POWERPOINT 31POWERPOINT 31

The Reagan - Bush Years,

1981 - 1992

The Reagan RevolutionThe Reagan Revolution

Ronald Reagan wins landslide election in 1980 Former governor of California Republicans controlled Senate for early years of his

presidency

Reagan in Office “Great Communicator” Chose effective staff Supply-side economics

The Election of

1980

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The Reagan Revolution The Reagan Revolution (cont.’d)(cont.’d)

Iranian hostages released January 20, 1981 Reagan shot March 30, 1981 Dealt firmly with Air Traffic Controller Strike Budget Act of 1981 Increased defense spending

National debt rose sharply

Deregulation causes problems for Reagan Environmental Protection Agency Savings and loan companies

Reagan and Foreign PolicyReagan and Foreign Policy

Economy improves by late 1982 Took hard line with Soviets Supported Contras in Nicaragua Grenada invasion, October 1983 Middle East troubles impact America

Terrorist attack kills 239 Marines in Lebanon

Strategic Defense Imitative plan contributes to decline of Soviet Union

Social Tensions and Strains of the Social Tensions and Strains of the 1980s1980s AIDS appears in U.S. in 1980s Cable television and personal computers change

way Americans live Families experience growing problems, including

divorce, single parenthood, and school problems Resurgence of evangelical Christianity in 1980s

Moral majority Pro-life and pro-choice movements

The 1984 Presidential ElectionThe 1984 Presidential Election

Democrats jockey for nomination Jesse Jackson and Gary Hart Walter Mondale emerges as candidate

Reagan wins landslide victory Carried 49 states

The Election of 1984

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Reagan’s Second TermReagan’s Second Term

Major tax reforms are made in 1986 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings

Yuppie youth culture Challenger tragedy Soviets and Americans reach agreements

Mikhail Gorbachev Perestroika and glasnost

Iran-Contra Affair damages Reagan presidency Colonial Oliver North

Reagan’s Second Term Reagan’s Second Term (cont.’d)(cont.’d)

Reagan has major impact on Supreme Court President names majority of justices Also names Sandra Day O’Connor first woman justice

Soviets pull out of war in Afghanistan Reagan and Gorbachev visit each other’s

capitols By 1987, agree to remove intermediate nukes from

Europe Relations with Soviets improved

The 1988 Presidential ElectionThe 1988 Presidential Election

In 1988, George H.W. Bush wins presidency “No new taxes”

Democrats run unorganized campaign Michael Dukakis Dirty campaign

Reagan legacy is mixed Not as good as his admirers claim Nor as bad as his detractors assert

The Election of 1988

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The Bush SuccessionThe Bush Succession

In office, Bush pushes for improvements at home Americans with Disabilities Act Savings and loan debacle

Foreign affairs claim much of president’s attention China mows down human rights along with students in

Tiananmen Square American military seizes Panama’s Noriega and brings

him to justice Americans lose faith in Bush over taxes

The Bush Succession The Bush Succession (cont.’d)(cont.’d)

Gulf War brings America and world together to liberate Kuwait U.S. wins decisive victory against Iraq Saddam Hussein remained in power

1991 coupe led to collapse of Soviet Union In budget battle, Bush caves to Democrats Clarence Thomas Supreme Court

nomination enthralls country Last years of presidency bring more

anxiety

Persian Gulf War, 1991Web

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions Ronald Reagan is a liked and disliked president.

What were his successes and failures, and why is opinion so diametrically opposed about him?

Discuss Reagan’s foreign policy. How did his relationship with the USSR develop over his presidency?

Examine the domestic policies of George Bush. What were his accomplishments? Failures?

What were the causes of the Gulf War? How was Bush able to pull together a coalition to defeat Iraq? Was Iraq’s defeat a victory for the U.S.?