How the COLD WAR Ended [APUSH Review]

The End of the Cold War: Reagan's Role

Overview of the Cold War's Conclusion

• The Cold War officially ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, three years after Ronald Reagan's second term ended.

Reagan's Strategies to Conclude the Cold War

1. Influential Speeches

• Reagan utilized powerful speeches to reshape public perception, notably his Westminster address in 1982, which came during heightened tensions following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

• He argued that containing communism was no longer sufficient; it needed to be rolled back and extinguished entirely, framing democracy as morally superior.

2. The "Evil Empire" Speech

• In a subsequent speech, he labeled the Soviet Union as an "evil empire," emphasizing a moral battle rather than just an ideological one. This marked a significant shift in how the conflict was perceived.

3. The Reagan Doctrine

• The Reagan Doctrine pledged U.S. support for anti-communist rebels globally, differing from Truman’s approach by focusing on financial and military aid rather than troop deployment due to American war fatigue post-Vietnam.

Military Spending and Economic Impact

4. Increased Military Expenditure

• Under Reagan, military spending surged significantly, including initiatives like the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), aimed at missile defense through advanced technology such as lasers—often referred to derisively as "Star Wars."

• This spending contributed to U.S. debt but was believed by Reagan to be essential for peace through strength against a struggling Soviet economy unable to keep pace with U.S. military advancements due to stagnation and corruption issues within its own system.

Diplomatic Engagement with Gorbachev

5. Geneva Summit Meetings

• In 1985, Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva Summit aiming to address arms race concerns and foster diplomatic relations between superpowers amidst escalating tensions over nuclear arsenals and global influence strategies.

Cold War Dynamics and the End of an Era

Key Outcomes from US-Soviet Summit

• The summit between US and Soviet leaders marked a turning point in Cold War relations, establishing a precedent for open communication and ongoing negotiations.

• Although no treaty was signed, it laid the groundwork for future agreements like the INF Treaty in 1987, which aimed to reduce nuclear weapons on both sides.

• The INF Treaty represented a significant de-escalation of the arms race, following earlier agreements such as SALT I and SALT II.

Reagan's Military Interventions

• Under the Reagan Doctrine, several covert operations were authorized to roll back communism, notably in Nicaragua against the Sandinistas who had overthrown a dictator in 1979.

• The US covertly supported the Contras to oust the Sandinistas despite Congress passing the Boland Amendment that prohibited direct aid to them.

• Reagan's administration circumvented congressional restrictions by using profits from arms sales to Iran to fund Contra efforts, leading to significant political fallout when exposed.

Gorbachev's Reforms and Their Impact

• Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and implemented reforms like Perestroika (economic restructuring) and Glasnost (openness), which reduced government control over economic planning.

• These reforms led to increased transparency within the Soviet government and less censorship, allowing nationalistic movements across Eastern Europe to gain momentum.

• By 1989, these movements culminated in events like the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and declarations of independence from Soviet control by various states.

Conclusion: The End of Cold War

• The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a definitive end to Cold War tensions, leaving the United States as the sole superpower.

• Post-Cold War interventions shifted focus from containing communism to protecting democracy globally; notable examples include military actions taken against Panama’s Manuel Noriega.

Invasion of Panama and Iraq: U.S. Military Interventions

U.S. Invasion of Panama (1989)

• President Bush authorized the invasion of Panama, leading to a swift defeat of the Panamanian military and the capture of Manuel Noriega.

• Following the invasion, the U.S. installed a pro-American president in Panama, reflecting its historical pattern in foreign interventions.

Operation Desert Storm (1990)

• Iraq's invasion of Kuwait was driven by economic desperation post-Iran war, aiming to control oil supplies.

• Fearing further aggression towards Saudi Arabia, President Bush set a withdrawal deadline for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

• When Hussein ignored this ultimatum, Bush launched Operation Desert Storm, resulting in a rapid military victory within 100 hours.

Shift in U.S. Military Strategy Post-Cold War

• After the Cold War, U.S. military actions were no longer justified by anti-communism but aimed at protecting American political and economic interests globally.

• The focus shifted towards combating terrorism as the new century approached.

Diplomatic Efforts Under Bill Clinton

• In the 1992 presidential election, Bill Clinton emphasized domestic issues while also addressing international conflicts and human rights concerns.

• Clinton supported the Oslo Accords in 1993 to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians amidst ongoing territorial disputes.

Challenges with Peace Agreements

• Despite initial agreements under the Oslo Accords for mutual recognition and peaceful coexistence, violations persisted from both sides.

• Clinton's attempts to broker further peace were met with continued conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.