https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e Made with magic en-us 2020-10-26 22:06:24 UTC 2025-10-30 14:17:09 UTC hello@padlet.com samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863753695 Between 1980 and 1989, how did relations between the USA and USSR evolve, and how did Rocky IV reflect that evolution?]]> 2020-10-26 22:10:59 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863753695 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863756342 Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States from 1981-1989 who is considered responsible for ending the Cold War against Russia. He made efforts throughout his presidency to push back against communism and was ultimately successful.

“The West will not contain communism; it will transcend communism. We will not bother to renounce it, we’ll dismiss it as a bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written.” - Reagan]]> 2020-10-26 22:12:36 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863756342 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863764501 Mikhail Gorbachev was the eighth and last president of the Soviet Union as well as the General Secretary of the Communist Part from 1985-1991 who along with Reagan, was ultimately pivotal in ending the Cold War and settling for peace.

“Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.” - Gorbachev]]> 2020-10-26 22:17:21 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863764501 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863778400 The Cold War was a period of tension between the United States and Russia post WWII where the US and its allies feared world domination of the Russian powers. The U.S. also feared Russia's influence of communism and sought to contain the idea and prevent communism from spreading. This war was especially notable with the introduction of nuclear weapons which resulted in an arms race where both powers rushed to prove their superiority.]]> 2020-10-26 22:25:44 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863778400 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863798578 After 1983, Reagan began to realize that his stance needed to change and that he had made a mistake. As a result,  he ultimately decided he needed to meet with the Gorbachev in person in order to turn the tide of the war. He wanted to make peace and put an end to the conflict.

At this meeting in Geneva Reagan said...
"The United States and the Soviet Union are the two greatest countries on Earth, the superpowers. They are the only ones who can start World War 3, but also the only two countries that could bring peace to the world."]]> 2020-10-26 22:38:26 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863798578 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863809118 The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or the INF Treaty, was a treaty decided upon by the two powers in order to settle for peace. Signed on December 8, 1987, its purpose was arms control and it ended up banning the use and production of land-based ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and missile launchers. This treaty was so important because it finally eliminated the forces that proved to be such a threat to both sides.]]> 2020-10-26 22:45:18 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863809118 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863818235 The Berlin Wall, dividing communist Eastern Germany from West Germany, ultimately collapsed when East Germany erupted in protests on November 9, 1989. The fall of this wall is so significant because it marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War as well as the East German dictatorship.]]> 2020-10-26 22:50:51 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863818235 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863850867 This movie is about U.S. boxer Rocky Balboa who plans to retire after a long career but after his friend Apollo Creed is beaten to death by the all powerful Ivan Drago from the USSR, he prepares for a payback match. Although very different people and fighters, Rocky and Drago's Christmas Day match ends up surprising everyone.]]> 2020-10-26 23:12:26 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863850867 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863860868 It is evident very early on in the movie that Ivan Drago is to represent the USSR and that Rocky Balboa is to represent the U.S. Their boxing match and conflicts directly reflect the tension between these two powers during the Cold War. Drago is depicted as cold, fierce and unemotional as is a stereotype of the Soviets during this time. Rocky is depicted as patriotic and brave which this being an American movie, is probably how Americans wanted themselves to be seen.

"If he dies...he dies." - Ivan Drago

“To Beat Me, He’s Gonna Have To Kill Me.” - Rocky Balboa

]]> 2020-10-26 23:19:01 UTC https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863860868 samanthalovett https://padlet.com/samanthalovett/ivvbbx5njq464y8e/wish/863870935 By the end of the movie and the boxing match between Rocky and Drago, Rocky is beginning to make a lead on Drago and he has a realization that Drago isn't just a machine as everyone calls him, he's actually a man who can be beaten and hurt. This is symbolic towards the fact that nearing the end of the Cold War, Reagan began to realize that the Soviets were people too and in order to make peace, they needed to be treated like people and not enemies.

"You Cut him! You HURT him! You see. You see. He's not a Machine, He's a Man!" - Duke

Once Rocky victoriously defeats Drago he makes a speech in which he mentions how he saw the Soviet crowd's opinion of him change as he began to take down Drago. He said his opinion changed towards them as well and it wasn't that difficult. This emphasizes the peace that is key in ending the Cold War and finally bringing everyone together under a cloud of unity and acceptance.

"If I can change and you can change, everybody can change." - Rocky Balboa

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