Reagan & Reagan & BushBush

Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan 1911 – 20041911 – 2004 4040thth President (1981 – 89) President (1981 – 89) Former actorFormer actor Former Gov. of CaliforniaFormer Gov. of California Reagan promised to rebuild Reagan promised to rebuild

the US’ military strength the US’ military strength and to fix the economy, all and to fix the economy, all while creating a balanced while creating a balanced budget and cutting taxesbudget and cutting taxes

"A recession is when your "A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his." Jimmy Carter loses his."

Assassination Assassination AttemptAttempt March 30, 1981March 30, 1981

John Hinckley fired six shots at John Hinckley fired six shots at Reagan, seriously injuring both Reagan, seriously injuring both the President and White House the President and White House Press Secretary Jim BradyPress Secretary Jim Brady

Hinckley was only seeking Hinckley was only seeking publicity, had no political agendapublicity, had no political agenda

Reagan fully recovered, Reagan fully recovered, but Brady was paralyzed but Brady was paralyzed and would become a gun and would become a gun control advocate for whom control advocate for whom the 1993 Brady Billthe 1993 Brady Bill, which , which required federal background required federal background checks on persons purchasing checks on persons purchasing handguns, was namedhandguns, was named

ReaganomicsReaganomics Reagan Reagan raised interest raised interest

rates, which restricted the rates, which restricted the money supply and money supply and controlled inflationcontrolled inflation

He also cut taxes by 25% on the He also cut taxes by 25% on the richrich

““Trickle-downTrickle-down” theory: by ” theory: by helping the rich, they will have helping the rich, they will have more money to invest in new more money to invest in new businesses, thereby creating jobs businesses, thereby creating jobs and the benefits will “trickle-down” and the benefits will “trickle-down” to the poor (also called “to the poor (also called “supply-supply-sideside” economics)” economics)

Reagan also deregulated the Reagan also deregulated the energy, automobile, and cable energy, automobile, and cable television industries to promote television industries to promote growth in competitiongrowth in competition

Economic Economic RecoveryRecovery

ReaganomicsReaganomics worked and the worked and the economy recovered economy recovered and began to grow and began to grow at a record rateat a record rate

The average family The average family income rose by 15% income rose by 15% and 20 million new and 20 million new jobs were createdjobs were created

YuppiesYuppies Young Urban Young Urban

ProfessionalsProfessionals Ambitious, hardworking Ambitious, hardworking

“white collar” workers “white collar” workers who spent heavily on who spent heavily on luxury goods as a luxury goods as a symbol of their statussymbol of their status

Helped drive the Helped drive the economic recovery economic recovery through their through their consumerist spending consumerist spending on luxury cars, high-end on luxury cars, high-end electronics, and electronics, and designer clothesdesigner clothes

New TechnologiesNew Technologies DON’T LAUGH –THIS DON’T LAUGH –THIS

WAS HIGH TECH WAS HIGH TECH BACK THEN! BACK THEN!

Sony WalkmanSony Walkman: mobile : mobile cassette player, precursor cassette player, precursor to the iPodto the iPod

VCRVCR: Video Cassette : Video Cassette Recorder, precursor to the Recorder, precursor to the DVD player and TiVoDVD player and TiVo

Cable TVCable TV: Most viewers : Most viewers had only 4 stations (ABC, had only 4 stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS) before the CBS, NBC, PBS) before the late 1970slate 1970s

Video GamesVideo Games: Atari : Atari 2600 home system, public 2600 home system, public video arcades with games video arcades with games like PacMan, Asteroids, like PacMan, Asteroids, Missile Command, Donkey Missile Command, Donkey Kong, & Space InvadersKong, & Space Invaders

Crime & Drug Use Crime & Drug Use RiseRise

Crack cocaine Crack cocaine became became a serious problem in US a serious problem in US cities due to its highly cities due to its highly addictive nature and its addictive nature and its side effect of increasing side effect of increasing aggressiveness in its usersaggressiveness in its users

Crime rates rose as users Crime rates rose as users began to steal or began to steal or prostitute themselves to prostitute themselves to fund their drug habitfund their drug habit

First Lady Nancy Reagan First Lady Nancy Reagan responded with the “responded with the “Just Just Say NoSay No” and ” and D.A.R.E. D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programs Education) programs aimed at kids and aimed at kids and teenagersteenagers

