Reagan Revolution: The End of
Communism
Agenda
1. Bell Ringer: Vietnam and Détente Questions
2. End of the Cold War Notes (20)
3. Analysis: What led to the end of the Cold War? (10)
4. Video Analysis: Reagan and “Tear down this wall” (10)
Why jokes?
5. Compare and Contrast Leaders of the Cold War (10)
6. Political Cartoons during the Cold War (10)
Reagan’s stance on Communism
• He was strongly against
Communists, and after
the détente of the
1970s he moves to
make America fight
Communism once
again.
• He wanted to increase
military strength of the
USA.
Star Wars
• The Strategic Defense
Initiative was a program
designed to create a
“forcefield” around the
USA.
• Focused on strategic
defense OF the borders,
not against the Soviets.
• ICBM’s to x-rays, some
of this stuff was
unrealistic.
Mikhail Gorbachev
• Came to power and
completely changed the
Soviet Union.
• He changed the policy
of a closed society in
favor of political and
economic reform.
• Withdrew forces from
Afghanistan in 1988,
major defeat for
Soviets.
Perestroika and Glasnost
• Glasnost – Openness of the government.
– It is meant to discourage corruption by creating a
government that has no secrets.
• Perestroika – Restructuring of the
government.
– It was thought that it would make Communism
more efficient by incorporating free-market
aspects.
– In the end Communism would collapse.
Fall of the Wall
• Reagan famously said,
“Gorbachev, tear down
this wall” (Built 1961)
• The wall finally opened
up in November, 1989.
• Many Eastern Germans
would leave for the West.
• The Soviet Union would
collapse in 1991, signaling
the end of the Cold War.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTX
MgF8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zXiClnK8o
E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdKVX45wY
eQ