Reagan's foreign policy and the end of the Cold War

Question 1

What was Regan’s foreign policy not intended to do?

Answer 1

End the Cold War, but rather to weaken the USSR

Question 2

Why did Reagan’s policy play a major role in ending the CW?

Answer 2

It was so successful at weakening the USSR

Question 3

How was the Reagan Doctrine significant for the end of the Cold War?

Answer 3

Decreased the financial resources and political legitimacy of the USSR, e.g. US support for the Mujahideen prolonged the war in Afghanistan

Question 4

How did the prolonged war in Afghanistan prove costly for the Soviets?

Answer 4

Financially, the war drained Soviet resources
War was unpopular among the Russian people, and so weakened support for the Soviet government
War was unpopular internationally, and so weakened support for the USSR among the international community

Question 5

What did Reagan’s proactive approach to the CW force the USSR to do?

Answer 5

Consider nuclear war as a real threat

Question 6

What did Soviet realise about the USA?

Answer 6

They had a clear military advantage, so the USSR began to consider a negotiated end to the arms race

Question 7

What exposed the weaknesses of the Soviet economy in the minds of Soviet leaders?

Answer 7

Limiting Soviet access to America’s energy and technology

Question 8

What did trade restrictions lead to?

Answer 8

A crisis of confidence at the top of the Soviet government