HomelessnessHomelessness Funding cuts under Funding cuts under

Reagan to Reagan to government housing government housing projects for low-projects for low-income families and income families and to mental health to mental health programs led to a programs led to a surge in the surge in the homeless population, homeless population, especially among especially among Vietnam Vietnam veteransveterans

AIDSAIDS Acquired Immune Acquired Immune

Deficiency SyndromeDeficiency Syndrome Mysterious disease which Mysterious disease which

had first been noticed had first been noticed among young among young homosexual men in the homosexual men in the late 1970slate 1970s

Between 1981 and Between 1981 and 1988, over 100,000 1988, over 100,000 cases were cases were reported in the USreported in the US, , triggering a panic and triggering a panic and causing many to causing many to abandon the promiscuity abandon the promiscuity of the 1960s and 70sof the 1960s and 70s

Gay Rights Gay Rights MovementMovement AIDS helped increase the AIDS helped increase the

visibility of the homosexual visibility of the homosexual community in the UScommunity in the US

At first the attention was At first the attention was negative, since AIDS was negative, since AIDS was misunderstood as a misunderstood as a “gay” disease “gay” disease and was and was even called a punishment of the even called a punishment of the gay community from God by gay community from God by many religious conservativesmany religious conservatives

Over time, however, many Over time, however, many Americans took a sympathetic Americans took a sympathetic stance towards AIDS victims stance towards AIDS victims and began to be more tolerant and began to be more tolerant of the gay community of the gay community

Sandra Day Sandra Day O’ConnorO’Connor

1930 – Present1930 – Present Supreme Court Justice Supreme Court Justice

(1981 – 2006)(1981 – 2006) First woman First woman

appointed to the appointed to the Supreme Court, Supreme Court, fulfilled one of fulfilled one of Reagan’s campaign Reagan’s campaign promisespromises

Reagan preferred Reagan preferred Justices who were Justices who were strict interpreters of strict interpreters of the Constitution, but the Constitution, but O’Connor turned out to O’Connor turned out to be fairly moderatebe fairly moderate

1984 Election1984 Election Democrats nominated Democrats nominated

former vice-president former vice-president Walter Mondale for Walter Mondale for president and NY president and NY Congresswoman Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro Geraldine Ferraro ((the first woman on the first woman on a presidential a presidential ballotballot) as his running ) as his running mate, but they took only mate, but they took only one state in the election one state in the election as Reagan won re-election as Reagan won re-election in a landslidein a landslide

EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism Reagan encouraged greater Reagan encouraged greater

exploitation of natural exploitation of natural resources and deregulating resources and deregulating industry, both of which were industry, both of which were opposed by environmentalistsopposed by environmentalists

The 1980s saw a surge in The 1980s saw a surge in scientific research into how scientific research into how pollutants and deforestation pollutants and deforestation were were damaging the damaging the ozone layer and ozone layer and creating global warmingcreating global warming

Many American communities Many American communities also began also began recyclingrecycling programs during the decadeprograms during the decade

TerrorismTerrorism Reagan was the first US Reagan was the first US

president to deal with foreign president to deal with foreign terror attacks on Americansterror attacks on Americans

BeirutBeirut (Oct. 23, 1983): US (Oct. 23, 1983): US Marines on a peace-keeping Marines on a peace-keeping mission in Lebanon had their mission in Lebanon had their barracks attacked by truck barracks attacked by truck bombs, killing 241 Americansbombs, killing 241 Americans

LibyaLibya (Apr. 15, 1986): After (Apr. 15, 1986): After Libyan sponsored terror Libyan sponsored terror attacks in Germany, the US attacks in Germany, the US retaliated with an air strike retaliated with an air strike aimed at taking out Libyan aimed at taking out Libyan leader leader Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Gaddafi and terrorist training facilitiesand terrorist training facilities

Reagan & The Cold Reagan & The Cold WarWar

Reagan abandoned Reagan abandoned all efforts at détente all efforts at détente and negotiation with and negotiation with the the Soviets, Soviets, declaring them declaring them an “evil empirean “evil empire” ” and set out to win and set out to win the Cold War by the Cold War by forcing the Soviets forcing the Soviets to deplete their to deplete their economy through economy through military spendingmilitary spending

Military BuildupMilitary Buildup Reagan spent $1.5 Reagan spent $1.5

trillion on defensetrillion on defense, , forcing the Soviets to forcing the Soviets to match with their own match with their own military buildup or run military buildup or run the risk of losing global the risk of losing global influenceinfluence

