Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

The reasons for Détente

I can explain the reasons for Détente.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

The reasons for Détente

I can explain the reasons for Détente.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Détente began between the US and USSR in the early 1970s.
  2. New leaders in both superpowers helped encourage Détente.
  3. The USA and USSR hoped to address domestic social and economic issues.
  4. Nixon believed Détente could help the US end its war in Vietnam.
  5. Brezhnev was concerned to ensure the US and Chinese did not co-operate against the USSR.

Keywords

  • Détente - the relaxation of tensions between states which were previously hostile towards one another

  • Domestic - issues that exist within a country, rather than those related to its relationship with foreign countries

  • Sino - relates to China

Common misconception

The USSR was in favout of the US decision to improve relations with communist China.

Because of the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviets worried that improved US-China relations might lead them to form an anti-Soviet alliance.


To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The reasons for Détente, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students whether the timing of the beginning of Détente suggests that Nixon had a more important role in encouraging the process than Brezhnev did? Students may discuss this in pairs before participating in a broader discussion.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What were the severe Soviet prisons, where prisoners had to perform forced labour, called?
Correct Answer: gulags, gulag
Q2.
Write the missing words: ABMs and MIRVs were developed as part of the in the 1960s and 1970s.
Correct Answer: arms race, Arms race, Arms Race
Q3.
Which superpower fought in the Vietnam War?
Correct Answer: USA, US, the USA, United States, America
Q4.
In which country was the SSSJ founded?
China
Correct answer: USA
USSR
Q5.
How did censorship change under Brezhnev?
became less common than under Khrushchev
Correct answer: became more common than under Khrushchev
remained as common as under Khrushchev
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
1 - USA developed an atomic bomb
2 - USSR successfully developed an atomic bomb
3 - USA and USSR developed hydrogen bombs
4 - USA and USSR developed ICBMs
5 - USSR developed ABMs
6 - USA developed MIRVs

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Write the missing word: refers to the relaxation of tensions between states which were previously hostile towards one another.
Correct Answer: détente, detente, Detente, Détente
Q2.
Which two leaders were involved in Détente?
Correct answer: Leonid Brezhnev
Lyndon B Johnson
Nikita Khrushchev
Correct answer: Richard Nixon
Q3.
How much was the US spending on its militray and space programme in 1968?
$20.1 billion
$40.3 billion
$60.2 billion
Correct answer: $80.1 billion
Q4.
Which of the following was a domestic motive for Détente?
Sino-Soviet split
Correct answer: US urban riots
US war in Vietnam
Q5.
Why did Nixon want to improve US relations with China and the USSR?
So they would stop fighting against US forces in Vietnam.
So they would send troops to fight alongside the US in Vietnam.
Correct answer: So they would put pressure on the North Vietnamese during peace negotiations.
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
1 - President Nixon promised to achieve “peace with honour”
2 - USA attempted to improve its relations with communist states
3 - Nixon visited China and improved relations with its leaders
4 - The USSR worried about becoming internationally isolated
5 - Both superpowers became open to pursuing Détente

Additional material

Download additional material