The 1980’s

By: Rebekah, Alex, Leo, Tim and Valentino

Reaganomics

Theory Of Reaganomics

• Reaganomics is the use of the supply side economics.

• This is known as the “Trickle Down Theory”• Lowers the income tax rates-hoping to spark

economic growth. Next, invest the tax savings into businesses to create jobs. A three year plan that would eventually cut income tax by 25%.

• Cut regulation of industries- Pro-Business• Increase consumer spending

Did Reaganomics Work?

• In 1983, inflation rates dropped from 13.5% to around 5%.

• Reduced growth of government spending and marginal tax rates on income from both labor and capital.

• Regulations on businesses were decreased. • Inflation was curved by controlling money

supply.• Whether it worked or not is all based on opinion.

Reagan’s foreign policy

Different from the policy by his predecessors Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter, president Reagan pursued a determined and definite policy to prevent the spread of communism

Reagan Doctrine• In a policy which became known as the

Reagan Doctrine, Reagan supported anti-communist groups around the world.

• He supported the "freedom fighters" such as the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and the RENAMO in Mozambique by providing money and supplies to groups who fought against any communist style government in power.

• The Administration implemented a new policy towards the Soviet Union to on many fronts.

• decrease Soviet access to high technology

• depress the value of Soviet commodities on the world market

• increase American defense expenses to strengthen the U.S. negotiating position

• force the Soviets to devote more of their economic resources to defense.

Dealing with the Soviet Union

Military build-up• In order to prevent the

spread of communism, president Reagan buildup U.S. military power to challenge the Soviet Union

• Between 1981 and 1985,the national budget grew from $150 billion to $250 billion.

• The building of nuclear weapons consumed most of the budget between 1981 and 1985.

• One of Reagan's most controversial proposals was the

Strategic Defense Initiative,

also called the “Star Wars”.

The “Star Wars”

• Reagan believed this defense shield could make nuclear war impossible.

• But many opponents argued that this technological objective

was unattainable, and

the attempt would likely

accelerate the arms

race.

Easing of the cold war• In 1985, Mikhail Gorbechev became the

leader of the Soviet Union • He actively sought both political and economic reform in the USSR as well as an easing of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.

• Reagan quickly responded in kind.

• In 1987 Gorbechev agreed to withdraw most of its nuclear weapons and troops from the Soviet-controlled states in Eastern Europe

• Gorbechev also agreed to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

• Reagan eventually abandoned his Star Wars plans and agreed to reduce the number of American nuclear weapons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8

1980 Olympic Boycott

• In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan• Jimmy Carter wrote an ultimatum that stated the US would boycott

the Moscow Olympics if they did not leave within one month.• Japan, West Germany, China, The Philippines, Argentina, and

Canada took part in the boycott• United Kingdom, France, and Australia supported the boycott but

allowed their athletes to participate in the Olympics• Did not stop the Soviet Union but did ruin the effect of the games

Factors leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union/ End of Cold War

1). Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms (new leader of the Soviet Union in 1985)

2). Soviet Union used a plan of non-intervention in Eastern Europe

3). Soviet Union spent all their money on weapons, ignoring their economy

4). President Reagan’s tactics as president

5). Nationalist independence movements throughout the Soviet Union

Collapse of the Soviet Union/ End of Cold War

Gorbachev’s reforms • Soviet Union faced many challenges: failing economy, repressive political system & heavy

military costs– As a result: Gorbachev issued new initiatives to try to improve the Soviet Union

• 1). Glasnost- gave more freedom to the Soviets, allowing people to speak up and give opinions about the government; policy of “openness” allowing transparency in Government activity. Soviet’s now openly criticized Gorbachev

• 2). Perestroika- plan to restructure Soviet economy and government (economic, political, social)

• These reforms gave the Soviet People more freedom, hence weakening the Soviet Union’s government

Non-Intervention/ Failing Economy• Soviet Union faced a failing economy as a result of maintaining its military• As a result of the bad economy, the Soviet Union could not afford the costs of propping up other

communist governments; adopted policy of non-intervention in Eastern Europe• Pro democracy demonstrations broke out in East Germany in fall of 1989

– Berlin Wall fell in 1989 - 10’s of thousands E. Germans fled to West Germany through Hungary – No intervention from Gorbachev to promote communism

Collapse of the Soviet Union/ End of Cold War

• Poland and Hungary held free elections, and the communist governments in Czechoslovakia and Romania fell, but the Soviet Union did nothing to intervene and promote communism.

