VA/US HISTORY KATHERINE LACKS The End of the Cold War

Review The Cold War started after WWII when the US and USSR became the world superpowers USSR: communist US  Political system: democracy  Economic system: capitalism

Review US policy towards the USSR had been containment Why we entered Korean War, Iraq and Middle East conflicts, Vietnam Nixon ended the Vietnam War with Vietnamization He became the first POTUS to visit China and USSR Signed SALT with the USSR (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) Nixon then resigned from office after the Watergate Scandal, making him the only POTUS to ever quit the job Ford, Nixon’s 2 nd VP, became President

US under Ford Pardoned Nixon Signed the Helsinki Accords  Agreement between 35 states, including the US, Canada, and all European states except Albania and Andorra to improve relations between NATO countries and the communist bloc  Helped reduce Cold War tensions and push towards détente (the easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation)

US under Ford Ford prevented a new war in the Middle East by giving aid to both Israel and Egypt Ford did not want to run again in 1976, but he was encouraged to by his party He was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter of Georgia

Carter: Domestic Affairs Environment: expanded the national park system included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands Created the Department of Education, bolstered the Social Security system, and appointed record numbers of women, blacks, and Hispanics to Government jobs

Carter: Foreign Affairs Championed human rights issues Camp David Accords: Truce between Israel and Egypt Established full diplomatic relations with China Completed negotiation of SALT II with the Soviet Union 1979: gave aid (money and weapons) to Afghanistan to help them fight off the invading Soviets

Carter: Foreign Affairs Iran Hostage Crisis  Iranians seized 66 hostages of the U. S. embassy staff in Tehran, Iran on Nov. 4, 1979  Missions to save the Americans failed  consequences of Iran's holding Americans captive, together with continuing inflation at home, contributed to Carter's defeat in 1980  Six Americans escaped and of the 66 who were taken hostage, 13 were released on Nov. 19 and 20, 1979; one was released on July 11, 1980, and the remaining 52 were released on Jan. 20, 1981, the day Carter left office

US Under Reagan Carter lost the 1980 Presidential Election to Republican Ronald Reagan from California by a landslide

New Conservatism Reduced public faith in the government’s ability to solve social and economic problems, the growth of religious fundamentalism, and the dissemination of neoconservative thought all combined to invigorate conservatism. The rapid and substantial growth of evangelical and fundamentalist Christian churches and organizations, as well as increased political participation by some of those groups, encouraged significant opposition to liberal social and political trends.

Reagan “Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem” (1 st Inaugural) Goals:  Get American government off the backs of the people  Restore US prestige internationally by building up US defenses  Ex. SDI (Star Wars Defense System)

US under Reagan He entered the presidency during the greatest recession since the Great Depression Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures This rejuvenation of the American economy became known as supply-side economics or “Reaganomics”

Reagan: Foreign Affairs Very active in foreign affairs “Reagan Doctrine” = support Freedom Fighters (anti- -communists)  Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador  Invasion of Grenada  Panama, arrest strong man president  Arm groups fighting USSR in Afghanistan  CIA involvement

Reagan: Foreign Affairs The Reagan Administration’s NSC arranges secret arms for Iran to fund covert military aid to Contra (anti communist) forces in Nicaragua’s civil war. (In violation of US Law) NSC Iran Contra point man Oliver North testifies before Congress.

Reagan: Foreign Affairs Maintained a working relationship with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev  negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles (INF Treaty)  Glasnost: Openness; Soviet policy permitting open discussion of political and social issues at the end of the Cold War  Perestroika: Restructuring of the Soviet economy to help the people in the mid-1980s

Reagan: Foreign Affairs

Reagan traveled to West Berlin in 1987 to commemorate the 750 th anniversary of the city He made a speech at the Brandenburg Gate of the Berlin Wall and challenged Gorbachev USSR = “Evil Empire”

Reagan: Foreign Affairs “We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” –Ronald Reagan

Reagan: Foreign Affairs In November 1989, the Soviets announced that the people of East and West Berlin could once again unite, and the Berlin Wall was torn down

The End of the Cold War Reagan is viewed as one of the most successful US presidents The Soviet Union was officially dissolved on December 25, 1991 during the presidency of George H. W. Bush The former communist country re-adopted its original name, Russia Minorities were freed and given their own countries : Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova Boris Yeltsin became the 1 st President of the new Russia is 1991

George H. W. Bush Incumbent in Election of 1988, won From TX “No new taxes” Gulf War 1990 – 91

Election of 1992 George H. W. Bush (Rep, Texas) Bill Clinton (Dem, Arkansas) Ross Perot (Ind, Texas) Perot and Bush split the Rep vote; Bill Clinton wins Bill Clinton (1993 – 2000)

Bill Clinton – Domestic Issues Contract with America (with House Speaker Newt Gingrich) – transferred means tested programs to state level Tried to create national health care system, failed Oklahoma City Bombing Impeachment trial

Bill Clinton – Foreign Affairs The Balkans Haiti North Korea Somalia (Battle of Mogadishu)

George H. W. Bush (2000 – 2009) No Child Left Behind 9/11 Afghanistan Iraq Patriot Act