The Reagan Revolution

Rise of Neo-Conservatism 1) Aging of Baby Boomers (Yuppies) 1) Aging of Baby Boomers (Yuppies) 2) Religious Revival (Moral Majority) 2) Religious Revival (Moral Majority) 3) Economic Conservatives 3) Economic Conservatives 4) Foreign Policy Hawks 4) Foreign Policy Hawks

Election of 1980 Democratic Convention Democratic Convention –Pres. Jimmy Carter (Ga) UNPOPULAR UNPOPULAR –Sen. Ted Kennedy (Ma) Chappaquiddick Chappaquiddick

Carter v. Reagan Carter Carter –Pessimism Reagan Reagan –Build Military –Cut Taxes/Lower Inflation –States Rights –“Are you better off today, then you were four years ago?”

Reagan (R)- 489/ 51% Reagan (R)- 489/ 51% Carter (D)- 49/ 41% Carter (D)- 49/ 41%

Ronald Wilson Reagan (R) Illinois/California Illinois/California Eureka College Eureka College Movie Actor Movie Actor US Army in WWII US Army in WWII GE GE Gov. of California ( ) Gov. of California ( )

Iran Frees the Hostages Jan. 20, 1981 Jan. 20, Days 444 Days

Reagan vs. Stagflation 1) Cut the Budget 1) Cut the Budget –$35 Billion –Social Programs

2) Massive Tax Cuts 2) Massive Tax Cuts –30% Drop in Top Rate –Laffer Curve

Supply Side Economics/ “Reaganomics” Supply Side Economics/ “Reaganomics” –Cut taxes for wealthy –This gives them more money to invest –And buy fancy stuff –And hire people

Inflation

Unemployment

Assassination Attempt March 30, 1981 March 30, 1981 –John Hinckley Jr.

Reagan vs. the USSR 1) Massive Military Spending 1) Massive Military Spending –600 Ship Navy –Star Wars/SDI

US can withstand massive arms race/ Russia’s economy can not. US can withstand massive arms race/ Russia’s economy can not.

2) Oil as a Weapon 2) Oil as a Weapon –Convince OPEC to produce more oil

3) Fight the advance of Communism 3) Fight the advance of Communism –Afghanistan –El Salvador –Grenada

Election of 1984 Dem. Primary Dem. Primary –VP Walter Mondale (MN) “Where’s the Beef?” “Where’s the Beef?” Raise Taxes Raise Taxes –Jesse Jackson (IL) “Hymietown” “Hymietown”

Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (NY) Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (NY)

Reagan- 525/ 59% Reagan- 525/ 59% Mondale- 13/ 40% Mondale- 13/ 40%

Mikhail Gorbachev Glasnost: Openness Glasnost: Openness Perestroika: Free Market Perestroika: Free Market Thaw Cold War Thaw Cold War

Reagan and Gorbie “Tear Down This Wall!” “Tear Down This Wall!” IFN- Bans Intermediate Missiles IFN- Bans Intermediate Missiles

Immigration Immigration Reform Act of 1986 Immigration Reform Act of 1986 –Amnesty –Tougher in Future

Iran Contra Money for arms to Iran Money for arms to Iran Iran uses influence to free Lebanese hostages Iran uses influence to free Lebanese hostages Profit funneled to Nicaraguan Sandinistas Profit funneled to Nicaraguan Sandinistas

Conservatism in the Courts Sandra Day O’Connor- 1 st Female Justice Sandra Day O’Connor- 1 st Female Justice Affirmative Action: Lessened Affirmative Action: Lessened Abortion Abortion –Webster v Reprod. Health Services (1989) –Planned Parenthood v Casey (1992) –States can restrict to an extent

Crack and AIDS War on Drugs

Election of 1988 Democratic Convention Democratic Convention –Sen. Gary Hart (Co) –Sen. Joe Biden (De) Plagiarist Plagiarist –Gov. Michael Dukakis (Ma)

Rep.- VP George H.W. Bush (Ma) – –“Read my lips, no new taxes!”

Campaign – –Snoopy Moment – –Dukakis Against the Pledge of Alleg. – –Willie Horton

George H. W. Bush (R) CT/TX CT/TX WWII WWII Yale Yale Oil Company Oil Company Congressman ( ) Congressman ( ) UN Ambassador ( ) UN Ambassador ( ) Chairman of the RNC ( ) Chairman of the RNC ( ) Ambassador to China ( ) Ambassador to China ( ) CIA Director ( ) CIA Director ( ) Vice President ( ) Vice President ( )

US Wins the Cold War 1989 Eastern Europe Collapses 1989 Eastern Europe Collapses 1989 Berlin Wall Falls 1989 Berlin Wall Falls 1991 Attempted Coup vs. Gorbachev 1991 Attempted Coup vs. Gorbachev

Bush and the Economy End of the Cold War hurts US economy End of the Cold War hurts US economy Black Monday Black Monday Bush raises taxes! Bush raises taxes!

Panama 1989 Op. Just Cause

Persian Gulf War 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait 1991 Op. Desert Shield 1991 Op. Desert Shield 1991 Op. Desert Storm 1991 Op. Desert Storm –4 Day War –Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf

Americans with Disabilities Act Prohibits Discrimination Prohibits Discrimination

Clarence Thomas appointed to Supreme Court Clarence Thomas appointed to Supreme Court Senate gives him a hard time Senate gives him a hard time