Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

• 1a. Reagan knew that if the USA increased military spending and supporting anti-communists, they would not be able to compete financially with the US.
• 2a. In 1983, Reagan announced the SDI program or Star Wars where the US would place satellites into orbit with the capability of shooting down nuclear missiles with powerful lasers.
• 1b. The SDI would protect the USA from being hit with nuclear weapons, ending M.A.D.
• 2b. In fact the SDI system was not operational and stood no realistic chance of becoming so.
• 3b. The USSR felt that their technology was now becoming redundant. They felt pressurised into spending a huge amount of money in order to try to catch up with the USA.
• 4b. USA were far more advanced in computer technologies meaning USSR would have to catch up with this before even contemplating a Soviet version of the SDI. Soviet economy could simply not cope with this.
• 5b. Gorbachev was heavily influenced by this reality leading to his ‘new thinking’ in 1985.
• What did Reagan believe would happen if the USA increased military spending and supported anti-communists?

  They would not compete financially with the US
• What does SDI stand for?

  Strategic Defense Initiative
• What was the purpose of the SDI program announced by Reagan in 1983?

  To shoot down nuclear missiles with lasers
• What was the nickname given to the SDI program?

  Star Wars
• What were the consequences of the SDI program?

  • Protected the USA from nuclear attacks, ending M.A.D.
  • The SDI system was not operational and unlikely to be.
  • USSR felt pressured to spend heavily to catch up.
  • USA's advanced computer technology made it hard for USSR.
  • Gorbachev's 'new thinking' was influenced by these realities.
• How would the SDI program affect the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)?

  It would end M.A.D. by protecting the USA
• What was the reality of the SDI system's operational status?

  It was not operational and unlikely to be
• How did the USSR respond to the perceived technological gap due to the SDI?

  They felt pressured to spend heavily to catch up
• Why was the USSR at a disadvantage in developing their version of the SDI?

  USA was far more advanced in computer technologies
• What economic condition hindered the USSR's ability to compete with the USA?

  The Soviet economy could not cope with the spending
• What influence did the realities of the SDI have on Gorbachev in 1985?

  It led to his 'new thinking'