Foreign Policy Ronald Reagan

Reagan’s Approach Reagan is intent on defending the U.S. from what he called the “Evil Empire” He challenges the Soviets by outspending them and supporting their enemies He cuts domestic spending He Increases defense spending to $1.5 trillion over five years New weapons include new missiles, new submarines, bombers and SDI

SDI SDI – Strategic Defense Initiative A system of satellites that fires lasers at nuclear missiles that are fired at the U.S. Scientists argue that the system will not work and will also attack other satellites

Central America Grenada (1983) Grenada is a small Caribbean Island that had growing support from Cuba and Russia They build an airstrip they say is for tourism but we fear is to launch jets against the U.S. The U.S. invaded the island in October of 1983 Get rid of pro-communist leader Protect American medical students on the Island

Central America Nicaragua A group called the Contras were trying to take over the Marxist government Reagan supplied them with money from the sale of weapons to Iran The CIA trained them Congress found out and stopped all support to the Contras This leads to the Iran-Contra Scandal

Iran-Contra Scandal In the 70s the U.S. provided Iran with weapons When Reagan is in office Iran is in need of replacement parts and more weapons The U.S. sells weapons to Iran in hopes that they will help free hostages that are being held in Lebanon Profits from the sales are then secretly given to the Nicaraguan Contras

Iran-Contra Scandal Reagan claims he didn’t know the money was going to the Contras Oliver North takes the blame Reagan is criticized for his hands-off managerial style This is worse than the Watergate Scandal

Reagan’s Successes Reagan and Gorbachev makes relations between the powers better Together they sign the INF Treaty Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty This treaty provided for the destruction of 2,500 soviet and American missiles in Europe His increase in defense spending helped to bring down the Soviet Union