Starter quiz
- In 1975, the leaders of 35 countries signed Accords on key international issues. Which city in Finland were these Accords named after?
- 'Helsinki' ✓
- Which word means the relaxation of tensions between states which were previously hostile towards one another?
- 'Détente ' ✓
- The USA improved relations with the USSR and China in the hope of ending US involvement in which war in southeast Asia?
- Chinese civil war
- Korean War
- Soviet-Afghan War
- Vietnam War ✓
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- In 1980, 60 countries boycotted the Summer Olympic Games, which were held in which city?
- Beijing, China
- Helsinki, Finland
- Los Angeles, USA
- Moscow, USSR ✓
- Saigon, Vietnam
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- Put the following events in chronological order.
- 1⇔SALT I
- 2⇔Helsinki Accords
- 3⇔SALT II
- 4⇔Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- 5⇔Speech known as the Carter Doctrine
- On 27th April 1978, the government in Afghanistan was overthrown by a communist group known as the __________.
- Afghanistan Liberation Army
- New People's Army of Afghanistan
- People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan ✓
- Popular Revolutionary Army of Afghanistan
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Exit quiz
- Complete this statement by Reagan about his strategy for the Cold War: “Here’s my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they ______”.
- 'lose' ✓
- The period of increased tensions between the superpowers under Reagan's presidency is known as what?
- The Evil Empire
- The Détente Years
- The Second Cold War ✓
- The Third World War
-
- In 1983, the US invaded which Caribbean island in order to overthrow its communist government?
- Cuba
- Grenada ✓
- Haiti
- Jamaica
-
- Reagan's belief that the USA could win a limited nuclear war against the USSR was based on a strategy known as __________.
- AAA
- MAD
- MAGA
- NUTS ✓
- SDI
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- Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) of 1983 was given the nickname of which 1977 film?
- Annie Hall
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Smokey and the Bandit
- Star Wars ✓
- The Spy Who Loved Me
-
- Put the following US presidents in chronological order of their presidencies.
- 1⇔Richard Nixon
- 2⇔Gerald Ford
- 3⇔Jimmy Carter
- 4⇔Ronald Reagan
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Reagan was strongly anti-communist and made it clear that fighting communism would be the focus of his foreign policy.
- Reagan’s tougher approach to the USSR led to a period of increased tension and hostility known as the Second Cold War.
- Reagan inflamed tensions by describing the USSR as 'evil' and adopting an aggressive approach towards negotiations.
- Reagan's announcement of the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) in 1983 caused great alarm in the USSR.
- Reagan hoped that Soviet attempts to ensure they could compete in the arms race would cause their economy to collapse.
Common misconception
The Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) was fully operational when it was announced by Reagan in 1983.
Although they were technologically more advanced than the USSR, the USA did not have the necessary technology to launch SDI in 1983. Reagan hoped the USSR would attempt to compete and this would cause their struggling economy to collapse.
Keywords
Cold war - a period between c. 1945 and c. 1991 of intense rivalry and tension between the USA and the USSR
Doctrine - a set of principles or beliefs
Deterrent - something that discourages or prevents an action or behaviour by creating fear of the consequences
Limited nuclear war - a scenario where nuclear weapons are used on a smaller scale than in a full-scale nuclear exchange
Trade union - a group set up to represent and advocate for the rights and interests of workers