Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

    Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

    Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70 - 3 Reaction to crisis: The…

    Full specification wording

    Option P4: Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70 - 3 Reaction to crisis: The consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, including the ‘hotline’. Attempts at arms control: the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963); the Outer Space Treaty (1967); and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968).

    The Cuban Missile Crisis terrified both superpowers, leading to a period of détente and significant attempts at arms control.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 3
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The Cuban Missile Crisis terrified both superpowers, leading to a period of détente and significant attempts at arms control. A direct communications link, the 'hotline', was established in 1963 between Washington and Moscow to prevent future misunderstandings. This was followed by the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963), which prohibited nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, aiming to reduce radioactive fallout. The Outer Space Treaty (1967) forbade the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies, keeping space demilitarised. Finally, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) sought to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries, restricting the nuclear club.

    What earns the marks

    • Identify the 'hotline' (1963) as a direct teleprinter link between the Kremlin and the White House to facilitate rapid crisis communication.
    • Explain the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963): banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in space to limit environmental damage and arms development.
    • Describe the Outer Space Treaty (1967): preventing the militarisation of space by banning nuclear weapons in orbit or on the moon.
    • Detail the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968): an agreement where nuclear states promised not to share technology, and non-nuclear states agreed not to develop it.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Confusing the Limited Test Ban Treaty with a complete ban on nuclear weapons.

      Put it right: It only banned testing in specific environments, allowing underground tests to continue.

    • Stating the 'hotline' was a red telephone.

      Put it right: It was originally a secure teleprinter link, as voice communication could be misinterpreted.

    • Mixing up the dates and specific terms of the three treaties.

      Put it right: Ensure the Test Ban (1963), Outer Space (1967), and Non-Proliferation (1968) treaties are distinct.

    Exam tips

    • Group these consequences under the theme of 'reducing the risk of nuclear war' when answering questions about the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
    • Be precise with the terms of each treaty; for example, specify that the Non-Proliferation Treaty aimed to stop the spread of weapons to new countries.
    • Use these treaties as evidence of a shift from brinkmanship towards early détente in US-Soviet relations.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Option P4: Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70 - 3 Reaction to crisis: The consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, including the ‘hotline’. Attempts at arms control: the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963); the Outer Space Treaty (1967); and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    What was the purpose of the 'hotline' established between Washington and Moscow in 1963?

    Listen

    The Cuban Missile Crisis terrified both superpowers, leading to a period of détente and significant attempts at arms control. A direct communications link, the 'hotline', was established in 1963 between Washington and Moscow to prevent future misunderstandings. This was followed by the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963), which prohibited nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, aiming to reduce radioactive fallout. The Outer Space Treaty (1967) forbade the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies, keeping space demilitarised. Finally, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) sought to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries, restricting the nuclear club. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the 'hotline' (1963) as a direct teleprinter link between the Kremlin and the White House to facilitate rapid crisis communication. Explain the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963): banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in space to limit environmental damage and arms development. Describe the Outer Space Treaty (1967): preventing the militarisation of space by banning nuclear weapons in orbit or on the moon. Detail the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968): an agreement where nuclear states promised not to share technology, and non-nuclear states agreed not to develop it. Exam tip: Group these consequences under the theme of 'reducing the risk of nuclear war' when answering questions about the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. At the top is a single node labelled 'Cuban Missile Crisis'. Four arrows lead from it to four nodes in a row: "'Hotline' (1963)", "Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963)", "Outer Space Treaty (1967)" and "Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)". Each of these four nodes has one arrow leading down to a further node describing it: the 'hotline' leads to "Rapid crisis communication"; the Limited Test Ban Treaty leads to "Banned tests in atmosphere, underwater and space"; the Outer Space Treaty leads to "Banned nuclear weapons in orbit or on the moon"; and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty leads to "Prevent spread of nuclear weapons to other countries".
    Shows the Cuban Missile Crisis leading to the 'hotline' and three arms control treaties, with each agreement's purpose.

    Put the events in order

    Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

    1. 1. The 'hotline' was established between Washington and Moscow
    2. 2. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty sought to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons
    3. 3. The Outer Space Treaty forbade weapons of mass destruction in orbit

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Arms control

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Détente

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Hotline

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Arms control
    Attempts to limit weapons, seen in the Limited Test Ban Treaty, the Outer Space Treaty and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
    Détente
    A period of eased tension between the superpowers that followed the Cuban Missile Crisis.
    Hotline
    A direct communications link established in 1963 between Washington and Moscow to prevent future misunderstandings.
    Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
    A 1968 agreement seeking to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries, restricting the nuclear club.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. At the top is a single node labelled 'Cuban Missile Crisis'. Four arrows lead from it to four nodes in a row: "'Hotline' (1963)", "Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963)", "Outer Space Treaty (1967)" and "Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)". Each of these four nodes has one arrow leading down to a further node describing it: the 'hotline' leads to "Rapid crisis communication"; the Limited Test Ban Treaty leads to "Banned tests in atmosphere, underwater and space"; the Outer Space Treaty leads to "Banned nuclear weapons in orbit or on the moon"; and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty leads to "Prevent spread of nuclear weapons to other countries".

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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