Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’

• 1.Reagan won the US presidential election partly because of his anti-USSR stance.
• 2. Reagan outlined some of his beliefs about the USSR by calling it the ‘evil empire’ and that USA was the force for good in the world (1983 speech to a Christian group).
• 3. Reagan persuaded US Congress to increase military spending: 1982 – 13% increase; 1983 – 8% increase; 1984 – 8% increase (29% increase in spending over 3 years).
• 4. New weapons such as Trident nuclear submarines and Stealth bombers were developed.
• 5. Reagan Doctrine: USA would actively support anti-communist groups, in particular groups trying to overthrow communist governments. USA supported groups in Central America – El Salvador and Nicaragua. US forces invaded Grenada in Caribbean and toppled the communist government there.
• 6. Reagan described this as the ‘first rollback’ of communist influence since WWII.
• Who won the US presidential election partly due to an anti-USSR stance?

  Reagan
• What did Reagan call the USSR in his 1983 speech?

  ‘Evil empire’
• What was Reagan's view of the USA's role in the world?

  USA was the force for good
• By how much did military spending increase in 1982?

  13%
• What was the total percentage increase in military spending over three years under Reagan?

  29%
• What new weapons were developed during Reagan's presidency?

  Trident submarines and Stealth bombers
• What is the Reagan Doctrine?

  Support for anti-communist groups
• In which regions did the USA support anti-communist groups under the Reagan Doctrine?

  Central America
• Which countries in Central America did the USA support?

  El Salvador and Nicaragua
• What action did US forces take in Grenada?

  Invaded and toppled the communist government
• How did Reagan describe the invasion of Grenada?

  ‘First rollback’ of communist influence
• What were the key components of Reagan's foreign policy regarding communism?

  • Anti-USSR stance
  • Increased military spending
  • Development of new weapons
  • Reagan Doctrine supporting anti-communist groups
  • Invasion of Grenada