II. Reagan Years

A. Election of 1980

1. Democrats nominate Carter but high unemployment, high inflation and Iran Hostage Crisis placed his approval rating at 25%

2. Reagan and George Bush gain Republican nomination and create a conservative platform including traditional values, lower taxes and decreasing size of federal government (laissez- fairre)

3.landslide victory for Republicans (91% Electoral College)

B. Domestic 1. Rise of Conservatism

a. movement away from liberal ideas of the 1960s and 1970s b. opposed big government, gun control, affirmative action, favor public prayer and creationism c. followers were known as the “moral majority”; nation was taking a turn to the “right”

2.Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the first women on the Supreme Court

C. Economy 1. “Reaganomics” or “Supply Side Economics”

a. reduction of government spending and tax breaks for the wealthy

b.tax breaks ended the progressive tax and helped create Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals)

c. deregulation allows for more freedom and more mergers between giant international companies d. people were encouraged to buy on credit e. Increases the gap between the rich and the poor

2. Federal Budget a. federal government reduced spending on welfare programs and education; now controlled by the states b. increased spending on military programs (Strategic Defense Initiative- SDI) c. national debt triples to $2.6 trillion

D. Foreign Policy

1. Iran-Contra Affair

a. Reagan helps dictators who oppose communism b.Congress outlaws military aid to Nicaragua

c. US sells weapons to Iran for help in freeing US hostages taken by Arab terrorists; we will use the profits to secretly finance Contras

d. televised Congressional Hearings show witnesses such as Oliver North (NSC Advisor) who claims that Reagan was not involved; Reagan depicted as a hands-off and uniformed president

3. State-Sponsored Terrorism a. numerous terrorist attacks were linked to Libyan leader Mommar Qaddafi b. Reagan authorizes air strike against Libya in 1986

3. US-Soviet Relations

a. Reagan refers to Soviet Union as the “evil empire” during his first term in office; calls for an arms increase

b. in 1985 new Soviet leader Mikhael Gorbachev creates new policy of political openness (glasnost)

c. summit meetings between the two superpowers resulted in the signing of the IMF Treaty which limited medium range missiles