Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970–91 - 2 The end of détente and…
Full specification wording
Option P4: Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970–91 - 2 The end of détente and the ‘Second Cold War’: Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’, the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI).
Ronald Reagan became US President in 1981, adopting a tough anti-communist stance that characterised the 'Second Cold War'.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Ronald Reagan became US President in 1981, adopting a tough anti-communist stance that characterised the 'Second Cold War'. He famously described the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and significantly increased US military spending. A central element of this renewed hostility was the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), announced in 1983. Nicknamed 'Star Wars', SDI was a proposed system of space-based lasers intended to intercept and destroy incoming Soviet nuclear missiles. This undermined the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) and placed immense economic pressure on the USSR, which could not afford to compete with American technological advancements, thereby escalating Cold War tensions.
What earns the marks
- Identify Reagan's aggressive rhetoric, such as calling the USSR an "evil empire".
- Explain the massive increase in US defence spending under Reagan, which funded new weapons systems and military expansion.
- Describe the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) as a proposed space-based anti-missile system.
- Analyse how SDI threatened the balance of power by undermining the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
- Evaluate the economic impact of SDI on the Soviet Union, which struggled to match US technological and financial resources.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming SDI was a fully operational system.
Put it right: Clarify that SDI was a proposed research programme and was never fully built or deployed.
Confusing the First and Second Cold War.
Put it right: Ensure the 'Second Cold War' is specifically linked to the breakdown of détente following the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Reagan's subsequent policies.
Stating that SDI involved launching nuclear weapons from space.
Put it right: Explain that SDI was a defensive system designed to use lasers to destroy incoming Soviet missiles.
Exam tips
- When discussing the 'Second Cold War', explicitly link Reagan's rhetoric and policies to the breakdown of détente.
- Use SDI as a key example of how technological competition placed unsustainable economic strain on the Soviet Union.
- Remember to mention the nickname 'Star Wars' as it highlights the futuristic and ambitious nature of the SDI project.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P4: Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970–91 - 2 The end of détente and the ‘Second Cold War’: Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’, the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary purpose of the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) announced by President Reagan in 1983?
Listen
Ronald Reagan became US President in 1981, adopting a tough anti-communist stance that characterised the 'Second Cold War'. He famously described the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and significantly increased US military spending. A central element of this renewed hostility was the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), announced in 1983. Nicknamed 'Star Wars', SDI was a proposed system of space-based lasers intended to intercept and destroy incoming Soviet nuclear missiles. This undermined the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) and placed immense economic pressure on the USSR, which could not afford to compete with American technological advancements, thereby escalating Cold War tensions. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify Reagan's aggressive rhetoric, such as calling the USSR an "evil empire". Explain the massive increase in US defence spending under Reagan, which funded new weapons systems and military expansion. Describe the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) as a proposed space-based anti-missile system. Analyse how SDI threatened the balance of power by undermining the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). A common slip: Claiming SDI was a fully operational system. Instead, Clarify that SDI was a proposed research programme and was never fully built or deployed. Exam tip: When discussing the 'Second Cold War', explicitly link Reagan's rhetoric and policies to the breakdown of détente.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI)
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Second Cold War
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Evil empire
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI)
- A proposed system of space-based lasers intended to intercept and destroy incoming Soviet nuclear missiles, announced in 1983 and nicknamed 'Star Wars'.
- Second Cold War
- The renewed hostility characterised by Reagan's tough anti-communist stance after becoming US President in 1981.
- Evil empire
- The phrase Reagan famously used to describe the Soviet Union as part of his tough anti-communist stance.
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