• Gorbachev resigned as president on December 25 as a result of the attempts by Communist-hardliners to oust him. (On Dec 1, Ukrainians voted for independence)

• Presidents of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine declared the Soviet Union "ceasing its existence) and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - a loose confederation

• Former Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova,, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan joined the CIS –

• Soviet Empire falls in December 1989

The Iran-Contra Affair

The Origin• The scandal began as an operation to free seven American

hostages being held by a terrorist group with Iranian ties connected to the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution . It was planned that Israel would ship weapons to Iran , and then the U.S. would resupply Israel and receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to do everything in their power to achieve the release of six U.S. hostages. The plan deteriorated into an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages. Large modifications to the plan were devised by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National security council in late 1985, in which a portion of the proceeds from the weapon sales was diverted to fund anti-Sandinista and anti-communist rebels, or Contras, in Nicaragua

• August 20, 1985. 96 TOW anti-tank missiles• September 14, 1985. 408 more TOWs• November 24, 1985. 18 Hawk anti-aircraft

missiles• February 17, 1986. 500 TOWs• February 27, 1986. 500 TOWs• May 24, 1986. 508 TOWs, 240 Hawk spare

parts• August 4, 1986. More Hawk spares• October 28, 1986. 500 TOWs

• Contra militants based in Honduras waged a guerilla war to topple the government of Nicaragua . The Contras' form of warfare was "one of consistent and bloody abuse of human rights, of murder, torture, mutilation, rape, arson, destruction and kidnapping." The "Contras systematically engage in violent abuses... so prevalent that these may be said to be their principal means of waging war." A Human Rights Watch report found that the Contras were guilty of targeting health care clinics and health care workers for assassination; kidnapping civilians; torturing and executing civilians, including children, who were captured in combat; raping women; indiscriminately attacking civilians and civilian homes; seizing civilian property; and burning civilian houses.

• Robert McFarlane resigned on December 5, 1985, citing that he wanted to spend more time with his family ;he was replaced by Admiral John Poindexter.

• Two days later, Reagan met with his advisors at the White House, where a new plan was introduced. This one called for a slight change in the arms transactions: instead of the weapons going to the "moderate" Iranian group, they would go to "moderate" Iranian army leaders. As the weapons were delivered from Israel by air, the hostages held by Hezbollah would be released. Israel would still pay the United States for reimbursing the weapons.

• On the day of McFarlane's resignation, Oliver North, a military aide to the United States National Security Council (NSC), proposed a new plan for selling arms to Iran, which included two major adjustments: instead of selling arms through Israel, the sale was to be direct, and a portion of the proceeds would go to Contras, or Nicaraguan guerilla fighters opposed to communism, at a markup. North proposed a $15 million markup, while contracted arms broker Ghorbanifar added a 41% markup of his own. Other members of the NSC were in favor of North's plan; with large support, Poindexter authorized it without notifying President Reagan, and it went into effect.

• After a leak by Iranian Mehdi Hashemi, the Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa exposed the arrangement on November 3, 1986. This was the first public reporting of the weapons-for-hostages deal. The operation was discovered only after an airlift of guns was downed over Nicaragua. Eugene Hasenfus, who was captured by Nicaraguan authorities, initially alleged in a press conference on Nicaraguan soil that two of his coworkers, Max Gomez and Ramon Medina, worked for the Central Intelligence Agency . He later said he did not know whether they did or not.

• "My purpose was... to send a signal that the United States was prepared to replace the animosity between [the U.S. and Iran] with a new relationship... At the same time we undertook this initiative, we made clear that Iran must oppose all forms of international terrorism as a condition of progress in our relationship. The most significant step which Iran could take, we indicated, would be to use its influence in Lebanon to secure the release of all hostages held there."

