1
Learning to Lead our Lives
Title Détente and the end of the cold war The
destruction of the eastern bloc
Skill Historical Enquiry
NGfL USA 1929 -1990
All images/ cartoons are believed to be in the
public domain. Many of the images were sourced
from the internet encyclopaedia wikipedia at
http//en.wikipedia.org
2
What is the connection between these images?
The lines shown are the re-entry vehicles -- one
Peacekeeper can hold up to 10 nuclear warheads,
each independently targeted. Each warhead, were
it armed with a nuclear payload, would carry with
it the explosive power of twenty-five
Hiroshima-sized weapons.
3
Détente

• A French term meaning relaxation, used to
• describe the reduction in tension between
• two rival state and applied in particular to the
• periods of improved tension between the USA and
• USSR between 1971 and1979, and 1985 and
• 1991.

4
Why did Détente happen?
Think Why do 2 people get sick of arguing and
fighting with each other? Why do relationships
improve?
5
Very costly US / USSR spending 150m a day at
one point - they would want to end the war so
they didnt have to spend so much money
Both countries almost managed to destroy world
during Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 so thought that
they had better calm down
Why did Détente happen?
Civilians getting frustrated with Cold War
tensions nuclear shelters, etc.
New leaders who wanted peace Nixon
6
Can you think of any general examples of
Detente.
Examples of Détente.
7
PLEANARY
http//www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/coldwar/col
dwar.htm http//www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/
pairs/coldwar.htm http//www.schoolhistory.co.uk
/quizzes/flashcards/depression.shtml