The Lasting Legacy of ‘Peace Through Strength’
Reagan’s defense buildup helped end the Cold War and laid the foundation of contemporary American military power.
TL;DR
- American declinism was prevalent in the mid to late 1970s.
- The U.S. military's withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975 contributed to this sentiment.
- A decline in bipartisan support for defense spending occurred.
- The end of conscription was linked to a perceived hollowing out of the U.S. military.
- Persistent "stagflation" and the Watergate scandal damaged public confidence.