Download Joesph Stalin

Cold War Thaws
Why do tensions lessen between the
US & Communist World?
I. Nixon Visits China
A. Early 70s: President Richard Nixon (1969-1974) begins a policy
called détente (lessen tensions with Communist world)
1. 1972: Nixon travels to People’s Republic of China
2. Nixon formally recognizes the PRC, UN admits PRC
II. Nixon in Soviet Union
A. Nixon goes to Moscow
B. Nixon & Brezhnev sign a nuclear
reduction agreement called SALT
III. Collapse of Détente
A. 1979: Brezhnev signs SALT II treaty with
President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
B. 1981: staunch anti-communist Ronald
Reagan (1981-1989) becomes president
1. Reagan calls Soviet Union an “Evil
Empire”
2. Abandons detente, starts a new arms
race and aid to those who fight communism
1. Identify objects,
words & symbols
2. Identify actions.
3. What point is the
cartoonist making
about détente?