Soviet system
Summary
The ending of the Cold War was a very important event for the entire world. After the stress of the continuous threat of nuclear war the governments agreed on a period of detente. The US and the Soviet Union established two treaties, SALT I and LL in 1972 and 1979, to be a basis of all arms control agreements between them, but both treaties failed. They were supposed to reduce arsenals and constrain the improvements that were being made in arms technology, but all the treaty did was reduce the uncertainties between the two countries. The detente was cut because of the Afghanistan War and because US president Reagan tried to make Russia go bankrupt with the SDI 'Star Wars' lasers. In 1984 Gorbachev became the Russian leader and he wanted the Soviet Union to be more open and wanted to reform the system that was in place.