During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union signed an important arms control agreement known as the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, or SALT I. In which year was this first SALT treaty signed between the two superpowers?

Introduction / Context:
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union possessed large numbers of nuclear weapons, leading to an arms race that worried the entire world. To reduce tensions and limit the growth of nuclear arsenals, the two superpowers negotiated several arms control agreements. One of the earliest and most famous of these was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, commonly known as SALT I. This question tests your knowledge of the year in which the first SALT treaty was signed, an important milestone in international diplomacy and peace efforts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The treaty in question is the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT I.
• It was signed between the United States and the Soviet Union.
• Four late twentieth century years are given as options.
• We assume standard Cold War chronology as used in history books.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this, you should connect SALT I with the policy of détente, a period in the 1970s when relations between the United States and the Soviet Union became less tense. SALT I is historically associated with United States President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. The treaty and related agreements were signed in 1972. The year 1968 is linked with the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, 1979 with the later SALT II agreement, and 1987 with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Recognizing which treaty belongs to which year allows you to choose the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question specifically asks about SALT I, the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.Step 2: Recall that SALT I was a part of the détente phase of the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union tried to stabilize their nuclear competition.Step 3: Remember that President Nixon visited Moscow in 1972, and during this visit SALT I and the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty were signed.Step 4: Compare this with 1968, which is associated with the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, and 1979, which is associated with SALT II.Step 5: Select 1972 as the year of SALT I because it fits with Nixon's presidency and the détente timeline.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify your answer by recalling a simple sequence of Cold War treaties. First, the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty came in 1968. Then, during the early 1970s détente, SALT I and the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty were signed in 1972. Later, SALT II was negotiated and signed in 1979, although it faced political difficulties. Finally, the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty came in 1987 under leaders Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Once you know this sequence, it becomes straightforward to identify 1972 as the correct year for SALT I.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1968 is the year of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, which addresses the spread of nuclear weapons but is not the SALT I agreement mentioned in the question.
1979 is associated with SALT II, a later attempt to limit strategic arms, and not with the first SALT treaty.
1987 corresponds to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a separate agreement signed much later in the Cold War.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse SALT I and SALT II because their names are similar and both involve strategic arms. Another common mistake is to mix up SALT I with the general idea of nuclear non proliferation and choose 1968. To avoid these errors, it helps to remember a clear mapping: SALT I equals 1972, SALT II equals 1979, and the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty equals 1968. Having this small mental table for major Cold War treaties makes such questions much easier to answer correctly.

Final Answer:
The first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT I, was signed in the year 1972.