Reagan/Bush YearsThe Conservative Revolution

Agenda

1. Rise of the Modern Conservatism2. 1980s Election3. Reagan Domestic Policy 4. Reagan Foreign Policy 5. George Bush Sr. Presidency

The Rise of the Modern Conservative

MovementObjectives1. What were the major

political and cultural concerns Americas had during 1970s

2. What were the two major goals of the Modern Conservatives?

1970s Governmental Concerns American Concerns about

1970s Presidents• Energy Crisis• High Inflation• High Unemployment• Iran Hostages• USA tensions with USSR and

Afghanistan

1970s Cultural Concerns American Cultural Concerns

• Roe vs. Wade• Counter Culture

Hippie Movement• Rock music

Openly sexual, drug-oriented, rebellious

• Widespread Use of illegal drugs• School Prayer outlawed• Radical and increasingly violent

student protests• Emerging gay rights movement• Radical feminism• Rising divorce rate• Sexual’ revolution- Birth Control Pill• Said Birth control pill encouraged

promiscuous behavior

The New Right- Modern Conservatism

Restore Christian Values• Televangelism

Christian preachers reached to millions

Demanding change in morality and money for campaign

By 1978, 40% of Americans described themselves as "born again,"

New Government• Cut Government funding social

programs Kill things like

“New Deal”, “New Frontier”, “Great Society”

1980s Election

Objectives1. What made Reagan

such an appealing candidate?

Reagan Promise- A Simple Time Reagan – Bring America to a simple time- Back to the 40s and 50s Reagan was nicknamed the “The Great Communicator” Made things simple His Goals

• Lower Taxes• Smaller Government

Cut Social Programs Less Regulation for Business

• Build up USA military

"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

October Debate Battle between Liberal Left

and Conservative Right Reagan questioned

Carter's competence• Foreign Affairs• Economy• Moral Issues

Carter tried to cast him as a dangerous extremist.

The election came down to a single televised debate in

October Debate Famous Reagan

Comebacks• “There you go Again”• "Are you better off now

than you were four years ago?"

October Debate Clip

Reagan Landslide The election ended in a

landslide victory of Ronald Reagan and the first

A Dramatic Start to the Reagan Presidency

Immediately following his inauguration, • Iranian terrorists

released the American hostages after 444 days of captivity.

• Congress enacted legislation to reduce tax rates by 25% over three years, cut social spending The tax cut was the largest in history.

Reagan Domestic Policy Objectives1. What were the 3 economic policies that

were later nicknamed “Reaganomics”?2. What effects did Reaganomics have on

the economy of the 1980s?

What is Reaganomcis? Based on supply-side economics

• A theory that says breaks for businesses will increase supply of goods and services, aiding the economy

“Reaganomics”/Trickle Down Theory 1. Tax cut for all Americans

Encourage people to spend money and invest into business

2. Cut Government Programs

Limit welfare Reduce unemployment Raise Medicare expenses Cut public services

3. Major tax cut on the wealthiest Americans

Encourage wealthy Americans to:

expand their companies Create new jobs

Recession and Rebound

1st – Trouble Times- In 1982, the worst recession since the Great Depression occurred.

Its going to get worse before it gets better 2nd – Reganomics takes effect

Reagan’s Foreign PolicyObjectives. 1. What was Reagan’s new approach

towards communism in the 1980s and how did he end the cold War?

2. Explain the connection President Reagan had with Iran-Contra Affair?

Reagan and Military Buildup

Sharp increase in military spending = buildup

Government increase in spending 50%

New weapons and new technology

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) = better known as Star Wars• "Wouldn't it be better

to save lives than to avenge them?"

Reagan and the Cold War

New Direction • NO CONTAINMENT- Contain

communism • NO DÉTENTE- Get along with

communism• Reagan Plan - DESTORY

COMMUNISM

Called Soviet Union the “evil empire”

Sent troops or military support to stop the spread of Communism • Lebanon• Libya• Grenada• El Salvador• Nicaragua (Contra rebels

supported by US)

Tear down this Wall clip

New Soviet LeadershipMikhail Gorbachev 1980s USSR was

facing economic and political collapse

Perestroika: Restructuring- Be more like USA economy

Glasnost: Openness- Work to end Cold War

Berlin Wall 1989Berlin Wall Clip

Iran Contra Affair

Background- Revolution in Nicaragua• Sandinista- Pro

USSR

• Contras- Pro USA• Congress passed

laws forbidding president from helping contras

The Iran Contra Scandal1st Government gave

weapons to Gov’t official s

2nd Officials gave weapons to Iran in return for hostages and money

3rd Officials gave money to Contras (Pro-USA)Nicaraguan rebels

4th Win Win situation

Oliver NorthJohn Poindester

ContrasIran

US Government

Hostages

weapons

weapons

$$$$

Democratic Gov’t

Iran Contra Scandal

$$$$

Reagan Public Approval Ratings

Presidency of George Bush Sr. Objectives:

1. How did President Bush handle foreign governments that were inhumane to their people?

2. What domestic events lead to an economic downfall in the early 1990s?

3. Why did many American resent President Bush for the economic fall out?

China and Panama Example

America stands up to bullies

China: Democracy Crushed

Tiananmen Square. • Chinese students called on

their Communist leaders to become democratic

• Tanks surrounded the protesters and opened fire.

• Hundreds of unarmed people were killed in the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Bush announced an arms embargo.

Student Protest Clip

America stands up to bullies

Panama: A Dictator Falls

Colonel Manuel Noriega was a brutal dictator.• The United States tried

to indict him for drug smuggling.

• In 1989 Noriega declared a state of war with the United States.

• Bush ordered an invasion of Panama.

Troops arrested Noriega and took him to Florida.

America wins a War…

End of the Cold War

Reduction of Military• Salt- Strategic Arms

Reduction Treaty Cut nuclear weapons by 50%

USSR Dissolves• Russia loses its

control over the surrounding nations

• USA backs democratic government/Capitalist economy

America Wins a War

The Persian Gulf War

Iraq’s Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990.• United States—who

depended on the region’s oil

• ON January 16, 1991, the U.S.-led force attacked.

• Smart Bomb Campaign Operation Desert Storm was a successful, conventional war.

Gulf War Clip

Economy Falls Apart Major Problems Deficit Spending

• Spending more then you make• National debt tripled in the

1980s- Thanks Reagan!! Oil Prices Hiked

• Persian Gulf War caused an increase in Oil prices

End of the Cold War• Lack of military spending• Military Industry layoff workers

Read my lips no new taxes