The idea was to break The idea was to break the Soviet economy and the Soviet economy and thereby win the Cold War thereby win the Cold War – it worked, but it would – it worked, but it would not be until after Reagan not be until after Reagan had left office that the had left office that the Soviet economy failedSoviet economy failed

““Star WarsStar Wars”” Strategic Defense Strategic Defense

Initiative Initiative (SDI)(SDI) Reagan called for the Reagan called for the

development of a space-development of a space-mounted weapons platform mounted weapons platform which could be used to which could be used to destroy Soviet nuclear destroy Soviet nuclear missiles before they could missiles before they could reach the USreach the US

The US spent about $100 The US spent about $100 billion trying to develop such billion trying to develop such a system (with no success), a system (with no success), forcing the Soviets to spend forcing the Soviets to spend money on how to counter money on how to counter such a systemsuch a system

The The Reagan Reagan DoctrineDoctrine Reagan believed that Reagan believed that

that the US had a moral that the US had a moral obligation to obligation to show show support for support for guerrilla groups guerrilla groups who were fighting who were fighting communist or pro-communist or pro-Soviet Soviet governmentsgovernments

This policy would lead to This policy would lead to US intervention in US intervention in several conflictsseveral conflicts

AfghanistanAfghanistan Reagan provided over $570 Reagan provided over $570

million in military million in military aid to aid to the mujahadeen rebels the mujahadeen rebels fighting the Soviets in fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan (including Afghanistan (including indirectly helping indirectly helping Osama Bin LadenOsama Bin Laden!), !), allowing them to drag the allowing them to drag the fight out for 9 bloody yearsfight out for 9 bloody years

In 1989, the Soviets withdrew In 1989, the Soviets withdrew after losing nearly 15,000 after losing nearly 15,000 men-men-

Afghanistan Afghanistan was the Soviet’s was the Soviet’s “Vietnam” “Vietnam”

NicaraguaNicaragua Reagan began to Reagan began to

secretly fund the secretly fund the “Contra” rebels in “Contra” rebels in Nicaragua who were Nicaragua who were fighting the socialist fighting the socialist Sandinista governmentSandinista government

Congress banned any Congress banned any further US aid to the further US aid to the Contras, due to not Contras, due to not wanting to damage US-wanting to damage US-Latin relations and Latin relations and because the Contras because the Contras trafficked in drugs to trafficked in drugs to help fund their causehelp fund their cause

Iran-Contra Iran-Contra ScandalScandal

In 1986, it was exposed that In 1986, it was exposed that Reagan’s administration had Reagan’s administration had not not cut off aid to the cut off aid to the Contras in Nicaragua Contras in Nicaragua as directed by as directed by Congress Congress but had instead but had instead been funding them with the been funding them with the proceeds from the illegal proceeds from the illegal sale of weapons to Iransale of weapons to Iran

Reagan claimed to have no Reagan claimed to have no knowledge of the operation, knowledge of the operation, placing blame on his placing blame on his Security Council and the CIASecurity Council and the CIA

14 men were indicted, 14 men were indicted, including Col. including Col. Oliver Oliver North North who had run the who had run the entire operation, but none entire operation, but none ever did any prison timeever did any prison time

GrenadaGrenada In 1983, Reagan sent In 1983, Reagan sent

US troops to the island US troops to the island nation of Grenada after nation of Grenada after a communist regime a communist regime took power there; US took power there; US forces overthrew the forces overthrew the new government and new government and restored the old to restored the old to powerpower

Reagan was concerned Reagan was concerned that Cuban and Soviet that Cuban and Soviet military forces could military forces could use the island to help use the island to help destabilize the regiondestabilize the region

Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev 1931 – Present1931 – Present Became newBecame new leader of leader of

the Soviet Union in the Soviet Union in 19851985

Believed that economic and Believed that economic and political reform was political reform was necessary to the survival of necessary to the survival of the USSR and pursued an the USSR and pursued an arms reduction agreement arms reduction agreement with the USwith the US

3. Signed an agreement 3. Signed an agreement with Reagan in 1987 to with Reagan in 1987 to reduce the number of reduce the number of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons, leading to a new détente leading to a new détente

The The Space ShuttleSpace Shuttle By 1981, By 1981, NASANASA was was

ready to begin a new ready to begin a new chapter in space chapter in space exploration with its exploration with its reusable space shuttlereusable space shuttle

