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[[File:1149px-Kitchen debate.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Debate between Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon in 1959 in American model kitchen in Moscow.]]__NOTOC__Detente was a period lasting approximately from 1972 to 1981 in which there . There was a thaw in relations between the United States and the Soviet Unionduring this time frame. It was punctuated by Several major and surprising events, including the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, a large significant economic downturn in the West, and the opening of relations with China, occurred contemporaneously with the thaw. This period proved to be starkly different than the escalations in Cold War tensions in the 1960s and 1980s and is generally credited as a major function of attributed to Richard Nixon's deft diplomacy.

==Introduction==The Collapse of US/USSR relations after World War 2====The years leading up to the rapprochement between the United States and the Soviet Union were often tense. The 1950s saw a massive military buildup on both sides, with the number of deployable nuclear weapons reaching into the tens of thousands. Furthermore, the 1950s and 1960s saw other countries, including the U.K., France, and China, each joining the nuclear club. The defining moment of this arms race was the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the superpowers to the brink of war.

The years leading up to Additionally, the rapprochement between the United States two sides were locked in a series of crises and Soviet Union were often tense, to say wars across the leastglobe. The 1950s saw a massive military buildup Soviet Union began construction on both sides, with the number of deployable nuclear weapons reaching into the tens of thousandsinfamous Berlin Wall in 1961 to prevent people from leaving East Berlin. Furthermore, the 1950s and 1960s saw other countries, including the U.K., France, There were successive crises over Taiwan and China each joining the nuclear clubstraits. The defining moment largest of this arms race these issues was indeed the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the superpowers to the brink of warVietnam War.

(n addition, the two sides were locked in a series of crises and wars across the globe. The Soviet Union began construction on the infamous Berlin Wall in 1961 to prevent people from leaving East Berlin. There were successive crises over Taiwan and the straits. The largest of these issues was certainly the Vietnam War. Although the United States had been sending advisers to anti-Communist South Vietnam since France left its former colony in the 1950s, the involvement massively quickly escalated in the mid-1960s. The U.S. utilized drafted soldiers, causing tremendous resentment on the home front. Furthermore, the South Vietnamese regime was unstable, facing several coups and general unpopularity. By 1968 there were already over 600,000 combat troops in the country, representing the peak of American intervention.

==Major Political Changes==The Seeds of Détente?====[[File:Carter_Brezhnev_sign_SALT_II.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The SALT II Treaty signed in 1979.]] By 1969, foreign relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were stressed. Still, there were a series of essential shifts in the United States, China, and the Soviet Union that changed policy. In the Soviet Union, Premier Nikita Khrushchev was replaced by party hardliner Leonid Brezhnev. There was also increasing tension between the U.S.S.R. and the People's Republic of China, which resulted in a brief border conflict in 1969.

There were a series of important shifts in the United States, China, and Soviet Union that allowed for policy to change. In the Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev was replaced by party hardliner Leonid Brezhnev. There was also increasing tension between the U.S.S.R. and People's Republic of China, which resulted in a brief border conflict in 1969. China's Great Leap Forward, intended to modernize and industrialize the country, had failed terribly, was a tragic human and dictator financial disaster. Dictator Mao Zedong sought was forced to seek alternatives to Soviet hegemony. The United States saw a prolonged period of instability initiated by the assassination of President John Kennedy in November 1963. Protests against involvement in Vietnam and a series of social issues continued to grow. By 1968 President Lyndon Johnson was broken in spirit and decided not to run for re-election. <ref>Gaddis, John Lewis, ''The Cold War: a New History.''' New York: Penguin Books, 2006. Pages pgs. 79-80.</ref>

It was in this atmosphere that former Vice President Richard Nixon reemerged. Having served under President Eisenhower from 1953-1961 , Nixon ran unsuccessfully for the White House against Kennedy in 1960. Nixon also launched a failed bid for California governor in 1964 and declared that his political life was over. Nixon had developed a contentious but respectful role with Soviet leaders, even flying to Moscow for a debate with Khrushchev on the strengths of a capitalist system, dubbed the "Kitchen Debate" in 1959. Nixon's return in 1968 was built on the twin ideas that he would be tough on Communism and crack down crackdown on instability through his 'law and order' platform.

==Start ==Détente becomes Possible====[[File:SovietInvasionAfghanistanMap.png|300px|thumb|left|The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a significant factor in ending Detente.]] Nixon's ascension brought competing for ideas to light. In one regard, he was a Cold Warrior, launching a significant escalation of bombing in Vietnam (and later Cambodia and Laos) while also dramatically reducing the number of combat troops in Southeast Asia. Nixon also ended the draft, undercutting a major argument of American doves. As both Brezhnev and Nixon were looked upon as hardliners, it appeared that a Thaw==thaw might not be possible. The year before Nixon took office, Brezhnev launched bloody repression of an uprising in Czechoslovakia.

NixonThe United States also saw the emerging Sino-Soviet split. Mao bitterly resented Khrushchev's ascension brought competing ideas to lightde-Stalinization, and the Soviets feared China joining the nuclear club. In one regard, he China was a Cold Warrior, launching a large escalation of bombing growing increasingly uneasy with the Soviets' role in Vietnam (and later Cambodia and Laos) while also dramatically reducing , disliking the number idea of combat troops in Southeast Asiaa Soviet client state on their southern border. With this backdrop, Nixon also ended the draft, undercutting a major argument of American doves. As both began negotiations with Soviet Premier Brezhnev and Nixon were looked upon as hardliners, it appeared that a thaw might not be possiblein 1969 on bilateral arms reduction treaties. The year before Nixon took officefirst was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, or SALT, Brezhnev launched a bloody repression which limited the number of an uprising in Czechoslovakianuclear warheads on each side.

