Author Question: What assumptions guided Ronald Reagan's foreign policy? What will be an ideal response? (Read 63 times)

justinmsk · **on:** Sep 11, 2019

Question 1

How did immigration change American during the 1970s and 1980s?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What assumptions guided Ronald Reagan's foreign policy?

What will be an ideal response?

chloejackso · **Reply #1 on:** Sep 11, 2019

Answer 1

Students should immediately recognize that the source of immigration to the United States shifted from Europe to Latin America. Additionally, more immigrants came from Asia than in years past. Students should also be familiar with the changes in immigration law and the results of these changes. One important affect of this changing pattern was a continued growth of the Sunbelt, as most immigrants from Latin America and Asia settled in the West. The job skills of the two groups were different as well, as many Asian immigrants were skilled professionals while many Latinos were unskilled laborers.

Answer 2

Students should recognize that Reagan's commitment to the Cold War shaped his foreign policy. As the text points out, at the center of Reagan's view of the world was his belief that the Soviet Union was an evil empire. To that end, Reagan favored dramatic increases in military spending, both conventional and nuclear. He supported high-tech systems like Star Wars. His support for the anti-Communist regime in El Salvador and for the Contra movement in Nicaragua are further indications of his acceptance of the Cold War paradigm.