US has spent over US has spent over $170 billion on the $170 billion on the shuttle program since shuttle program since its inception, building 6 its inception, building 6 shuttles (2 of which shuttles (2 of which have been destroyed in have been destroyed in accidents) and funding accidents) and funding 135 missions through 135 missions through the final flight the final flight scheduled for next yearscheduled for next year

The The ChallengerChallenger DisasterDisaster

January 28, 1986January 28, 1986 Shuttle Challenger Shuttle Challenger

exploded 73 seconds exploded 73 seconds after takeoff due to a after takeoff due to a mechanical failure, mechanical failure, killing all 7 astronauts killing all 7 astronauts aboard, including aboard, including Christa McAuliffeChrista McAuliffe, a , a social studies social studies teacher teacher who had who had been selected to be the been selected to be the first teacher in spacefirst teacher in space

1988 Election1988 Election Republicans nominated Republicans nominated

vice-presidentvice-president George George HW Bush HW Bush who made who made the famous campaign the famous campaign promise: “Read my lips promise: “Read my lips - - No new taxesNo new taxes!”!”

Democrats nominated Democrats nominated Massachusetts Massachusetts governor Michael governor Michael Dukakis over civil rights Dukakis over civil rights activist Jesse Jacksonactivist Jesse Jackson

Bush won easily. Bush won easily. Thanks largely to Thanks largely to Reagan’s success as Reagan’s success as presidentpresident

George H. W. George H. W. BushBush

1924 – Present1924 – Present 4141stst President (1989–93) President (1989–93) Last WWII vet to be Last WWII vet to be

presidentpresident Former head of theFormer head of the CIA CIA, ,

US Ambassador to the UN, US Ambassador to the UN, and US Envoy to Chinaand US Envoy to China

Only the second president Only the second president in US history to have a in US history to have a son also serve as son also serve as presidentpresident

Has an aircraft carrier Has an aircraft carrier named after him (served named after him (served as a Navy pilot in WWII)as a Navy pilot in WWII)

Perestroika & Perestroika & GlasnostGlasnost

Gorbachev instituted Gorbachev instituted new programs to try to new programs to try to save the Soviet save the Soviet economyeconomy

Perestroika Perestroika (“restructuring”): (“restructuring”): allowed some small allowed some small private businesses to private businesses to operate outside of operate outside of government controlgovernment control

Glasnost (“openness”): Glasnost (“openness”): allowed Soviet citizens allowed Soviet citizens new freedoms of new freedoms of religion and speech and religion and speech and to have a voice in to have a voice in Soviet politicsSoviet politics

The Berlin Wall Comes The Berlin Wall Comes DownDown

Nov. 9, 1989Nov. 9, 1989 East Germans guards East Germans guards

opened the gates in the opened the gates in the Berlin Wall, removing Berlin Wall, removing the barrier between the barrier between East and West; within East and West; within days the wall was days the wall was completely dismantledcompletely dismantled

The next year, East and The next year, East and West Germany reunited West Germany reunited into one country for the into one country for the first time since 1945first time since 1945

Collapse of Collapse of CommunismCommunism

The Soviet’s inability to The Soviet’s inability to financially support communist financially support communist states in Eastern Europe led states in Eastern Europe led to mostly peaceful to mostly peaceful overthrows of their unpopular overthrows of their unpopular governmentsgovernments

In 1989, the old communist In 1989, the old communist bloc collapsed as communist bloc collapsed as communist regimes fell one after anotherregimes fell one after another

In late 1991, the Soviet Union In late 1991, the Soviet Union itself collapsed after an itself collapsed after an attempted coup by attempted coup by communist hardliners failed communist hardliners failed to unseat Gorbachev and the to unseat Gorbachev and the communist party was banned communist party was banned in Russia –in Russia – the Cold War the Cold War was over was over !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiananmen Tiananmen SquareSquare

June 1989June 1989 Inspired by the collapse of Inspired by the collapse of

communism in Europe, communism in Europe, Chinese students began a Chinese students began a massive demonstration in massive demonstration in Tiananmen Square in Tiananmen Square in China’s capital of BeijingChina’s capital of Beijing

The Chinese government The Chinese government ordered a military ordered a military crackdown which led to crackdown which led to the deaths and arrests of the deaths and arrests of unknown numbers of unknown numbers of dissidentsdissidents

The US objected strongly The US objected strongly and took economic and took economic sanctions against the sanctions against the Chinese governmentChinese government

