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829764
Thatcher and Reagan: the end of Détente, 1979-1981
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A-Levels Cold War (Détente) Mind Map on Thatcher and Reagan: the end of Détente, 1979-1981, created by jacksearle on 05/05/2014.
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cold war
détente
a-levels
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jacksearle
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Resource summary
Thatcher and Reagan: the end of Détente, 1979-1981
Election Victories
Thatcher elected British PM in 1979
Reagan elected President 1980
Both leaders represented a new kind of conservatism
Determined to revitalise capitalism at home and stand up to communism abroad
The Thatcher-Reagan love-in
Named a 'love-in' because 'Thatcherism' and 'Reaganomics' were similar in many ways
Both were committed to the same things
Encouraging free enterprise by 'rolling back the state'
T and R believed that govt spending and high taxes dominated the 2 economies
Believed that high taxes and government interference were damaging to private enterprise
Defence spending
Both leaders committed to expanding govt defence spending
Specifically - both dedicated to new gen of nuclear missiles called Trident
Presented problems for USSR - growing imbalance of economic power meant that USSR could not afford to keep pace with West on defence spending
Standing up to the 'Evil Empire'
R and T had similar view of the USSR
Both believed that comm was a moral evil that the West had a duty to oppose
Reagan In Power
Reagan was more important partner in the T-R relationship
R's foreign policy was designed to assert US strength and weaken position of USSR
Did this in the following ways:
Restricted trade with USSR to deny them access to superior Western technology
Committed US govt to massive defence project - Strategic Defence Initiative - SDI
Known as 'star wars' as it consisted of a space-based nuclear shield
R proposed a fleet of US satellites armed with lasers that would shoot down Soviet Missile before they could harm US
R increased support for anti-Soviet regimes and organisations in the 3rd World
Used confrontation rhetoric - including the phrase 'Evil Empire' to describe USSR
However, R did not seek war
In fact - in an attempt to reach out to Soviet leaders - he lifted the grain embargo that Carter imposed in 1980
Significance of Reagan's policies
Star Wars was particularly significant - new policy worried Soviet leaders for 2 reasons
Soviet leaders knew they'd be unable to compete with SDI
During 70s - USA had produced sophisticated computer tech which far surpassed anything available in USSR
This tech would form basis of SDI
Economic problems in Eastern Bloc and renewed growth in West pushed the economic balance further in favour of West
Soviet leaders knew that they couldn't match the USA's spending commitment to SDI
'Star Wars' implied that R was contemplating a 'winnable nuclear war'
Space-based missile shield could - in theory - counter a Soviet nuclear attack, allowing US to survive a nuclear war unscathed
Therefore - USSR's nuclear arsenal would no longer deter a US nuclear strike - an end to the safety of MAD
R's new confrontational style was significant as it increased superpower tensions hugely
Gromyko - senior member of Russian govt - noted an increased 'chill' in superpower relations from R's inauguration in Jan 1981
R made inflammatory off-the-cuff remarks about the possibility of a 'limited nuclear war in Europe' which caused great concern to comm leaders
Timeline of the US decline in commitment to Détente
1976 - Fierce criticism of D during presidential election
1977 - Carter - a critic of D- becomes US president
1977 - SALT II negotiation difficulties - Carter demands lower ceilings
1979 - Soviets invade Afghanistan - US criticisms of D increase
1980 - Carter demands Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and introduces grain embargo
1981 - Reagan - committed to ending Détente - becomes US president
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