Reagan years
- 1. The Conservative Movement Builds Entitlement programs provide guaranteed benefits to specific groups High cost of programs, stories of fraud upset taxpayers Many skeptic of civil rights rulings like busing over long distances
- 2. The New Right New Right - collection of grass-roots groups promoting single issues Affirmative action - special consideration for women, minorities many say it’s reverse discrimination, favoring one group over others
- 3. The Conservative Coalition Business, religious, other groups form conservative coalition Conservative periodicals, think tanks discuss, develop policies Goals are small government, family values, patriotism, business
- 4. The Moral Majority 1970s religious revival uses TV, radio; strong among fundamentalists Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority - Christians for traditional morals Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority
- 5. Conservative Victories in 1984 and 1988 The Reagan Coalition Reagan forges large coalition of diverse groups business people, Southerners, Westerners, Reagan Democrats
- 6. Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush Presidents Reagan and Bush pursue a conservative agenda that includes tax cuts, budget cuts, and increased defense spending.
- 7. Early Years Reagan, a former movie star, was twice elected governor of California. Election of 1980 – Reagan won a landslide victory over Pres. Jimmy Carter (Dem). He had a total of 489 electoral votes to 49 for Carter.
- 8. Reagan’s Landslide over Carter in the Election of 1980
- 9. Reagan’s Qualifications Ronald Reagan wins 1980 Republican nomination George H. W. Bush is running mate Reagan served 2 terms as governor of California
- 10. The 1980 Presidential Election Reagan runs on conservative issues, weak economy, Iran crisis Called Great Communicator: can simplify issues, give clear answers Gets 51% popular vote, 44 states in electoral race, Senate majority
- 11. “Reaganomics” Takes Over Reaganomics - Reagan’s Economic Policies Reagan encourages private investment by cutting federal government Reagan institutes budget cuts, tax cuts, increased defense spending Maintains entitlement programs that benefit middle class Cuts programs that benefit poor, urban population
- 12. Reaganomics included cuts programs that benefit poor, urban population
- 13. Tax Cuts Supply-side economics holds that lower taxes result in: investment, greater productivity, more supply, lower prices Congress decreases taxes by 25% over 3 years
- 14. Increased Defense Spending Defense Department budget almost doubles; offsets cuts in social programs Reagan asks scientists for Strategic Defense Initiative anti-missile defense system
- 15. The National Debt Climbs Spending outstrips revenues; new 1982 taxes do not balance budget National debt almost doubles by end of Reagan’s first term
- 16. Deregulating the Economy Reagan reduces government by deregulation - less industry regulation increases competition, results in lower prices Cuts budget of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fights pollution, conserves natural resources Interior Department permits more oil drilling, lumbering, coal mining sells millions of acres of public lands
- 17. Recession and Recovery July 1981 - November 1982, worst recession since Great Depression Early 1983 consumer spending fuels economic upturn: more consumer confidence, decrease in inflation, unemployment 1987, market crashes, then recovers, continues up
- 19. The 1984 Presidential Election Democrat Walter Mondale chooses Geraldine Ferraro as running mate first woman on major party’s presidential ticket Reagan, Bush win by landslide
- 20. Election of 1984 During the campaign, Reagan stressed the nation’s econ. growth, the decline in unemployment, and the low inflation rate.
- 21. Economics Plan Congress approved his plan to cut taxes while reducing welfare and unemployment programs. Despite spending cuts, the fed. gov’t still spent more $ than it collected. Budget deficit for 1983 was almost $200 billion. The lowering of tax rates combined with a thriving economy helped reduce the fed. Deficit to 148 billion. A change was made in the Social Security Act raising the retirement age above 65.
- 22. Defense Reagan supported the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a research program designed to develop a space- based missile defense system. Press called the program “Star Wars”.
- 23. Defense Spending Despite opposition, Reagan was able to get Congress to pass his costly defense program. The plan called for a large build-up of missiles, bombers, and other weapons that the Pres. Insisted were needed to meet any threat from the Soviet Union.
- 24. Foreign Affairs U.S. and U.S.S.R. held talks to reduce nuclear arms, but failed to reach an agreement. Reagan then sent missiles to U.S. allies in W. Eur., raising the tensions between the Americans and Soviets. Ronald Reagan speaking in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987.
- 25. Foreign Affairs Several meetings were held with new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. U.S. and Soviets agreed to educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges. Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty to eliminate certain ground-launched nuclear missiles. Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan
- 26. Supreme Court Appointments Reagan appoints Sandra Day O’Connor first woman justice of the nation’s highest court. Ronald Reagan and Sandra Day O’Connor
- 27. Terrorist Attack Reagan sent several U.S. Marine Corp. units to Lebanon to try to reduce the level of fighting b/w troops of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Org. (PLO). A suicide truck bomber destroyed a Marine headquarters bldg. killing 214 Americans.
- 28. A smoke cloud rises from the rubble of the bombed barracks at Beirut International Airport.
- 29. Terrorist Attack Terrorists bombed a German nightclub, killing a U.S. serviceman and injuring others. U.S. said agents from Libya were involved. Reagan ordered air strikes against military and terrorist bases in the Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. 1986 terrorists bombed a German nightclub, killing a U.S. serviceman
- 30. Fighting Communism In the early 1980s, Cuba and the Soviet Union – 2 Communist nations – Were giving war materials to the gov’t of Nicaragua and rebels in El Salvador. The U.S. responded by sending advisers and arms to the rebels in Nicaragua and the gov’t of El Salvador.
- 31. Middle East Iran laid mines in the Persian Gulf to disrupt shipping and fired on American ships and helicopters. Pres. ordered military responses and cut of trade with Iran A warplane from Iraq fired two missiles that struck an American warship patrolling the Persian Gulf. 37 crew members were killed. The Iraqis said the attack was a mistake.
- 32. Photo of the USS Stark after being hit by Iraqi warplanes in the Persian Gulf
- 33. Drugs and Alcohol First Lady Nancy Reagan took a special interest in supporting activities that called attention to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse among young people. The program was called “Just say no”.
- 34. Iran-Contra Affair Reagan administration secretly sold weapons to Iran Used the profits to help Nicaraguan rebels. It was illegal in U.S. to sell arms to nations that supported terrorism. The illegal deal was known as the “Iran-Contra Affair”. Led to criticism of Reagan by Congress but no proof of his actual involvement.
- 35. The Iran-Contra Scandal 1983, terrorists loyal to Iran take Americans hostage in Lebanon Reagan says no negotiating with terrorists; sells arms for hostages Staff divert some profits to Contras; violate Boland Amendment 1987, Congressional committees hold joint TV hearings 1988, several staffers indicted; 1992, Bush pardons Reagan officials