Reagan and SDI Flashcards
Reagan as president, SDI and Reagan Doctrine
When was Reagan in office?
1981-89
What was Reagan’s attitude in his first term?
No intention of rebuilding detente
When was the Evil Empire Speech?
8th March 1983
What was the ‘Evil Empire’?
Reagan argued the Cold War was a fight between good and evil
- Highly critical and aggressive of previous presidencies and decisions made
Why did Reagan call for an arms build up in 83’?
Suggested it was a moral war and USA had to to invest in new nuclear weapons in order to defend liberty from the ‘evil’ Soviet Union
- Surrounded by people who believed that the U.S. could fight and survive a nuclear conflict (NUTs)
- CIA officials, led by George H.W. Bush, came up with a report that the Soviets were achieving military superiority and were preparing to fight a nuclear war
- USSR claimed hiding new weapons systems (actually declining)
What was Britain’s response to Evil Empire?
Thatcher and GB also saw USSR as ‘evil empire’
- Allowed USA to put nuclear missiles in Britain (pressure on USSR and made nuclear threat more real)
What discussion regarding missiles in Europe 1983?
Pershing 2 and Cruise missiles would be deployed in Europe in 1983 if the Soviets didn’t dismantle their SS-20s
What was the USSR’s response to USA’s threat of nuclear deployment in Europe 83’?
The USSR thought this was a major escalation, and pulled out of START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and INF (Intermediate Nuclear Forces) talks
What was the increase of US military spending in 1982 and 1983?
1982 - 13%
1983 - 8%
When was SDI announced?
23rd March 1983
What was SDI?
Sophisticated anti-nuclear defence system that could destroy nuclear weapons in space, before they reached their targets (ICBMs)
What was the financial circumstance of SDI and impact on USSR?
Would be vastly expensive and therefore bankrupt the USSR in their effort to keep up.
How did SDI break detente?
Broke the terms of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (this had said powers would use space technology for peace alone)
What was the Soviet response to SDI and why?
SDI presented enormous problems for the USSR as they could not compete
- USA had already won space race (to moon)
- Soviet economy was not producing enough wealth to fund development
- USSR behind USA in terms of computer tech
Did USA support SDI?
Critics did not believe it was plausible
- Economically draining also
Did USSR spend following SDI?
Due to Soviet fear, they continued to heavily fund nuclear weaponry to deter the west and remain competitive
- Gorbachev could not recover and was instrumental in Soviet Union collapse
What was the Reagan Doctrine?
Designed to weaken the Soviet Union ‘at the edges’ and to supply counter-revolutionaries with enough support to counter USSR regimes
When was the Reagan doctrine announced?
February 6 1985
How was Reagan Doctrine seen in Grenada 1983?
US forced deployed left wing government, but often covert methods
- Entailed a massive rise in CIA operations in support of counter-revolutionary groups
How was Reagan Doctrine seen in Afghanistan?
Sting anti-aircraft missiles were supplied to the Mijahedeen who were fighting the Soviet forces
How was Reagan Doctrine seen in Europe?
Radio broadcasts such as ‘Voice of America’ and ‘Radio Free Europe’ were used to encourage those living in Eastern Europe to protest against their communist governments
How was the Reagan Doctrine seen by the wider-world?
US actions in Grenada, Nicaragua and El Salvador showed the apparent willingness of the USA to interfere in the internal politics on other countries
- Criticised as a threat to the freedom of the people
- Many supported by the US had poor human rights
What did the Reagan Doctrine show the Soviet Union?
That the USA was prepared to take forceful action against communism and its expansion
