Notes
- 40th US President
- A former Hollywood actor
- Elected for a second term in 1984
- Saw the USSR as the "evil empire" and wouldn't negotiate with them for the first years of his Presidency
- Was much more hardline than the detente Presidents
- Reaganomics
- Increased military spending dramatically as part of the renewed arms race with the USSR
1980s Arms Race
- The USSR had a 3:2 advantage in sheer numbers
- New issue is how to deliver them
- Cruise missiles are placed in Europe by NATO
- "Smart Weapons" - planes, weapons and even tanks begin to be controlled by computer and are "guided"
Summary
Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the US. A former Hollywood actor, he was elected for a second term in 1984. He saw the USSR as the "evil empire," and wouldn't negotiate with them for the first years of his presidency. Compared to the detente presidents, he was much more hardline. His policies were dubbed Reaganomics. He increased military spending dramatically as part of the renewed arms race that the US was dealing with against the USSR.
The arms race was the competition for better offensive materials between the US and the USSR. The USSR had a 3:2 advantage in sheer numbers. The new issue that developed was how to deliver these weapons. Cruise missiles were placed in Europe by NATO, a major move and threat against the USSR at the time. This is where "guided" weapons were developed. These were weapons that could be controlled remotely.
The arms race was the competition for better offensive materials between the US and the USSR. The USSR had a 3:2 advantage in sheer numbers. The new issue that developed was how to deliver these weapons. Cruise missiles were placed in Europe by NATO, a major move and threat against the USSR at the time. This is where "guided" weapons were developed. These were weapons that could be controlled remotely.
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Quote
Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. -Ronald Reagan
Subjunctive Question
Had Ronald Reagan not been the US president at this time would the Cold war have ended completely different?