Late
th
20
Century
Society
Chris Palkovics, Ryan Kelly, Ryan Rugel, Hannah Moore
Thesis/Theme
• The purpose of Reaganomics, also known as trickle-down economics, was to
provide economic benefits to business and the upper class that would then
benefit the poor and improve the economy as a whole. However his policies
failed. The wealthy benefitted while the lower class remained in poverty. >
Background
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Sunbelt/Snowbelt communities
The Celebration of Wealth
Two Tiered Society
Epidemics
Changes in American Communities
Storyline
• Reagan's presidency was a time of
• “Boom and Bust”: Bust for poor boom for wealthy
• Reagan promoted Americans to gain wealth
• Theme of power and money dominated popular culture
• Americans became obsessed with gaining wealth
• Increased poverty
Outcome
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Increased drug use
Increase in the amount of homeless people
Increase in the spread of AIDS
Increase in poverty
Amount of immigrants increased, most of them illegal
Impact
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Large development in technology
Silicon Valley
MTV: music videos made by Madonna and Michael Jackson
Movement to Sunbelt states caused poverty in the Northern States
Celebration of Wealth
• Theme of money, status, and power dominated popular culture
• Reagan believed that in this country, “Remains a country where someone
can always get rich”
• The rich faired very well, accounted for the majority of America’s net worth
• Other affluent Americans also received increase in income
• Opportunities provide an economic ladder to Americans
A Two Tiered Society
• Trickle-down/Supply Side policies created wider gap between poor and
rich
• Drastic increase in rate of Americans in poverty
• Few new jobs paid over the amount of poverty-level income
• Lower end of gap defined by minorities
• Intercity high school dropouts increase, crime rate increases
• Civil right achievements begin to fade
Epidemics
Drugs
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Arrival of crack
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spreads increasing addiction, distribution, and crime rate
Reagan launches “war on drugs”
Aids
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New medical phenomenon
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Majority of cases within homosexuals
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Ignored by Reagan administration
Homelessness
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Growing numbers in people sleeping in public areas