• On November 25, 1986, President Reagan announced the creation of a Special Review Board to look into the matter; the following day, he appointed former Senator John Tower, former Secretary of State Edmund Muskie, and former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft to serve as members. This Presidential Commission took effect on December 1 and became known as the "Tower Commission". The main objectives of the commission were to inquire into "the circumstances surrounding the Iran-Contra matter, other case studies that might reveal strengths and weaknesses in the operation of the National Security Council system under stress, and the manner in which that system has served eight different Presidents since its inception in 1947." The commission was the first presidential commission to review and evaluate the National Security Council.

• President Reagan appeared before the Tower Commission on December 2, 1986, to answer questions regarding his involvement in the affair. When asked about his role in authorizing the arms deals, he first stated that he had; later, he appeared to contradict himself by stating that he had no recollection of doing so . In his 1990 autobiography, An American Life, Reagan acknowledges authorizing the shipments to Israel.

• The report published by the Tower Commission was delivered to the President on

February 26, 1987. The Commission had interviewed 80 witnesses to the scheme , including Reagan.

• Oliver North and John Poindexter were indicted on multiple charges on March 16, 1988. North, indicted on 16 counts, was found guilty by a jury of three minor counts. The convictions were vacated on appeal on the grounds that North's Fifth Amendment rights may have been violated by the indirect use of his testimony to Congress which had been given under a grant of immunity. In 1990, Poindexter was convicted on several felony counts of conspiracy, lying to Congress, obstruction of justice, and altering and destroying documents pertinent to the investigation. His convictions were also overturned on appeal on similar grounds. Arthur L. Liman served as chief counsel for the Senate during the Iran-Contra Scandal

• The 100th Congress formed a joint committee and held hearings in mid 1987. Transcripts were published as: Iran-Contra Investigation: Joint Hearings Before the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition and the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran (US GPO 1987-88). A closed Executive Session heard classified testimony from North & Poindexter; this transcript was published in a redacted format. The joint committee's final report was Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair With Supplemental, Minority, and Additional Views (US GPO Nov 17 1987) The records of the committee are at the National Archives, but many are still non-public.

• Testimony was also heard before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Permanent Select

Committee on Intelligence, and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and can be found in the Congressional Record for those bodies. The Senate Intelligence Committee produced two reports: Preliminary Inquiry into the Sale of Arms to Iran and Possible Diversion of Funds to the Nicaraguan Resistance (February 2, 1987) and Were Relevant Documents Withheld from the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair? (June 1989).

• The Tower Commission Report was published as the Report of the President's Special Review Board. US GPO Feb 26 1987. It was also published as The Tower Commission Report, Bantam Books, 1987, ISBN 0-553-26968-2

• The Office of Independent Counsel/Walsh investigation produced four interim reports to

Congress. Its final report was published as the Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters. Walsh's records are available at the National Archives.

Historic Events • Challenger Disaster (Jan 28, 1986)

– Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing the seven crew members inside

• O-ring seal in right rocket booster failed at liftoff breech in SRB joint pressurized gas from within rocket boosters separated the SRB attachment which led to a structural failure. Aerodynamic forces promptly broke up orbiter and the shuttle exploded

• Crew member Christa McAuliffe was the first member of the Teacher In Space Program

• Extensive media coverage, Reagan addressed the Nation, broadcasted funeral, majority of Americans saw the explosion live

• Caused shock and disbelief, the disaster resulted in a 32-month hiatus in the Space Shuttle Program

• Just Say No Campaign (1986)– Nancy Reagan warned Americans about drugs, discouraged children from taking illegal

drugs by offering ways to “just say no!”– Effects: increased awareness of drugs, decline of use in schools– Criticisms: program was too costly, labeled too simplistic by critics argued that the

solution was just reduced to a catch phrase

• Aids– 1980: April 24, San Francisco resident Ken Horne, the first AIDS case in the

United States to be recognized at the time, is reported to Center for Disease

Control with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). He was also suffering from Cryptococcus

at the time.

