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booming econ → gave Reagan + allies → confidence + money → to champion US values of capitalism and democracy
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Reagan believed in taking tough time with USSR wherever possible + increasing US defence spending.
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he supported anti communist forces in Afghanistan and Nicaragua.
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he increased US defence budget massively.
- first 2 weeks in office → increased defence budget by 32.6bil
- new weapon systems such as B1 nuclear bomber were introduced
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1982 → gave the go ahead for the strategic defence initiative (SDI, known as Star Wars Programme)
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was multi bil $ project to create system that could use satellites and lasers to destroy missiles before they hit their targets.
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this system could change nature of nuclear war
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SDI did not develop into viable weapon
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however it put pressure on Soviets → who were never sure whether weapon would become reality.
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USSR already finding it increasingly diff → to keep up with US, given its stretched resources.
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Renewed arms spending would ruin it
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Reagan had huge impact on development of cold war
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his charisma → made him popular + allowed him to advance tough stance of US against USSR → which was supported by many WE leaders./
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he was also willing to spend huge amts of weapons ⇒ leaving US with 4 trillion of debt by 1980s