The 1980’s
President Ronald Reagan and the
Rise of Conservatism
Ronald Reagan
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Movie actor in the
1940 and 50’s
Governor of
California from ‘67’75
Reagan defeated
Jimmy Carter in the
election of 1980.
Conservative
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Reagan was a
conservative
Republican
In his inauguration
speech he said,
“…government is
not the solution to
our problem.
Government is the
problem.”
Two Views
Liberals
Conservatives
believe in spending on
govt. programs to help
people
Higher taxes on the
wealthy
believe in small govt.
and more individual
self reliance
Lower taxes for all,
wealthy and business
More liberals in
Democratic Party
More conservatives
are Republican Party
Reaganomics
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Reagan believed in
lower taxes and
smaller government
He cut government
programs such as
food stamps and
school loans
He reduced taxes,
especially for the
wealthy
Supply Side Economics
Lower government taxes --> businesses
hire workers--> consumers buy more
products --> Overall economy improves
Reagan’s Foreign Policy
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Reagan believed in
“peace through
strength”
He increased
military spending
and gave aid to
guerrillas fighting
communist
governments
The Reagan Doctrine
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He had the CIA give
weapons to Afghans
fighting Soviet
troops
He also sent money
the “contras,” a
group fighting the
Nicaraguan
government
Star Wars
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Reagan supported a
nuclear missile
defense system
called SDI
SDI, called Star
Wars, was to put
weapons into space
that could intercept
Soviet missiles
Berlin Wall Speech
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Reagan went to the
Berlin and said to
the Soviet leader,
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear
down this wall.”
Arms Agreement
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Gorbachev
promised more
freedom in the
Soviet Union
Reagan negotiated
an arms agreement
with Gorbachev, to
reduce nuclear
weapons
Iran-Contra Scandal
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After Congress
decided no weapons
should go the
Contras in
Nicaragua
Reagan secretly
sold weapons to the
Iran and funded the
contras.
Economic Improvement
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By the time Reagan
left office Americans
enjoyed lower taxes,
and lower
unemployment and
inflation rates
compared with the
70’s.
Adding to the Deficit
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Although Reagan
promised to balance
the budget, the
deficit grew because
he cut taxes, while
vastly expanding
military spending.
Give President Reagan a
Grade
OK, now it is your turn to grade
President Reagan.
Watch the video on Ronald Reagan and
grade him on each of his policies.
George H. W. Bush
Elected President
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Reagan’s Vice
President, George
HW Bush, defeated
the Democratic
challenger for the
Presidency in 1988
(This is President
George W. Bush’s
father)
The Fall of Communism
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The Berlin Wall fell
in 1989
Communism in the
Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe
ended
15 independent
nations formed
End of the Cold War
Persian Gulf War
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Iraq’s Saddam
Hussein invaded
neighboring Kuwait
for its oil
The US formed a
coalition of 29
countries and
defeated Iraqi forces
in Kuwait