– On October 31, French-Canadian flight attendant Gaetan Dugas pays his first

known visit to New York City bathhouses. He would later be deemed

“Patient Zero" for his apparent connection to many early cases of AIDS

in the United States. He died in March 1984

– Rick Wellikoff, a Brooklyn schoolteacher, dies of AIDS in New York City

on December 23. He is the 4th American to have died from the new disease

– At the end of 1981, 5 to 6 new cases of the disease were being reported each

week

– July at a meeting in Washington, D.C., that the acronym AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) was suggested. The CDC used the term for the first time in September 1982

– Paranoia, new virus and little known about it

Inventions and Discoveries

Human Genome Project• The Human Genome

Project (HGP) is an international scientific research project.

• The project began with the result of several years of work supported by the United States Department of Energy in 1984 and 1986

• The primary goal is to determine the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA.

• The program identifies and maps the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional standpoint.

• The United States Department of Energy and the U.S. National Institutes of Health put $3 billion dollars on the program.

• Expected to take 15 years• Not only the United States, United

Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, China, and India also have taken part in the program.

Internet• The Internet is a global system of

interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide.

• In 1982 the Internet Protocol Suite was standardized and the concept of a world-wide network of fully interconnected networks called the Internet was introduced.

CD-ROM

• A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains easily accessible data.

not writable by a computer for data storage and music playback.

The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data.

Windows Operating System• Windows Operating System is a series of

graphical interface operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft.

In September 1981, Chase Bishop, a computer scientist, designed the first model of an electronic device and project "Interface Manager" was started.

• It was announced in November 1983 under the name "Windows"

• Windows 1.0 was released in November 1985

• Windows 2.0 was released in October 1987 and featured several improvements to the user interface and memory management

Cocaine

• Cocaine is a drug that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant.

• Cocaine became world's major drug since 1985

• Although it has been severely prohibited in all countries, its use remains widespread and causes many social, cultural, and personal problems.

Sports of the 80’s

1980 US Hockey Team

• Won Gold medal by beating Finland in the gold medal game

• Beat the Soviet Union 4-3 to get into the gold medal game. Heightened victory because of the Iranian hostage crisis and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

• Coach Herb Brooks. About half of his players were from the Minnesota team he coached in 1979 to win the national championship.

USA victory over Soviet Union

“Nine out of ten time we play this team, the would beat us. But not tonight because tonight is our night, tonight we win.”

Herb Brooks

Michael Jordan in the 80s

• Drafted in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls- was the 3rd overall pick in the draft.

• Reenergized the sport of basketball

• Started a dynasty with the Bulls in the 1990s by winning 6 NBA championships.

• He averaged a little over 30 ppg.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygn-UDgE-FY

From the foul line.

Fashion of the 1980’s• Americans decided they wanted a change many were tired of political protests. We were eager to

feel good about themselves and America

• So.. Consumerism and the desire to become successful heightened in the 80’s

• Shopping malls which first became popular in the 70’s spread across America into cities and small towns

• The credit card became all the rage – an average consumer carried seven cards to rack up debt

• Going to the mall became a favorite leisure time activity– QVC & Home network shopping

• Many fashion trends resulted from people expressing themselves through clothes

Yuppies• People were more focused then ever on how to make money

• M.B.A. (masters business administration): key to success

- high starting salary, consumerism booming=demand for

products

• Yuppies – young urban professionals- people who were

building careers in business/medicine/law

• Dedication to career- high standard of living

• Women were just as prominent in the workplace

• Yuppies wore “power suits” – very conservative

- men: white dress shirt, silk tie, tailored jacket, leather wing

tipped shoes

-women: tailored jacket, shoulder pads, below the knee skirt, white blouse

• Wanted to be recognized as wealth upon appearance- expensive items like Rolex, cell phones, leather briefcase, sleek hair

• Interview with my dad- self proclaimed Yuppie in Houston, Texas– Wore diamond ring on his pinkie as a sign of status, wore Izod brand, expensive watch and car, and only

hung out with fellow yuppies– Worked very hard during the day for Tenneco Oil – many perks and business was booming

• Preppy– Favored by yuppies, appearance of wealth– Visible labels, classic jeans, khakis, long skirts, conservative plaid prints, narrow stripes,

Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein

• Punk– Rebellion against society, Brightly colored hair dye, Mohawks– Mostly teens – black clothing, leather jackets, ripped jeans, many

piercings

• Grunge– Teen fashion– Oversized clothe that looked old, faded denim, tearing shirts,

ragged, second hand, low cost look

• Rapper- influenced– Oversized street clothes, brand name sneakers, baseball caps sideways, sweatshirts

• Madonna- influenced – Big hair, large jewelry, crop tops, lace gloves, pearls, net skirts, crucifixes

• Guys – leather jackets, jeans, cropped beard (George Michael) velvet jacket silk shirts with ruffles, silk headband, makeup (Prince)

Fads• Fitness Craze

– Aerobic exercise classes in health clubs– Tight, neon clothing and accessories – Thought being fit would help in business– Led to a new fashion craze – exercise gear worn as everyday clothing

• 1 piece body suits, stirrup pants, leggings, tights, tank tops, bicycle shorts, jogging shorts, spandex

• Pac- man– Contests, books with cheat codes became best sellers, spent 2 billions to rack up record

scores

• Cabbage Patch Kids– Doll with fat cheeks, pinched nose– Introduced in 1983 – children instantly fell in love with them– Each doll was unique – dimples, pacifiers, hair– Doll came with adoption papers– Millions of dolls sold, stores had trouble keeping

up with the demand– Parents seen running, grabbing, fighting for dolls

• big holiday item

• Slang Terms

– Airhead: A stupid or unaware person; moron, dim-wit

– Bad:   very good, excellent; Cool, Awesome

– Barf bag: A type of insult

– cheesy/cheezy: In poor taste; lame, corny

– choice : extremely cool

– for sure/fer shur: To stress what you are saying.  Usually

in a valley type accent.

– o-rama:Suffix you affix to a word to describe the whole spectrum of the meaning.  "He is a Dweeb-o-rama".  Meaning, you are describing someone that is every sense of that word.

• Popular Toys– Care Bears, Fluffy Dogs, Masters of the Universe (He-Man, Skeletor and Man-at-Arms)

My Little Pony, Star War Toys– Rubik’s Cube: Originally designed in 1974 under the name “Magic Cube” the product was renamed the

Rubik’s Cube in 1980 and went on to become one of the world’s best-selling toys.– Rubik’s Cube was so popular that more than 100,000,000 of them were sold between 1980 and 1982 and

300,000,000 million of them (including imitations) have been sold worldwide.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGM02L8aHyA&feature=related

Music of the 80’s

• Disco was out of fashion

• Rock was very popular

• Soft Rock, Glam Rock, and Punk Rock

• Synthesizers were used in a lot of music which created Synthpop

• Electronic music become popular during this decade too

Major Music of the 80’s

• Michael Jackson became very famous during the 80’s• Madonna and Cyndi Lauper were popular during the 80’s• Rock Groups: Poison, Def Leppard, Guns n’ Roses, Motely Crue

“Second British Invasion”

• The 80’s were known as the “Second British Invasion” because British bands were sometimes more popular than American.

• Duran Duran was a UK band formed in Birmingham in 1978

• Became extremely popularduring 1980’s in the US

• They sold over 100 million • records

80’s Movies

• Brat Pack Films– Directed by John Hughes – Lunched the careers of Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Sean Penn, Nicholas Cage, and Anthony Michael Hall– Films Included: Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, Valley Girl, Porky’s, and Weird Science

• Horror Films– Became more popular during the Decade– A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Poltergiest

• Action Films– The Terminator, Predator, Die Hard, and Rambo

Movies

• Other popular movies included Ferris Buellers Day Off, Footloose, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, Flashdance, The Heathers, and Ghostbusters

• Valley Girl Trailer:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZaRznRmCqc

80’s TV• MTV launched in 1981 and had a huge influence the music industry and still

does

• Popular Sitcoms included: Three’s Company, Cheers, The Cosby Show, Square Pegs, Golden Girls, Roseanne, and Growing Pains

• Popular TV Dramas included: ThirtySomething, Dynasty, Knot’s Landing, Dallas, General Hospital