Realist: The bottom line on Slavery, it was ended by war.
Regarding the USSR: Have you ever read about the term "Cold War"? Here are the facts:
""In 1980, the Soviet Union occupied or influenced the red areas on this map (I can't seem to post the map) and the US challenged them in each area. In 1982, Reagan signed NSDD-32 which became known as the Reagan Doctrine of supporting anti-Marxist regimes. In Poland the democratic, Solidarity movement was aided. In Cambodia, Vietnam, Angola, Nicaragua, Grenada and Cuba, US funds were used to oppose communism. Most importantly, the US supported the mujahdin, fighting against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Reagan was determined to turn Afghanistan into a 'Vietnam' for the Soviets by supplying the mujahdin with arms, training, and CIA intelligence. It was extremely successful and ended in an embarrassing Soviet defeat.
Reagan orchestrated a technologically intense military buildup that drove the cash-strapped Soviets into bankruptcy. Seeking a safer alternative to the Mutually Assured Destruction policy, Reagan's calling for, and steadfast support for funding of the Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI, and MX missile, had the Soviets peeing their pants. If successful, it would've rendered the Soviet arsenal nil. The mere suggestion of SDI alarmed the Soviets.
US officials worked to propagandize the Soviets into believing Reagan was a wild cowboy who wasn't afraid of 'pushing the button.' As a result, Soviet officials were afraid of Reagan. The Soviets tested him by stationing SS-20 nuclear weapons near Europe. However, Reagan stood up to their intimidation by deploying US Pershing II missiles in Germany. The Soviets flinched and removed their missiles.
Reagan's goal was to destroy the 'evil empire' of the Soviet Union and did so by: 1, decreasing Soviet technology and money; 2, investing in and restructuring the now superior US military and; 3, by reducing Soviet influence.
One KGB general said it best when he stated, "American policy in the 1980s was a catalyst for the collapse of the Soviet Union."
Revisionist historians have tried to give credit for ending the Cold War to the policies of defeated Soviet leader Gorbachev. Such credit is ironic. To the vanquished, Gorbachev, has gone the glory and to the victor, Reagan, has gone unjust criticism.""
