Cartoons of the Day

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Cartoons of the Day
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The Cold War Military, Reagan Gorbachev, and
Collapse of the Soviet Union
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AMERICAS MILITARY DURING THE COLD WAR

• In Pres. John F. Kennedys INAUGURAL ADDRESS, he
  pledged that the United States would
• PAY ANY PRICE, bear any burden, meet any
  hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in
  order to assure the survival and the success of
  liberty

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• A STRONG military was key to Americas success in
  the Cold War
• During the Cold War, MILLIONS of Americans served
  in the military, defending freedom in wars and
  conflicts that were NOT ALWAYS POPULAR. Many
  were killed or wounded.

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• As a result of their service, the UNITED STATES
  and American IDEALS of democracy and freedom
  ultimately PREVAILED in the Cold War struggle
  with Soviet communism

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VETERANS OF THE COLD WAR

• UNLIKE WWII veterans (who returned to a grateful,
  supportive nation), VIETNAM VETERANS returned
  often to face INDIFFERENCE or outright HOSTILITY
• It was not until SEVERAL YEARS AFTER the war
  ended that the wounds of the war began to HEAL in
  America, and Vietnam veterans were RECOGNIZED for
  their service and sacrifice

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HOMELESS VETERANS

• 8.2 MILLION Vietnam-era veterans
• 429,000 veterans served in BOTH the Korean and
  Vietnam conflicts
• VETERANS AFFAIRS estimates that approx. 107,000
  veterans are HOMELESS on any given night
• Nearly HALF of homeless veterans served during
  the VIETNAM ERA. Two-thirds served our country
  for at least THREE YEARS, and one-third were
  stationed in a WAR ZONE.

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Nixon and Foreign Policy

• Richard M. Nixon elected president in 1968
• Nixons greatest achievements as President
  occurred in FOREIGN POLICY
• CREATIVE approach to foreign affairs helped ease
  Cold War TENSIONS
• Relied heavily on Secretary of State HENRY
  KISSINGER

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• Nixon and Kissinger brought about DÉTENTE (a
  RELAXATION in tensions) between the UNITED STATES
  and the worlds two Communist GIANTS CHINA and
  the SOVIET UNION.

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• IMPROVED relationship with China
• LIFTED restrictions on travel to China
• ENDED trade embargo
• Nixon was FIRST PRESIDENT to visit China (1972)

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• IMPROVED relationship with Soviet Union
• Nixon VISITED Soviet Union in 1972, met with
  Soviet premier
• Completed negotiations on SALT I (STRATEGIC ARMS
  LIMITATIONS TALKS) froze the number of missiles
  at 1972 levels

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Ford and Carter

• After Nixon RESIGNED on August 9, 1974, GERALD R.
  FORD became president
• Ford PARDONED Nixon for all offenses (SPARED HIM
  from further punishment)

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• 1976 election won by JIMMY CARTER
• Former PEANUT FARMER, GOVERNOR of Georgia, NO
  national political experience
• Carter faced several issues during his
  presidency, including
• Unstable ECONOMY
• BOYCOTT of 1980 Olympics in Moscow
• IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS

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REAGAN GORBACHEV

• Reagan elected president in 1980
• Former HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
• GOVERNOR of California when elected
• OLDEST man to serve as President

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• Reagan believed in a tough approach toward the
  Soviet Union (the EVIL EMPIRE)
• Very costly MILITARY BUILDUP
• STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE ? proposed creation
  of massive satellite shield in space (nicknamed
  Star Wars)

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• Reagan INCREASED U.S. military and economic
  PRESSURE on the Soviet Union
• CHALLENGED moral legitimacy of the Soviet Union ?
  example SPEECH AT BERLIN WALL
• Despite fierce anti-Communist attitude, Reagan
  developed CLOSE FRIENDSHIP with Soviet leader
  Mikhail GORBACHEV

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• Gorbachevs policies
• To reform ailing Soviet system, Gorbachev
  instituted GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA
• Glasnost means POLITICAL OPENESS (freedom of
  speech)
• Perestroika means RESTRUCTURING, an economic
  policy to allow LIMITED free enterprise
  (capitalism)

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END OF THE SOVIET UNION REASONS FOR COLLAPSE

• INCREASING Soviet military EXPENSES to compete
  with the United States
• Rising NATIONALISM in the Soviet republics

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• Fast-paced REFORMS (market economy)
• Economic INEFFICIENCY
• Policies of GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA opening up
  of the political system

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Fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet Union Dissolves

• NOVEMBER 9, 1989 Berlin Wall comes down

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• Mikhail GORBACHEV RESIGNED the presidency of the
  Soviet Union on December 25, 1991 and the Soviet
  Union was DISSOLVED by the next week
• Soviet Union was REPLACED by a LOOSE ALLIANCE of
  former Soviet republics called the COMMONWEALTH
  OF INDEPENDENT STATES

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Reagan at Brandenburg Gate