The Cold War

1. The Cold War Did POTUS Ronald Reagan win the Cold War?

2. Summary of the Cold War • "The Cold War was the political, economic, and military struggle between Communist and democratic nations that dominated the second half of the twentieth century” • The end of Cold War is recognized with the breaking up of USSR

3. Key Events • The Berlin Blockade • The Korean War • The Berlin Crisis of 1961 • The Vietnam War • Cuban Missile Crisis • Soviet war in Afghanistan

4. Military Buildup Reasons: • The superiority of USSR threatened US • US had weakened military since money was sent to rebuild • Similar to ‘The Big Stick Policy’

5. Reagan’s justification for Military Buildup • Military Buildup helped to stimulate the economy. • „Our policy is to deter aggression” • „For 20 years, the Soviet Union has been accumulating enormous military might.” • „The Threat to Our Vital Interests” • Soviet’s „good” intensions – very questionable

6. Reagan • Fervent anticommunist • 33rd Governor of California • 40th President of the US • The creator of ‘Reaganomics’ and ‘Reagan Doctrine’ • The initiator of SDI • He contributed to increase the prestige of US in the international arena

7. Reagan’s Policies Reaganomics: Approach to improve the United States’ economy. Reagan Doctrine American opposition to Soviet influence in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

8. Weaknesses of the Soviet Union In 1980s Soviet Union was becoming weaker andweaker. • USSR’s economy was based only on industry (sector B) while all western countries based on service industry (sector C) • Invasion of Afghanistan (high cost, many dead troops) – Soviet Vietnam • Failure of perestroika and glasnost

9. Bibliography • Johnson, Darv. Reagan years. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 2000. • Uschan, Michael V. American War Library - The Cold War Politicians and Military Strategists (American War Library). New York: Lucent Books, 2002. • Rice, Earle Jr.History's Great Defeats - The Cold War (History's Great Defeats). New York: Lucent Books, 2000. • Cold War opposing viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven P, 1992. • Burgan, Michael. Cold War The Collapse. Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2001. • Hatt, Christine. The End of the Cold War (The Cold War). Chicago: World Almanac Library, 2001. • Bjornlund, Britta. World History Series - The Cold War (World History Series). New York: Lucent Books, 2002.