The policy of easing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the late 1960s to 1970s is known as what?

• A. Containment
• B. Deterrence
• C. Détente
• D. Perestroika

Answer: (C)

Detente is a policy of easing tensions between rivals. In the late 1960s through the 1970s, the United States and the Soviet Union worked to reduce the risk of war and manage their rivalry through diplomacy and arms-control agreements rather than confrontation. This era saw steps such as negotiations that led to limits on nuclear arms and improved communication, reflecting a shift toward more pragmatic engagement between the superpowers.

Why this fits best: it specifically focuses on reducing hostility and establishing limits, which defines detente. The other ideas describe different approaches: containment aims to prevent the spread of influence, deterrence centers on discouraging aggression through the threat of retaliation, and Perestroika refers to 1980s Soviet reforms.