Continuing the Cold War Topic: Lesson 3

This lesson you will be looking at the different conferences that took place in the 1980s between Gorbachev and Reagan – and later George Bush in order to discuss some of the key issues facing the two superpowers, particularly the issue of nuclear weapons.

Peace talks and summits:

Talks/Treaties Presidents/Leaders involved

Outcome

Geneva Summit, November 1985

Reagan and Gorbachev

Both sides wanted to talk peace. Gorbachev hoped to persuade Reagan to drop plans for SDI.

Reykjavik Summit, October 1986

Reagan and Gorbachev

Reagan wanted to get rid of all ballistic nuclear missiles – Gorbachev refused if SDI not dropped.

INF treaty, Washington, December 1987

Reagan and Gorbachev

The Treaty agreed to the elimination all nuclear missiles with a range between 500-5500 km. Stockpiles started to be reduced. Gorbachev knew he didn’t have the money, or defensive reason, to disagree anymore.

Malta Summit, 1989

Bush and Gorbachev Initial discussion about the CFE and START I agreements.

CFE agreement, 1990

Bush and Gorbachev Limited the amount of non-nuclear forces NATO and Warsaw Pact could have in Europe.

START I, 1991 Bush and Gorbachev Limited numbers of most types of nuclear weapons by approximately a third.

Task:1. Explain below or in your books how the relationship between the USA and Soviets had changed by 1989, giving reference to key events and decisions that were made at these conferences in 1989. You could do this as a bullet point list, paragraph or mind-map.

Take it further:Research further the INF Treaty (Intermediate Range Nuclear Force Treaty) then answer the following question.

Explain the importance of the INF Treaty for relations between the USA and the Soviet Union.

1 1-3 Simple statement(s).

One mark per point made to maximum of three.

e.g. Gorbachev and Reagan met several times to discuss the Cold

War. They met in Iceland to discuss arms reductions.

2 4-6 Developed statement.

(a developed statement is a simple statement with additional supporting material or explanation).

One mark within level per developed point.

e.g. The summit conferences proved to be the breakthrough in Superpower relations. The first meeting in Geneva achieved little because Reagan still wanted to keep SDI. However, at the third meeting in 1987, the INF Treaty was signed and this signalled a clear improvement. The summit conference in Moscow in 1988 showed the world that the USA and the USSR were now on very friendly relations.