Starter quiz
- Which word describes when a decision, treaty, or agreement is formally approved and confirmed making it official?
- 'ratified' ✓
- Complete the sentence with the missing word: The Helsinki Accords are sometimes considered to be the high-point of ...
- 'Détente' ✓
- Why was SALT II not formally approved and confirmed making it official in the USA?
- the US invaded Afghanistan
- the Soviets invaded Afghanistan ✓
- the Soviets invaded Central America
- the US invaded Cuba
-
- When were the Helsinki Accords signed?
- 1st August 1975 ✓
- 17th July 1975
- 5th February 1977
- 24th December 1979
-
- Complete the sentence: Disagreements about ______ were one source of tension between the USA and the USSR after the Helsinki Accords were signed.
- 'human rights' ✓
- Which of the following agreements were made as part of SALT II?
- limit of 1320 MIRV systems for each side ✓
- limit of 2400 strategic nuclear delivery vehicles for each side ✓
- restriction on the development of ABMs
- limits on the deployment of new types of strategic weapons ✓
- set out rules for the conduct of nuclear war and steps to avoid conflict
-
Exit quiz
- Which word describes warfare that involves using surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics to fight a larger, more traditional military force?
- 'guerilla' ✓
- Which word describes when people refuse to buy, use or participate in something as a way to protest or bring about change?
- 'boycott' ✓
- What was the name of the communist group who overthrew the government in Afghanistan on 27th April 1978?
- the People’s Dictatorship Party of Afghanistan
- the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan ✓
- the Afghanistan Democratic Party
- the Afghanistan Socialist Democratic Party
-
- Complete the sentence: Reforms introduced by the PDPA to transform Afghanistan into a communist country were deeply ...
- popular
- unpopular ✓
-
- How many Soviet troops crossed the border into Afghanistan between 24th December 1979 and 1st January 1980?
- 25 000
- 50 000 ✓
- 100 000
- 3 000 000
-
- How did the USA view the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
- an aggressive attempt to spread capitalism
- an aggressive attempt to spread communism ✓
- threat to the West’s coal supplies
- threat to the West’s oil supplies ✓
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A communist group called the PDPA took control of Afghanistan in 1978 and governed with Soviet support.
- Reforms introduced by the PDPA to transform Afghanistan into a communist country were deeply unpopular.
- The USSR invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to prevent the mujahideen from overthrowing the communist government.
- The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan increased tensions with the USA who responded with the Carter Doctrine.
- In response to the Soviet invasion, the USA led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Common misconception
Poorer people in Afghanistan supported the communist PDPA government.
The PDPA's land reforms were tainted by corruption and angered many poorer Afghans because they received poor quality land. Many Afghans opposed the PDPA's attempts to create a secular society, which they saw as an attack on their faith and culture.
Keywords
Secular - non-religious
Guerilla - warfare that involves using surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics to fight a larger, more traditional military force
Islamic fundamentalism - a strict interpretation of Islam that emphasises a return to traditional beliefs and practices
Economic sanction - a measure taken by one country to limit or stop trade with another country to pressure it to change its actions or policies
Boycott - when people refuse to buy, use or participate in something as a way to protest or bring about change