Changing Priorities in the USA and USSR Flashcards

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In Cold War history, what does "changing priorities" mean for the USA and USSR in the late 1960s?

They began to care less about winning every Cold War clash. They cared more about solving problems at home and avoiding nuclear war.

What common aim did both superpowers share that encouraged them to ease Cold War tensions?

Both wanted a more stable and peaceful relationship so they could cut defence spending and focus on their own countries.

How did the Vietnam War help push the USA towards changing its priorities?

The war was very costly in money and lives and was unpopular at home. US leaders wanted to end it and avoid more wars like it.

Name one social problem inside the USA that made its leaders want to focus more on home issues than on the Cold War.

Race riots, poverty and demands for better housing and schools made US leaders want to spend more time and money on problems at home.

What was President Nixon’s main aim in foreign policy when he became president in 1969?

He wanted to reduce US involvement in the Vietnam War and manage the Cold War through talks instead of direct military conflict.

Why did Soviet leaders want to shift resources away from the arms race in the late 1960s?

The Soviet economy was under strain and many people lacked consumer goods, so leaders wanted to improve living standards instead of only building weapons.

How did the need for trade affect Soviet priorities at the end of the 1960s?

The USSR needed grain and modern technology from the West, so it needed calmer relations with the USA to allow more trade.

How did the split between the USSR and China change Soviet foreign policy priorities?

Soviet leaders feared conflict with China and did not want to face both China and the USA at the same time, so they looked for better relations with the USA.

By the late 1960s, what had both superpowers accepted about nuclear weapons?

They realised that a nuclear war would destroy both sides, so their new priority was to avoid such a war rather than try to win one.

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