Period 9 Presidents

Issues of the 1980s Middle East violence Vestiges of the Cold War / spread of Communism Domestic social revolution versus fundamentalism Domestic high interest rates Globalization

Growth of the ‘New Right’ Originated in 1970s Rise of fundamentalist Christianity Growing public distrust in government Belief that social programs did more harm than good Moral decay? Misguided foreign policy? Growing populations in south and west

President Jimmy Carter 1977 – 1981 Democratic peanut farmer from Georgia Reaction to corruption under Nixon (and by association Ford)

Carter on Foreign Policy Camp David Accords (1977) Iran Hostage Crisis (1979 – 80) Panama Canal Treaty (1977)

Ronald Reagan 1981 – 1989 ‘A New Morning in America’ Perhaps response to radical 1960s Brought together three groups – corporate backers, neoconservaties, and the ‘new right’ Advocated against social programs of Johnson’s Great Society Republican – fiscal conservatism and stern on foreign policy

Reagan continued…. Added more debt to the US than all previous administrations combined. Increased the Department of Defense’s arsenal

Reagan on Foreign Policy Increased spending on military Reagan Doctrine Active support of anti-communist forces Nicaragua (82), Grenada (83) Fall of Soviet Union and collapse of communism Berlin Wall torn down in 1989

George H.W. Bush 1989-1993 Continuation of many Reagan policies Inherited struggling economy of 1990 as a byproduct of the deficit and Reagan’s deregulation of banks Iraq War Operation Desert Storm

Bill Clinton 1993-2001 Al Gore – VP ‘New Democrat’ Advocated socialized health care plan (ultimately failed) ‘Republican Revolution’ of 1994 Balanced budget Scandals – Whitewater, Lewinsky

George W. Bush Election of 2000 September 11th, 2001 Iraq War Deadlocked election - Florida September 11th, 2001 Iraq War Weapons of Mass Destruction Subprime mortgages