---
title: "START II | Honors US History"
description: "START II was a 1993 U.S.-Russia treaty that cut strategic nuclear arms and banned MIRVs on ICBMs, showing post-Cold War arms control in Honors US History."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/hs-honors-us-history/key-terms/start-ii"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Honors US History"
unit: "Unit 14"
---

# START II | Honors US History

## Definition

START II was the 1993 U.S.-Russia arms control treaty that aimed to cut strategic nuclear warheads and ban MIRVs on ICBMs. In Honors US History, it shows the post-Cold War shift from rivalry to negotiated security.

## What It Is

START II, or the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II, was a Cold War aftershock treaty that tried to shrink the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals in the 1990s. In Honors US History, it belongs to the Clinton era and the larger story of how the United States handled the end of the Soviet Union.

The big idea behind START II was simple: if both countries kept huge stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons, the world stayed trapped in an arms race mindset. The treaty called for deeper cuts to strategic warheads, with a target of roughly 3,000 to 3,500 warheads per country by 2007. That is a major drop from the massive Cold War buildup.

One of the treaty’s most important limits was the ban on MIRVs on intercontinental ballistic missiles. MIRVs, or multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, let one missile carry several warheads aimed at different targets. That made missiles much more destructive and more destabilizing, because a first strike could wipe out more of an enemy’s nuclear force.

START II was signed in 1993 and later ratified by Russia, but it never actually entered into force. That matters because it shows the difference between negotiating a treaty and making it real. Russian politics, concerns about U.S. missile defense, and changing international tensions all slowed or derailed the process.

For Honors US History, the treaty is a good example of post-Cold War cooperation mixed with uncertainty. The United States was no longer managing a classic superpower showdown, but it still had to balance arms reduction, deterrence, and global security. START II captures that uneasy transition better than a simple “the Cold War ended” summary ever could.

## Why It Matters

START II matters because it shows how the United States tried to redefine national security after the Soviet Union collapsed. Instead of focusing only on military buildup, the Clinton administration had to deal with arms control, diplomacy, and the reality that nuclear weapons still shaped world politics.

It also gives you a concrete example of continuity and change in the 1990s. The Cold War was over, but the nuclear threat did not disappear. A treaty like START II shows that the post-Cold War era was not just about peace and prosperity. It was also about managing leftover tensions, old weapons systems, and distrust between former rivals.

The treaty connects directly to themes in this unit, especially the presidency of Bill Clinton and the broader shift toward cooperative foreign policy. When you see START II on a timeline or in a short-answer question, it usually signals a question about how U.S. leaders responded to a changed global order.

It also helps you explain why some policies succeed on paper but stall in practice. That kind of historical thinking shows up a lot in Honors US History essays and document questions, where you need to track both the goal of a policy and the obstacles that kept it from fully working.

## Connections

### Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

START II came after the original START agreement and pushed arms reduction further. If START shows the first major post-Cold War steps toward cutting nuclear forces, START II shows the next attempt to deepen those limits and make them more stable. Comparing the two helps you see how arms control often happens in stages, not all at once.

### Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

MAD is the Cold War logic behind nuclear deterrence, where both sides avoid attacking because both would be destroyed. START II can be read as a response to that world, since it tried to reduce the kinds of weapons that made a massive first strike more tempting. It is a good contrast between deterrence and disarmament.

### Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

The NPT focuses on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, while START II focused on reducing existing arsenals. They are related because both reflect U.S. efforts to manage nuclear danger through diplomacy instead of only military power. A teacher might pair them in a question about how the U.S. shaped global nuclear policy over time.

### [Agreed Framework](/hs-honors-us-history/key-terms/agreed-framework)

The Agreed Framework deals with North Korea and shows another Clinton-era attempt to use negotiation to limit nuclear risk. START II and the Agreed Framework are different cases, but both fit the same broad pattern: the United States trying to contain nuclear threats through treaties and international agreements rather than only force.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz question may ask you to identify START II from a clue like “U.S.-Russia treaty limiting strategic nuclear warheads in the 1990s” or “ban on MIRVs.” On essays, you might use it as evidence that the post-Cold War United States still worried about nuclear weapons even after the Soviet Union fell.

If a prompt asks about Clinton’s foreign policy, START II is a clean example of diplomacy and arms control. If the question is about continuity and change, you can explain that the Cold War rivalry faded, but nuclear deterrence and arms reduction stayed on the agenda. For timeline or short-answer items, connect it to the early 1990s and the shift toward cooperative security.

## start ii vs Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

START is the earlier arms reduction treaty, while START II was a follow-up that tried to go further by cutting more weapons and banning MIRVs on ICBMs. They are easy to mix up because the names are nearly identical. If you see a question about the 1993 treaty and deeper post-Cold War reductions, that is START II.

## Key Takeaways

- START II was a 1993 U.S.-Russia treaty that tried to reduce strategic nuclear weapons after the Cold War.
- It set a goal of roughly 3,000 to 3,500 strategic warheads per country and banned MIRVs on ICBMs.
- The treaty shows how the Clinton era mixed diplomacy with concerns about nuclear deterrence and global security.
- Even though it was ratified, START II never entered into force, which makes it a strong example of how treaties can stall in real politics.
- In Honors US History, START II is a useful marker for the shift from superpower rivalry to post-Cold War arms control.

## FAQs

### What is START II in Honors US History?

START II was a 1993 arms control treaty between the United States and Russia that aimed to reduce strategic nuclear weapons. It also banned MIRVs on ICBMs, which made the treaty part of the post-Cold War push for a safer nuclear balance.

### What did START II ban?

START II banned MIRVs on intercontinental ballistic missiles. That mattered because MIRVs let one missile carry several warheads, which made nuclear weapons more destructive and made arms control more complicated.

### How is START II different from START?

START was the earlier treaty, and START II was meant to go further. START II pushed for deeper cuts and stricter limits, so it fits the same arms control trend but with a more aggressive reduction goal.

### Why did START II matter if it never fully took effect?

It still matters because it shows the goals and limits of post-Cold War diplomacy. Even when treaties do not fully enter into force, they reveal what leaders wanted to change and what political obstacles stood in the way.

## Related Study Guides

- [14.3 The Presidency of Bill Clinton and the 1990s](/hs-honors-us-history/unit-14/presidency-bill-clinton-1990s/study-guide/hKg4K1SoSEo3agrE)

## About This Document

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