Question

question 3 of 10

during his first term in office, president ronald reagans foreign policy goals included:

a. reasserting dominance in the cold war by increasing military and defense spending.
b. making the united states a larger force in nato and in the united nations.
c. enacting a policy of détente in the united states relationship with the soviet union.
d. helping the united states allies to fight communism and the soviet union.

Explanation:

Analyze Reagan's Cold War stance

During his first term, President Ronald Reagan rejected the previous decade's policy of Détente, which aimed to ease tensions with the Soviet Union. Instead, he viewed the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and believed that the United States needed to negotiate from a position of overwhelming strength.

Evaluate military spending goals

To achieve this position of strength, Reagan's administration initiated the largest peacetime military buildup in United States history. This strategy aimed to reassert American global dominance and pressure the Soviet economy by forcing them to compete with rapidly increasing US defense spending.

Assess the incorrect options

• Option B is incorrect because Reagan was often skeptical of multilateral organizations like the United Nations.
• Option C is incorrect because Reagan actively moved away from Détente during his first term.
• Option D is incorrect because the primary focus of his first-term buildup was direct US military readiness and strategic defense rather than relying solely on helping allies fight.

Answer:

• (A) reasserting dominance in the Cold War by increasing military and defense spending. (Correct answer)
• (B) making the United States a larger force in NATO and in the United Nations.
• (C) enacting a policy of détente in the United States' relationship with the Soviet Union.
• (D) helping the United States' allies to fight communism and the Soviet Union.