Unit 10 Day 77: The 1980’s

Questions of the Day 1. Describe the conservative shift in the 1980s in regards to social and political matters. 2. How did the conservatives of the 1980s deal with the issues of the Cold War? 3. Discuss events that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. 4. What was the overall tone of the conservative movement in foreign policy?

Social Changes Electronic Society-computers have become increasingly important in jobs & education. Immigration/Population ◦ Immigration increased about 500,000 every year in the 1970's. 40% were Spanish-speaking ◦ Population-life expectancy increased, birthrate decreased, divorce rate increased, 1/4 of children lived in single-parent homes. Title IX ◦ Prohibited sexual discrimination at educational institutions. Has led to the expansion of women’s sports programs in the U.S.

Ronald Reagan ( ) Conservatism ◦ The Moral Majority-fundamentalist Christians who wanted a return to morality.  Supported prayer in schools. Americans generally believed that the government wasted money & had gotten too involved. Individuals needed more freedom. They opposed programs like affirmative action (requiring employers to give special consideration to minorities and women).

Ronald Reagan Election of 1980 An effective speaker, Reagan defeated Carter and the Republicans gained control of the Senate.

Ronald Reagan Reaganomics Reaganomics-Economic plan based on supply-side economics: ◦ encouraging businesses to increase the supply of goods. Tax cuts-25% cut in income tax Deregulation-price controls lifted, reserve requirements lowered, public lands were resold to developers.

Ronald Reagan Spending Changes: ◦ Cut in spending in areas that aided the poor ◦ (food stamps, welfare, etc.) Increased spending for military. Results: Increase in budget deficit, growth in national debt.

Ronald Reagan Election of 1984 Reagan defeated Democrat Walter Mondale after he chose Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate (first woman to serve on a major party’s ticket)

Ronald Reagan Supreme Court-first woman (Sandra Day O'Connor), and more conservatives. Clarence Thomas-nominated, accused of sexual harassment, and appointed. Promoted William Rehnquist (most conservative member) to Chief Justice.

Ronald Reagan Soviet Union-Mikhail Gorbachev took over and promoted glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring of society). We signed the INF treaty eliminating some weapons & allowing weapons inspections.

Ronald Reagan Central America: Nicaragua-Reagan gave aid to rebels (contras) and used the CIA to help overthrow Sandanistas. Grenada-Troops invaded to protect U.S. students against communist leaders.

II. Ronald Reagan ( ) Iran-Contra Affair-the government had sold weapons to Iran in their war against Iraq. The money from these weapons was then sent to contras in Nicaragua. All of this was done in secret.

George Bush Political Issues Savings and Loan Industry-The government had helped small banks during times of serious inflation. The government lost large amounts of money. Environment-Exxon Valdez-oil tanker wrecked and dumped 11 million gallons of oil near Alaska.

Political Issues Under Bush Communism-fell apart in Europe and Soviet Union. (Berlin Wall torn down in 1989, represented “end of Cold War”) Tiananmen Square- China, college students protested for democracy and were slaughtered by the military using tanks.

Answer Questions of Day In 2-4 sentences, type your answers to the QOD’s in a word document. Put them in the same document as your “day 76 QOD’s” and dropbox to Mrs. McIntyre! If you finish early, work on review activities on my website (NCFE in 6 days!)