The Cold War Ends

Reagan

• After a long run of liberal presidents, America turned to a more Conservative President– Ronald Reagan

• Became an sports broadcaster then an actor– President of Screen Actors Guild

• Became governor of California in 1966• Ran for President in 1980

– Easily defeated Carter

– Blamed the Government for a lot of the problems• Told the people they should have pride in America

Reagan

• First Term– Focused on domestic policy

• Fixed economy– Supply side economics

» Cut taxes, rose interest rates

• Increased national debt

• America was happy again

Reagan

• Second Term

• Focused on Foreign Policy– Built up the military

• “Peace through strength” in USSR– Soviet’s would not be able to keep up– Would force communism to collapse

• Cost $1.5 TRILLION in 5 years

• Increased our national debt from $80 billion to $200 billion

Reagan’s Foreign Policy

• Reagan’s plan also included supporting anti-communist guerilla groups– Afghanistan

• $600 Million spent on trying to keep the Soviets out– Soviets withdrew in 1988

• Reagan began secretly supporting other groups– Contras in Nicaragua– Congress banned this policy

Reagan’s Foreign Policy

• Despite Congresses ban, Reagan’s administration continued to support the rebels– Iran-Contra Scandal

• Officials secretly sold Iran weapons in exchange for American hostages

– Profits were then given to the Contras

– News leaked out about this• Oliver North in charge

– Reagan knew about weapon sales, but did not know about money to Contras

Reagan’s Foreign Policy

• Back in the USSR– Reagan places more missiles in Eastern

Europe • Would only remove them if USSR removed theirs• They refused

– Reagan starts “Star Wars” plan• Builds weapons meant to intercept and destroy

incoming missiles

Reagan and USSR

• Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the new leader of the Soviet Union– Resumed arms control talks

• Thought USSR had to reform or else it would collapse

– Began talks with Reagan• Frustrated, Reagan tells Gorbachev to end control in Berlin• Berlin Wall

• Signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty– Began the end of the Cold War

George H.W. Bush

• With Reagan’s second term over, his Vice President George H.W. Bush takes over

• Almost immediately had to deal with foreign policy issues– Very good background

• UN Ambassador, diplomatic envoy in China, CIA Director, Vice President

The Bush Years

• Gorbachev was reforming– Caused revolutions in Eastern Europe

• Stopped being communists

– Revolutions reached East Germany• Tore down Berlin Wall (1989)• United Germany once again

• With Eastern European communist countries fading, the Soviet Union was forced to collapse