Invasion of Invasion of PanamaPanama

December 1989December 1989 Operation Just CauseOperation Just Cause US military invaded Panama US military invaded Panama

to to oust dictator Manuel oust dictator Manuel NoriegaNoriega

US was concerned because US was concerned because Noriega was encouraging Noriega was encouraging drug trafficking and drug trafficking and threatening US interests in threatening US interests in Panama, especially the Panama, especially the Panama CanalPanama Canal

23 Americans died in the 23 Americans died in the operationoperation

Noriega was eventually Noriega was eventually captured and sent to prison captured and sent to prison in the US on drug chargesin the US on drug charges

Iraq Invades Iraq Invades KuwaitKuwait

August 1990August 1990 Iraqi leader Iraqi leader Saddam Saddam

Hussein Hussein sent his forces sent his forces to invade Kuwait and to invade Kuwait and secure that nation’s rich secure that nation’s rich oil reserves, thereby oil reserves, thereby eliminating competitioneliminating competition

The UN objected to The UN objected to Iraq’s aggression, taking Iraq’s aggression, taking economic sanctions and economic sanctions and setting a deadline for setting a deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Iraq to withdraw from KuwaitKuwait

Iraq refusedIraq refused

Operation Desert Operation Desert StormStormJan. 16, 1991Jan. 16, 1991

US-led forces US-led forces attacked Iraq, attacked Iraq, launching six-launching six-weeks of air and weeks of air and missile attacks missile attacks before beginning before beginning a ground invasion a ground invasion of Kuwait and of Kuwait and southern Iraq southern Iraq

Perdsian Gulf War Perdsian Gulf War II

Jan. 16 – Feb. 28, 1991Jan. 16 – Feb. 28, 1991 149 Americans were killed 149 Americans were killed

in combat, 458 woundedin combat, 458 wounded Iraq suffered between Iraq suffered between

20,000 and 35,000 20,000 and 35,000 military casualtiesmilitary casualties

Bush elected not to Bush elected not to FULLY CONQUER Iraq FULLY CONQUER Iraq because the UN-approved because the UN-approved mission had been to mission had been to simply liberate Kuwait and simply liberate Kuwait and the political consequences the political consequences of removing Saddam of removing Saddam Hussein from power would Hussein from power would have been too steephave been too steep

Economy FaltersEconomy Falters The end of the Cold War The end of the Cold War

led to decreased US led to decreased US military spending and a military spending and a down-sizing of US military down-sizing of US military forces as the nation tried to forces as the nation tried to pay down some of its debtpay down some of its debt

As the economy slowed, As the economy slowed, many “Yuppies” began to many “Yuppies” began to focus on paying off their focus on paying off their debts as well and reduced debts as well and reduced their consumerism, their consumerism, deepening the recessiondeepening the recession

In an attempt to jumpstart In an attempt to jumpstart the economy, the economy, Bush was Bush was forced to break his forced to break his campaign promise campaign promise and raise taxesand raise taxes

Americans With Disabilities Americans With Disabilities ActAct

19901990 Forbids discrimination Forbids discrimination

in workplaces and in in workplaces and in public facilities public facilities against those with against those with mental or physical mental or physical disabilitiesdisabilities

Forced businesses to Forced businesses to become wheelchair become wheelchair accessible, provide accessible, provide signage in Braille, and signage in Braille, and offer closed captioned offer closed captioned televisiontelevision

1992 Election1992 Election Republicans nominated Republicans nominated

Bush for re-electionBush for re-election Democrats nominated Democrats nominated

Arkansas Governor Bill Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, who promised Clinton, who promised widespread reformswidespread reforms

Billionaire Billionaire H. Ross H. Ross Perot ran as an Perot ran as an independentindependent, , promising to run promising to run America like a business America like a business by cutting the federal by cutting the federal deficit and balancing the deficit and balancing the budgetbudget

Clinton won in a hotly Clinton won in a hotly contested electioncontested election

William J. ClintonWilliam J. Clinton 1946 – Present1946 – Present 4242ndnd President (1993 – President (1993 –

2001)2001) Won election despite Won election despite

numerous reports of numerous reports of extramarital affairs extramarital affairs and having no national-and having no national-level political level political experienceexperience

Promised major health-Promised major health-care reform in his care reform in his campaign, but was campaign, but was unable to gain approval unable to gain approval from a Republican from a Republican controlled Congresscontrolled Congress