The two superpowers met head on many times which usually led to heightened tensions around the globe. One example is the blockade placed by the Soviets on all major routes into Berlin, which led to the Berlin Air Lift of 1948. Another example of clashing between the two superpowers was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The Soviet’s were trying to further their own agenda by placing nuclear weapons on Cuban soil just ninety miles from the coast of the United States. This was something the United States could not stand for and under containment policy stood strong against the Soviets, which ultimately led to the removal of the offensive missiles. Surrogates were also used throughout the Cold War by both superpowers to either further an agenda or frustrate the others agen

Reagan’s refusal to abandon SDI put an end to the Cold War by making it clear to the Soviets that they could not match the United States in a continuing arms race. Not only could the Soviet’s not match the arms race of the US but also they finally figured out that the US was very serious about changing MAD to SDI, which would then free our armed forces for other things. To put it in simple terms the Soviet Union could not match the Reagan build up. US strength and determination led the Soviets to giving in and had forced them to the negotiating table.

In another one of Reagan’s attempts to gain strength over the communists he announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). SDI was a revolutionary new defense program that had never before been seen. SDI was based on the idea that missiles could be intercepted in space knocked off of their course or destroyed, which would create an umbrella defense protecting US soil. SDI suggested that the United States could be defended without earthly sacrifice and bloodshed. SDI provided the nation with a feeling of security. This was the first time since the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 that the United States or the Soviet Union had actively taken steps to set up a defense against a nuclear attack. SDI also rushed the Soviet Union technologically, psychologically and economically; and gave the Reagan administration the upper hand in arms negotiations, setting an entirely new tone in American-Soviet relations.

Many will criticize Reagan for creating such high national debt. But, had it not been for Reagan and his defence build up the US might very well still be involved in a Cold War.

In April of 1986 a nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded. This was not the first nuclear accident to happen within the Soviet Union. The explosion of Chernobyl had Gorbachev ready to make a deal. He believed that nuclear anything could kill a population and it was time to make some concessions. This disaster highlighted the incompetence of the Soviet system and gave the United States the upper hand again.

Some topics in this essay:
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