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| Question | Answer |
| Changing Diplomacy | Reagan believed previous presidents had failed to convince the public of the need for an ongoing battle against communism. Moral support for the war had decreased because of Vietnam. Reagan began a more hard line rhetoric, referring to the USSR as an 'Evil Empire'. USA was prepared for a 'limited nuclear war in Europe'- concerning senior Soviet leaders- weakening the USSR's stance in the war and strengthening the USA's. |
| The Reagan Doctrine | Aimed to decrease the financial resources and political legitimacy of the USSR e.g. by supporting the Mujahideen and so prolonging the the war in Afghanistan which was costly for the USSR as it drained Soviet resources, was unpopular amongst the Russian people and internationally thereby weakening the support for the Soviet government. |
| Trade Restrictions | December 1981: Reagan restricted Soviet access to US-developed energy exploration technology June 1982: Reagan restricted Soviet access to US oil and gas and related technical data |
| Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) 1984 | Reagan wanted to negotiate arms reduction from a position of strength. The 'Star Wars' project did this as the USSR had no way- economically or technologically to match the technology which would provide the US a shield from Soviet missiles. |
| Examples of Reagan's Successful Anti-Communist Policies | 53% increase in US defence budget (Oct 1981) The announcement of SDI (March 1983) Fincancial measures to combat communism in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Grenada and Afghanistan Deployment of cruise and Pershing II missiles in Europe and development of B1 bomber, neutron bomb, stealth aircraft programs and expansion of the US navy. |
| Criticisms of Reagan's Role | It oversimplifies the other factors and exaggerates Reagan's impact 1982-4, His uncompromising stance failed to extract Soviet concessions from Andropov- it merely prolonged the Cold War by hardening the Soviet line Reagan also offered SDI technology to the Soviets which was critisesed in the US and rejected by the USSR as they saw it as impractical so posed little threat to USSR. |
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