Write a critique of the two speeches given at the Berlin Wall by President Kennedy and President Reagan on which speech was more effective. You should address your critique to future world leaders. You will notice that although both speeches hope to change the thinking of the Eastern Bloc, each had a different approach. Within your critique, you need to propose a claim and counter claim that identifies the most effective speech. Make sure you support your ideas with key details from the speeches, as well as with facts. Your concluding statement should ask future leaders to include the techniques you found most favorable.

relations between the soviet union and the united states were driven by a complex interplay of ideological, political, and economic factors, which led to shifts between cautious cooperation and often bitter superpower rivalry over the years. the distinct differences in the political systems of the two countries often prevented them from reaching a mutual understanding on key policy issues and even, as in the case of the cuban missile crisis, brought them to the brink of war.

the united states government was initially hostile to the soviet leaders for taking russia out of world war i and was opposed to a state ideologically based on communism. although the united states embarked on a famine relief program in the soviet union in the early 1920s and american businessmen established commercial ties there during the period of the new economic policy (1921–29), the two countries did not establish diplomatic relations until 1933. by that time, the totalitarian nature of joseph stalin's regime presented an insurmountable obstacle to friendly relations with the west. although world war ii brought the two countries into alliance, based on the common aim of defeating nazi germany, the soviet union's aggressive, antidemocratic policy toward eastern europe had created tensions even before the war ended.