Activity 1 - What caused detente?

  1. Examine - Explore and make notes from Slides 3-8 of the Lesson Presentation on the reasons for detente in the 1970s. List the motives for each of the key powers: the USSR; US; PRC; Europe.
  2. Read - Read the first two pages of this summary about detente, and add to your notes about the intentions and motives of each of the key powers.
  3. Analyse - Which of the following causes of detente do you think were the more significant in starting the process? Rank them in order of importance or rearrange them in a diagram to help you decide:
    1. Nuclear Arms Race
    2. Cuban Missile Crisis
    3. Sino-Soviet Split
    4. Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
    5. Soviet economic stagnation
    6. Protests within Spheres of Influence
  4. Discuss - From what you’ve learnt so far, to what extent was detente an opportunity to end the Cold War?

Activity 2 - What did detente achieve?

  1. Examine - Read and make notes from Slides 9-20 of the Lesson Presentation on the achievements of detente. 
  2. Analyse - With a partner, explore what detente achieved by examining each of the achievements of detente on this worksheet. For each achievement, summarise how it could be interpreted as both a success and a failure - record specific details to prove this. Refer to the following sources to help:
    1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 168-176
    2. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 146-152
    3. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 222-247
  3. Review - Read pages 169-176 of Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War and complete Activities 1-4. Record your answers in full sentences.

Activity 3 - Was detente a success?

  1. Evaluate - Review these different perspectives and quotations on detente from various actors at the time. Which ones do you agree with? Which do you disagree with?
  2. Write - To what extent could detente be considered a success? Review your notes and write an extended paragraph summarising your view with reasons. 
  3. Extension - Complete these comprehension questions from reading pages 66-94 from Painter, D. (1999). The Cold War - An International History.

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 168-176
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 146-152
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 222-247
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