Good Afternoon!!! 1.NVC 2.Reaganomics: Good for the Nation? 3.Ronald Reagan’s Foreign Policy Essential Question : Was Reaganomics good for the nation?

CONTROVERSY! Was Reaganomics good for the nation!

Side 1: Reaganomics was good for the nation! Side 2: Reaganomics was not good for the nation! 15 min: both sides read ALL the documents then collect 5 pieces of evidence supporting their side. Be sure to include a short explanation of each piece of evidence as well! 5 min: side 1 presents their argument and evidence, side 2 listens and takes notes. 5 min: side 2 presents their argument and evidence, side 1 listens and takes notes. 10 min: CONSENSUS! Discuss. Was Reaganomics good for the nation?

Reaganomics! Good for America Doc D  Reagan policy worked to slow supply of money and increase demand, inflation decreased and the economy bloomed Doc G  Chart shows economy grew in good ways, went down in good ways (unemployment goes down, etc) Doc A  Deregulation helping create more oil and bring down gas prices Doc F  Tax rate cuts increased incentives for people to work, economy started to grow 4.8% Doc A  explosion of research and new technology Not Good for America Administration cuts targeted families of moderate to low income, these families suffer 70% of budget cuts  families negatively impacted (Doc C) Government lost 718 billion in tax revenue, but spent 2.3 trillion on the Cold War (Doc H +Doc E)  even less money for social welfare Doc E  poor not feeling the love, pentagon is getting the money Doc C  “Rich can get richer by making the poor poorer”  benefit at the expense of the poor

Reaganomics was good for the United States economy. – Strongly Agree – Somewhat Agree – Strongly Disagree – Somewhat Disagree Reaganomics was good for the United States people. – Strongly Agree – Somewhat Agree – Strongly Disagree – Somewhat Disagree

Reagan’s Foreign Policy The Reagan Doctrine – US openly supports anticommunist movements throughout the world Nicaragua Civil War – Reagan has CIA aid Contras (counterrevolutionaries) against Sandinistas (Socialist government) – “The moral equivalent of our Founding Fathers.”—Reagan – “the Contras systematically engage in violent abuses of human rights so prevalent that these may be said to be their principal means of waging war.”—Human Rights Watch – 1984 Congress votes to end aid to the Contras

Iran-Contra Affair Reagan’s first foreign policy victory = freeing hostages from Iran – 1986 report U.S. selling arms to Iran to gain the release of the hostages – Money from weapons sales used to illegally fund Contras against Congress’ wishes Iran-Contra Affair: Reagan administration lies to Congress to cover up, seen as abuse of executive power

Reagan the Cold Warrior Reagan intensifies arms race with Soviets – Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Called “Star Wars” by critics Elaborate space laser missile defense shield Costly, ineffective, and threatened to reignite the nuclear arms race End result = Soviet Union goes bankrupt trying to keep up