1. Reagan Administration: Foreign Policy
Semester 2
Week 14
Reagan Administration: Foreign Policy

2. Building up the military was part of Reagan’s military strategy
Reagan Doctrine
Building up the military was part of Reagan’s military strategy
He believed the U.S. should support guerrilla groups who were fighting to overthrow Communist or pro-Soviet gov’ts

3. Aid to Afghan Rebels
The most visible example of the Reagan Doctrine was in Afghanistan
12/1979, USSR invaded Afghanistan to support a USSR-backed gov’t
USSR found themselves fighting Afghan guerrillas known as the mujahadeen
Carter sent $30 million in military; Reagan sent $570 million more
This became USSR’s Vietnam; they would pull out of Afghanistan in 1988

4. Problems in Nicaragua
Reagan was also concerned about USSR influence in Nicaragua
1979, Rebels known as the Sandinistas had overthrown a pro-American dictator in Nicaragua
The Sandinistas set up a socialist gov’t
They accepted Cuban & USSR aid & began supporting antigov’t rebels in neighboring El Salvador
The Reagan admin began secretly arming an anti-Sandinista guerrilla force known as the contras
When Congress learned of this policy, it banned further aid to the contras

5. Iran-Contra Scandal
officials secretly sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of U.S. hostages being held in the Middle East
Profits from these sales were then sent to the contras
11/1986, news of the illegal operations broke
One of the chief figures was Maj. Col Oliver North, an aid to the National Security Council
He & other senior NSC & CIA officials testified before Congress and admitted to covering up their actions, including shredding documents to destroy evidence
Reagan insisted he had done nothing wrong, but the scandal tainted his 2nd term in office
Maj. Col Oliver North

6. “Peace Through Strength”
In Reagan’s opinion, the only option open to the U.S. in dealing with the USSR was “peace through strength”
The military buildup Reagan launched was the largest peacetime buildup in U.S. history
cost about $1.5 trillion over 5 years
Reagan & many of his advisers believed that if the Soviets tried to match the U.S. buildup, it might put so much pressure on their economy they would be forced to either reform their system or collapse

7. Military Buildup & “Star Wars”
drove the federal budget deficit higher
increased military spending helped expand the economy by providing jobs in defense industries
Reagan disagreed w/ the military strategy known as nuclear deterrence, sometimes called “mutual assured destruction.”
This strategy assumed that as long as the U.S. & USSR could destroy each other w/ nuclear weapons they would be afraid to use them
3/1983, Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
nicknamed “Star Wars,” called for the development of weapons that could intercept and destroy incoming missiles

8. Meeting with Gorbachev
1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the USSR & agreed to resume arms control talks
Gorbachev believed that the USSR had to reform its economic system or it would soon collapse
It could not afford a new arms race with the U.S.
Reagan & Gorbachev met in a series of summit meeting.
1st of these were frustrating for both, as they disagreed on many issues
Gorbachev promised to cut back Soviet nuclear forces if Reagan would agree to give up SDI, but Reagan refused

9. INF Treaty
12/1987 the 2 leaders signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
It was the first treaty to call for the destruction of the nuclear weapons
No one realized it at the time, but the treaty marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War
With an arms control deal in place, Gorbachev felt confident that Soviet military spending could be reduced
He pushed ahead with economic & political reforms that eventually led to the collapse of communism in E’rn Europe & USSR

10. Reagan as Popular as Ever
He delegated a great deal of authority to others & sometimes was unclear about policy decisions made in his name
A # of his aides & associates were charged & convicted of illegal & unethical actions
1989, when Reagan left office, 63% of the American people approved of his overall performance

11. PREPARE FOR QUIZ
TAKE OUT A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER
NUMBER 1-5

12. QUIZ
Reagan was also concerned about USSR influence here?
Who was one of the chief figures of the Iran-Contra Scandal?
How much did the military buildup cost over 5 years?
This was nicknamed, “Star Wars?”
This was the first treaty to call for the destruction of the nuclear weapons?