Ronald Reagan

Conservative Movement New Right New Right Opposed abortion Opposed abortion Blocked federal discrimination laws (states) Blocked federal discrimination laws (states) Viewed affirmative action as reverse discrimination Viewed affirmative action as reverse discrimination Christian Coalition Christian Coalition Alliance of businesses and citizens Alliance of businesses and citizens Decrease government influence, taxes, etc Decrease government influence, taxes, etc Spread Christianity in America Spread Christianity in America Moral Majority Moral Majority Started by Jerry Falwell Started by Jerry Falwell Organization restoring traditional values, based on biblical ideas Organization restoring traditional values, based on biblical ideas

Election of 1980 Jimmy Carter v. Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter v. Ronald Reagan “Ask yourself, Are you better off than you were four years ago?” “Ask yourself, Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Great communicator- charming, actor Great communicator- charming, actor Less government, more values Less government, more values

Who supported Reagan? Westerners- resented federal control of mining/farming Westerners- resented federal control of mining/farming Southerners- favored state’s rights Southerners- favored state’s rights Wealthy- benefited from tax cuts Wealthy- benefited from tax cuts Businesspeople- favored deregulation of the economy Businesspeople- favored deregulation of the economy Reagan-crats- Dems who believed Democrats had become too liberal Reagan-crats- Dems who believed Democrats had become too liberal

“Reaganomics” Cut budgets for welfare programs Cut budgets for welfare programs “Supply-side” economics “Supply-side” economics Few taxes= more saving Few taxes= more saving Banks could loan more to increase productivity Banks could loan more to increase productivity 25% tax cut 25% tax cut Known as “trickle down” economics Known as “trickle down” economics Despite reductions, the national debt doubled Despite reductions, the national debt doubled worst recession since the 30s (10% unemployed) worst recession since the 30s (10% unemployed) Spending spree by consumers helped Spending spree by consumers helped

Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) aka Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) aka Star Wars Space based anti-missile research Space based anti-missile research

Election of 1984 Reagan easily won reelection Reagan easily won reelection Walter Mondale & Geraldine Ferraro Walter Mondale & Geraldine Ferraro 1 st Woman on a major party ticket 1 st Woman on a major party ticket

Shifting Federal Power Appointed conservative judges to Supreme Court Appointed conservative judges to Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist Chief Justice William Rehnquist Most conservative justice ever Most conservative justice ever Sandra Day O’Connor Sandra Day O’Connor First woman on supreme court First woman on supreme court Cut back on Government influence of industry Cut back on Government influence of industry Cut budget on EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Cut budget on EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Sold public lands Sold public lands Allowed potentially dangerous drilling Allowed potentially dangerous drilling

Foreign Policy: Nicaragua Civil War Civil War Carter had supported rebels overthrowing corrupt ruling family Carter had supported rebels overthrowing corrupt ruling family Reagan cut aide (believed new leaders were inciting communism Reagan cut aide (believed new leaders were inciting communism Supported the Contras (new rebels) and send aid without Congress Supported the Contras (new rebels) and send aid without Congress Congress says NO AID FOR 2 YEARS! Congress says NO AID FOR 2 YEARS!

Foreign Policy: Iran-Contra Terrorists kidnap Americans in Lebanon Terrorists kidnap Americans in Lebanon Reagan urged Allies to not help Iran in their war with Iraq Reagan urged Allies to not help Iran in their war with Iraq Reagan secretly sells arms to Iran in exchange for hostages Reagan secretly sells arms to Iran in exchange for hostages Used profits to fund the Contras in Nicaragua Used profits to fund the Contras in Nicaragua Members of his administration found guilty (later pardoned by Bush) Members of his administration found guilty (later pardoned by Bush)

Changes for the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev Starts drastic reforms: Starts drastic reforms: Glasnost- open criticism of gov’t, freedom of press Glasnost- open criticism of gov’t, freedom of press Perestroika- less gov’t control of the economy Perestroika- less gov’t control of the economy Signs INF Treaty- limits nuclear weapons, allows nations to inspect other’s Signs INF Treaty- limits nuclear weapons, allows nations to inspect other’s Fall of Soviet Union Fall of Soviet Union East Germany ends communism, Berlin Wall torn down East Germany ends communism, Berlin Wall torn down Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Hungary, Yugoslavia left SU Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Hungary, Yugoslavia left SU nations leave SU nations leave SU Gorbachev forced to resign Gorbachev forced to resign

China April University students march on Tiananmen Square April University students march on Tiananmen Square Demand freedom of speech & voice in government Demand freedom of speech & voice in government Military sent to slaughter students Military sent to slaughter students Televised worldwide, largely ignored in China (even today) Televised worldwide, largely ignored in China (even today)

Social Concerns of the 1980s AIDS AIDS Abortion Abortion Education Education Urban Crisis Urban Crisis Equal Rights for Women Equal Rights for Women Racial Equality Racial Equality Gains for Latinos Gains for Latinos Gay Rights Gay Rights