Support for the Support for the ContrasContras

By Ronald ReaganBy Ronald Reagan

HistoryHistory Born February 6, 1911, to Nelle Born February 6, 1911, to Nelle

and John Reagan in Tampico, and John Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. Illinois.

He attended high school in nearby He attended high school in nearby Dixon and then worked his way Dixon and then worked his way through Eureka College through Eureka College

There, he studied economics and There, he studied economics and sociology, played on the football sociology, played on the football team, and acted in school plays. team, and acted in school plays.

A screen test in 1937 won him a A screen test in 1937 won him a contract in Hollywood. During the contract in Hollywood. During the next two decades he appeared in next two decades he appeared in 53 films. 53 films.

Reagan became governor of Reagan became governor of California, the most populous California, the most populous state, in 1967state, in 1967

Ronald Reagan won the Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush.Ambassador George Bush.

He became the 40He became the 40thth president. president.

Anastasio Somoza Anastasio Somoza Debayle Debayle

& Sandinista Soldiers& Sandinista Soldiers

Main PointsMain Points To win popular support of the American People for the To win popular support of the American People for the

Contras because they were fighting against Contras because they were fighting against communist forces.communist forces. ““The Sandinista rule is a communist reign of terror. The Sandinista rule is a communist reign of terror.

Many of those who fought along side the Many of those who fought along side the Sandinistas saw their revolution betrayed.” They…Sandinistas saw their revolution betrayed.” They…have taken up arms against them and are now have taken up arms against them and are now called the called the contrascontras.” .”

To raise enough aid such as money and arms to To raise enough aid such as money and arms to resolve the crises and help prevent the possibility of resolve the crises and help prevent the possibility of refugees fleeing to Americarefugees fleeing to America ““Concerns about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of Concerns about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of

refugees fleeing communist oppression to seek entry in our refugees fleeing communist oppression to seek entry in our country are well-founded”country are well-founded”

Main PointsMain Points

Support Democracy abroad for Support Democracy abroad for Central AmericaCentral America ““Together with our friends, we can do Together with our friends, we can do

in Central America to support in Central America to support democracy, human rights, and democracy, human rights, and economic growth that we want no economic growth that we want no hostile communist colonies here in the hostile communist colonies here in the Americas-South, Central, or North”Americas-South, Central, or North”

QuestionsQuestions

Did we really have any business Did we really have any business supporting the contras by sending supporting the contras by sending aid to them in Nicaragua.aid to them in Nicaragua.

If the Sandinistas had not been If the Sandinistas had not been backed by communist forces would backed by communist forces would the US have supported the Contras. the US have supported the Contras.