Topic 4, Lesson 16: Why did the Soviet's call Thatcher the 'Iron Lady'?

Topic 4, Lesson 16: Why did the Soviet's call Thatcher the 'Iron Lady'?

Reagan & Star Wars

Star Wars was the nickname given to Reagan’s Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI)

The SDI included the development of new technologies that would stop Russian nuclear missiles

Problems with the SDI:

1. It was not intended to be 100%

Reagan estimated the SDI could destroy 99% of USSR nuclear missiles.

1% of USSR nuclear missiles was enough to destroy America completely

2. The technology that Reagan was proposing did not exist. He was bluffing.

Consequences of the SDI:

1. The Soviets were horrified. They felt their economy could not keep up

2. Led to the defeat of Communism

Topic 4, Lesson 16: Why did the Soviet's call Thatcher the 'Iron Lady'?

Reagan & The Falklands War

Initially, the US refused to assist Britain in the Falklands. However, after Thatcher pressurised Reagan, America did aid Britain by:

• offering Britain the use of the American bases on the British Ascension Island

• providing diplomatic intervention (which prevented Argentina from obtaining new Exocet Missiles

This caused the relationship between Thatcher and Reagan to strengthen.

Topic 4, Lesson 16: Why did the Soviet's call Thatcher the 'Iron Lady'?

Thatcher’s role in supporting Solidarity and the Velvet Revolution

Velvet Revolution - the non-violent transition of power from an aristocratic to democratic government in Czechoslovakia. Signified the beginning of the end of the USSR.

• According to many, Thatcher was a “Cold War warrior”

• In 1976, she was given the nickname “The Iron Lady”

• Thatcher made a number of visits to the Eastern Bloc, including to Poland, Hungary and even the USSR

• Thatcher became a symbol of freedom in some of these countries

• Chapels and shrines were dedicated to Thatcher

• Thatcher caused some controversy at home because she openly supported the anti-communist trade union movement in Poland called “solidarity”

• critics asked how Thatcher could reconcile being pro-trade union abroad while simultaneously being fiercely anti-trade union at home

• Thatcher’s defenders suggested it was all in the name of freedom

• Britain bought American Trident nuclear missiles to replace its Polaris missiles

• In 1981, Britain agreed to allow the USA to install its nuclear cruise missiles at the US base in Greenham Common

Topic 4, Lesson 16: Why did the Soviet's call Thatcher the 'Iron Lady'?

Thatcher and Reagan’s Close Relationship

• Reagan was a supporter of the New Right with Reaganomics (an American mirror image of Thatcherism)

• Modern British historian, Peter Clarke has neatly conveyed the personal, ideological and economic bonds between Thatcher and Reagan:

“Nowhere was Thatcher more warmly received than in the USA”