The Second Cold War

Question 1

What actions led to Carter losing his presidency?

Answer 1

The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979) had marked an abrupt [sudden) end to the Détente of the 1970s. Immediately. the USA revived a policy of working against the USSR by issuing the Carter Doctrine in 1980. Importantly, this stated that the USA was prepared to use force to protect its interests in the Middle East. However, many Americans criticized Carter, believing he had been foolish for working with the USSR during the period of Détente.

Question 2

What happened due to Carters actions?

Answer 2

in 1980, a new US President was elected. Ronald Reagan was already well known for his firm anti-communist views. His election and tough approach to dealing with communism marked the start of what would become known as a ‘Second Cold War’.

Question 3

What did Reagan believe?

Answer 3

Reagan firmly believed in taking a far tougher line with the
Soviet Union than Carter had. Reagan clearly had no interest in détente

Question 4

How did Reagan act upon this belief?

Answer 4

during a public speech in 1983, Reagan described communism and the USSR as ‘an evil empire’, while stating the USA was a ‘force of good’. Reagan also announced his desire to ‘roll back’ communism in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Question 5

What did Reagan do in 1983?

Answer 5

In 1983, Reagan even sent US troops to the Caribbean Island of Grenada to defeat its new communist government.

Question 6

What did Reagan persuade the government to do?

Answer 6

Reagan persuaded the US government to increase the amount it spent on arms. In 1982, arms spending rose by 13%, and a further 8% in 1983 and 1984. New nuclear weapons, like Trident nuclear submarines, were also developed.

Question 7

What was the SDI?

Answer 7

Reagan announced the
‘Strategic Defence Initiative’ (SDI) - nicknamed the Star Wars
Programme, which would give the USA the power to use satellites and lasers to intercept Soviet missiles in space and destroy them before they could do any harm to the USA. This futuristic ‘Star Wars’ technology had the potential to make Soviet missiles completely useless - if it worked, the USA would clearly be the winners of the Cold War.

Question 8

How did Reagan affect superpower relations?

Answer 8

Reagan’s strongly anti-communist policies helped to bring a complete end to the period of détente and any attempt at cooperation between the superpowers. Now, tensions between the USA and the USSR increased again, and resulted in a period that was known as the ‘Second Cold War’.

Question 9

Why were there tensions regarding the SDI?

Answer 9

The Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) was particularly important as it not only went completely against the terms of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the agreements made during Détente, but had the potential to give the USA a huge advantage in the arms race This presented enormous problems for the leaders of the USSR, who knew they could never compete with this as they simply did not have enough money to match this ‘Star Wars’ technology.

Question 10

What positive impact did the Second Cold War have on the USSR?

Answer 10

it forced the USSR to recognize that they needed to improve relations with the USA permanently if they were to avoid nuclear destruction. Therefore SDI was a significant turning point in the arms race and the Cold War.