The document discusses President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars", which proposed using ground-based and space-based systems to protect the US from nuclear ballistic missiles. SDI shifted US strategy from mutual assured destruction to strategic defense. Though never fully implemented, SDI research paved the way for modern anti-ballistic missile systems. The Soviets did not pursue their own program but instead pursued arms reduction treaties. Under Reagan, US military spending and the national debt increased substantially.

1. Ronald Reagan
Cold Warrior

2. Mutual Assured Destruction

3. Mutual Assured Destruction

4. “Tear down this Wall”
Under the assumption that
the Soviet Union could
not outspend the U.S.
government in a renewed
arms race, Reagan used
words and money to
escalate the Cold War.

6. The Strategic Defense Initiative
(SDI), commonly called “Star
Wars” after the popular science
fiction movies, was a system
proposed by President Ronald
Reagan on March 23, 1983.

7. Strategic Defense Initiative
SDI would use ground-based and space-based
systems to protect the United States from attack
by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles.

8. The Death of Détente
The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the previous
strategic offense doctrine of mutual assured destruction.

9. Teaching the Public

10. The Death of Détente
• Though it was never fully
implemented, the
research and
technologies of SDI
paved the way for the
Anti-ballistic missile
systems of today.
• The technology required
to implement SDI is still
being researched in the
U.S., and it is currently
in testing with stations in
Alaska and islands in the
Pacific Ocean.

11. Reagan and Gorbachev
Glasnost
Perestroika

12. Arms Reduction
The Soviets did not
attempt to follow suit
with their own program,
but instead followed a
program of arms
reduction treaties.

14. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1975 1978 1980 1983 1986 1989
in billions
Military spending increased under Reagan

15. 0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
1970 1975 1980 1985 1988
The national debt tripled under Reagan

16. Ronald Reagan
Cold Warrior