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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Conflict Number serving Total deaths Battle deaths Other deaths Wounded
KOREAN WAR 5,720,000 36,574 33,739 2,835 103,284
VIETNAMWAR 8,744,000 58,220 47,434 10,786 303,644
Persian Gulf War 2,225,000 383 147 235 467
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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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(No Transcript)
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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