[[File:Carter_Brezhnev_sign_SALT_IIThe two superpowers agreed to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, or ABM, which limited the number of anti-ICBM defenses each nation would develop. This thaw grew into a wider policy, known as Detente between East and West. One of the largest and most symbolic acts was the agreement between many capitalist and Communist nations to sign the Helsinki Accords in 1975 to improve relations further.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The A follow-up SALT II Treaty was signed by Brezhnev and Carter in 1979.]] <ref>Hanhimaki, Jussi, ''The Rise and Fall of Detente.'' Washington: Potomac Books, 2013. Page 83.</ref>

====Opening Relations with China====[[File:Mao_Nixon.jpeg|thumbnail|300px|left|Nixon's famous visit to Beijing in February 1972.]]The United States also saw emergence of China on the emerging Sinogeopolitical scene almost created a tri-polar world. China by the end of the 1960s did not fall in the Soviet split. camp, and Mao bitterly resented Khrushchev's de-Stalinization and believed that the Soviets feared China joining the nuclear clubU.S.S.R. China was growing increasingly uneasy with adulterating Communist ideology. The U.S. has refused to recognize the SovietsPeople' role s Republic since its victory in Vietnam, disliking the idea of a Soviet client state on their southern borderChinese Civil War in 1949. With this backdrop, Nixon began negotiations with Soviet Premier Brezhnev Chinese involvement against United Nations forces in 1969 on a series of bilateral arms reduction treatiesthe Korean War also deepened mistrust. The first was the Strategic Arms Limitation TreatyHowever, or SALT, which limited this changed by the number of nuclear warheads on each sideearly 1970s. The following year the two superpowers agreed to the Anticountries exchanged friendly ping-Ballistic Missile Treaty, or ABMpong athletes for exhibition games, which limited the number of anti-ICBM defenses each nation would develop. This thaw grew evolved into a wider policy, known as Detente between East deeper and Westdeeper talks. One of the largest and most symbolic acts was the agreement between many capitalist and Communist nations Nixon had fostered such talks since his first term began in 1969, but by 1971 National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger traveled secretly to sign the Helsinki Accords in 1975 in an effort Beijing to further improve relations. A follow up SALT II Treaty was signed by Brezhnev and Carter in 1979begin talks of a deeper thaw. <ref>HanhimakiDeVoss, JussiDavid, ''The Rise and Fall of Detente"Ping-Pong Diplomacy.'' Washington: Potomac Books" <i>Smithsonian Magazine</i>, 2013. Page 83April 2002.</ref>

==Opening Relations In July 1971, Nixon shocked audiences in both the United States and the Soviet Union by announcing visiting China. In February 1972, he made the journey and had a cordial meeting with Mao. The United States also recognized China==, allowing the PRC to take Taiwan's seat at the United Nations. Shortly after that, full diplomatic and commercial ties were established. Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter attempted to use this as leverage to smooth relations further. Under improved relations and further local diplomacy, the United States removed combat troops from Vietnam in 1973.

====Conclusion====The emergence of better relations between the United States with China on and the geopolitical scene almost created Soviet Union were not a tri-polar worldpermanent development. China by As the end of United States and its allies fell into a deep "malaise" in the 1960s did not fall in late 1970s, the Soviet camp and Mao believed that Soviets attempted to take advantage of the U.S.S.R. was adulterating Communist ideologysituation. The U.S. refused to recognize the People's Republic since its victory Soviets expanded their influence in the Chinese Civil War Middle East and invaded Afghanistan to prop up a puppet government in 19491979. Chinese involvement against United Nations forces in Brezhnev also kept Eastern Europe repressed with a heavy hand through the Korean War also deepened mistrustremainder of his dictatorship. However, Against this changed by the early 1970s. The two countries exchanged friendly ping-pong athletes for exhibition gamesbackdrop, which evolved into deeper former California Governor Ronald Reagan ran and deeper talks. Nixon had fostered such talks since his first term began won for President in 1969 but by 1971 National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger traveled secretly 1980, promising to Beijing to begin talks of a deeper thaw. <ref>DeVoss, David, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy." Washington: Smithsonian Magazine, April 2002end the Detente.</ref>

[[File:Mao_Nixon.jpeg|thumbnail|300px|Nixon's famous visit to Beijing in February 1972.]] In July 1971 Nixon shocked audiences in both the United States and Soviet Union by announcing that he was visiting China. In February 1972 he made the journey and had a cordial meeting with Mao. The United States also recognized China, allowing the PRC to take Taiwan's seat at the United Nations. Shortly thereafter full diplomatic and commercial ties were established. Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter attempted to use this as leverage to smooth relations further. Under the guise of improved relations and further local diplomacy, the United States removed combat troops from Vietnam in 1973.  ==Conclusion== [[File:SovietInvasionAfghanistanMap.png|200px|thumb|left|The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a major factor in ending Detente.]]  The better relations between the United States with China and the Soviet Union was not a permanent development. As the United States and her allies fell into a deep "malaise" in the late 1970s the Soviets attempted to take advantage of the situation. The Soviets expanded their influence in the Middle East and invaded Afghanistan to prop up a puppet government in 1979. Brezhnev also kept Eastern Europe repressed with a heavy hand through the remainder of his dictatorship. It was in this backdrop that former California Governor Ronald Reagan ran and won for President in 1980, promising to end the Detente. References==References==

[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Military History]][[Category:Cold War History]] [[Category:European History]] [[Category:European History]][[Category:Cold War History]] [[Category:United States History]]

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