Activity 1 - Which events should we revise?

  1. Identify - Complete this note-taking template to help you identify and record the key information and events for this unit. Use your notes, text-books and website resources to locate the answers to each of the nine questions.​​
  2. Mind-Map - Create a concept-map using Padlet, Mindmup or any other similar mind-mapping tool (or create a sketchnote by hand!). In the middle write ‘Was detente a failure?’.
  3. Summarise - Now fill in your mind-map with key historical information and facts about the main events of the unit. Use this timeline, review your notes and summarise.
  4. Revise - Use your mind maps to help you revise the historical content for your upcoming assessment and final exams. Make sure you store a copy with your other revision materials.

Activity 2 - What was our inquiry?

  1. Recall -  Examine the statement of inquiry for this unit again and consider how it applies to what you’ve studied:
    1. “Conflicts between states can be managed and tensions reduced through increased cooperation”
  2. Analyse - With a partner, discuss how this statement of inquiry could be applied to the period of detente in the Cold War. Consider the following questions:
    1. Connect - How is the SOI connected to what you have studied?
    2. Extend - Does the SOI extend your thinking about the Cold War in any way?
    3. Challenge - What is challenging or confusing about the SOI?
    4. Discuss - Does the SOI apply to the Cold War? What other events in history might it also apply to?
  3. Reflect - The key concept of this unit was continuity. Essentially, this is the idea that despite the appearance of change, things can stay the same and new events can repeat old patterns. Consider the period of detente from 1969-1979. Did it actually change the fundamental nature of the Cold War? 
  4. Evaluate - To evaluate this, make a simple table. In the first column, note down things about the Cold War that you think changed during detente. In the second column, make a note of things about the Cold War that you think stayed the same. Overall, did detente actually change the fundamental nature of the Cold War?

Activity 3 - How might we be assessed?

  1. Essay Plan - Try practicing for your end of unit review by essay planning previous questions on this topic. Use this essay mark-scheme to help:
    1. ​Evaluate the impact of detente upon US–USSR relations up to the end of 1979 - Nov 2019
    2. Examine the reasons for the policy of detente, and its impact on superpower relations, between 1969 and 1979 - Nov 2016
    3. Examine the view that the policy of peaceful coexistence failed to promote good relations between the US and the USSR up to 1964 - May 2016
    4. Compare and contrast US relations with China and the USSR during detente - Nov 2015
    5. In what ways, and to what extent, did the Soviet policy of peaceful coexistence affect superpower relations from 1956 to 1964? - Nov 2013
    6. Analyse the reasons for the adoption and abandonment of the policy of détente (1969–1979) - Nov 2013
    7. In what ways, and with what success, did the US and the USSR attempt to reduce Cold War tensions between 1956 and 1979? - Nov 2011
    8. ​Assess the achievements and limitations of détente between 1969 and 1979 - May 2010
    9. For what reasons, and with what results, did either the USA or the USSR enter into a period of détente from 1970? - Nov 2009
    10. Discuss how and why detente collapsed in the late 1970s and early 1980s - Teacher Example
    11. To what extent did the Cold War become less confrontational between 1970 and 1980? - Teacher Example
    12. ‘Despite the claims of those who promoted detente, its achievements were limited.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? - Teacher Example

Further Reading for Revision

obligatory reading
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 139-171
recommended reading
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, Chapter 7 and Chapter 12
supplemental reading
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 130-156, 222-245
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