Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire: A Three Days Series Analysis

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a pivotal moment in world history. For decades, the Soviet Union had been a global superpower, locked in a tense standoff with the United States and its allies. But in the late 1980s, a series of reforms and policy changes by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, combined with pressure from the United States, led to the Soviet Union's implosion.

Three Days in Moscow: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire (Three Days Series)

by Bret Baier

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7952 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages

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One of the key figures in this process was US President Ronald Reagan. Reagan's tough stance against the Soviet Union, coupled with his ambitious arms control initiatives, played a major role in hastening the Soviet decline.

The acclaimed documentary series 'Three Days' delves into the key moments of Reagan's presidency and their impact on the Soviet Union. Through interviews with historians, political scientists, and former government officials, the series offers a comprehensive analysis of Reagan's foreign policy and its consequences.

Reagan's Rise to Power and the Cold War

Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, at a time when the Cold War was at its height. The Soviet Union had recently invaded Afghanistan, and tensions between the two superpowers were escalating. Reagan was a staunch anti-communist who believed that the United States had been too soft on the Soviet Union. He vowed to take a more aggressive approach, and he immediately began to increase defense spending and to develop new weapons systems.

Reagan's tough stance against the Soviet Union was not universally popular. Critics argued that he was increasing the risk of nuclear war. But Reagan remained undeterred. He believed that the only way to deal with the Soviet Union was to confront it directly.

The Arms Race and the INF Treaty

One of the most important aspects of Reagan's foreign policy was his focus on arms control. Reagan believed that nuclear weapons posed a grave threat to humanity, and he was determined to reduce the risk of nuclear war. In 1981, he proposed a major arms control initiative known as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START. The treaty would have reduced the number of nuclear missiles deployed by the United States and the Soviet Union by 50%.

The Soviet Union initially rejected START, but Reagan continued to pressure Gorbachev on the issue. In 1987, the two leaders signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which eliminated all intermediate-range nuclear missiles from Europe. The INF Treaty was a major breakthrough in arms control, and it helped to pave the way for the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Berlin Wall and the End of the Cold War

In 1989, the Berlin Wall, which had divided East and West Berlin for 28 years, was torn down. The fall of the Berlin Wall was a powerful symbol of the collapse of the Soviet Union. It also marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War.

Reagan played a key role in the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1987, he delivered a famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, in which he challenged Gorbachev to "tear down this wall." Reagan's speech was a powerful reminder of the desire for freedom that existed in Eastern Europe, and it helped to inspire the people of East Germany to tear down the wall.

The collapse of the Soviet Union was a complex event that was caused by a variety of factors. However, there is no doubt that Ronald Reagan played a major role in hastening the Soviet decline. Reagan's tough stance against the Soviet Union, coupled with his ambitious arms control initiatives, helped to create the conditions that led to the Soviet Union's implosion.

The 'Three Days' series provides a valuable insight into Reagan's presidency and its impact on the Soviet Union. The series is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand one of the most important events in world history.

Three Days in Moscow: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire (Three Days Series)

by Bret Baier

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7952 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages

FREE