Reagan’s Second Term

 The Election of 1984 Ronald Reagan would again be the Republican candidate for President. Ronald Reagan would again be the Republican candidate for President. Walter Mondale would be the Democratic candidate for President and Geraldine Ferraro would be the first woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket. Walter Mondale would be the Democratic candidate for President and Geraldine Ferraro would be the first woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket. Reagan was reelected in a landslide with 525 electoral votes to Mondale’s 13 electoral votes. Reagan was reelected in a landslide with 525 electoral votes to Mondale’s 13 electoral votes.

 Second Term Economic Reforms The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985 would be passed The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985 would be passed Provided for automatic across the board spending cuts if the federal budget did not go down by a certain amount each year.Provided for automatic across the board spending cuts if the federal budget did not go down by a certain amount each year. Automatic aspect of the Gramm-Rudman Act would be found unconstitutionalAutomatic aspect of the Gramm-Rudman Act would be found unconstitutional

 Changes in the Supreme Court In 1981, Reagan would appoint the first woman to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor. In 1981, Reagan would appoint the first woman to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor. In 1986, Antonin Scalia would become the first Italian American to be nominated to the Supreme Court. In 1986, Antonin Scalia would become the first Italian American to be nominated to the Supreme Court. In 1987, Reagan would appoint Anthony Kennedy to the Supreme Court after his first two nominees, Robert Bork and Douglas Ginsburg were rejected by the Senate. In 1987, Reagan would appoint Anthony Kennedy to the Supreme Court after his first two nominees, Robert Bork and Douglas Ginsburg were rejected by the Senate.

 Foreign Policy Decisions When Ronald Reagan took office in 1980 he pledged to make the United States “stand tall” in world affairs and that they would take a strong stand against the Soviet Union. When Ronald Reagan took office in 1980 he pledged to make the United States “stand tall” in world affairs and that they would take a strong stand against the Soviet Union. Reagan would call the Soviet Union the evil empire soon after taking office. Reagan would call the Soviet Union the evil empire soon after taking office.

In March 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party. In March 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party. Gorbachev was from a younger generation of Communists who believed that better relations with the United States would allow the Soviets to reduce their burden of military spending and reform their economy. Gorbachev was from a younger generation of Communists who believed that better relations with the United States would allow the Soviets to reduce their burden of military spending and reform their economy.

Gorbachev would initiate a series of meetings and arms control negotiations in Geneva in November 1985 and in Reykjavik, Iceland in October Tensions would reduce between the two countries Gorbachev would initiate a series of meetings and arms control negotiations in Geneva in November 1985 and in Reykjavik, Iceland in October Tensions would reduce between the two countries Gorbachev would encourage Glasnost or openness in Soviet society and Perestroika or economic restructuring. Gorbachev would encourage Glasnost or openness in Soviet society and Perestroika or economic restructuring.

 On December 8, 1987, Reagan and Gorbachev would sign the INF Treaty or Intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement. Eliminated two classes of weapons systems Eliminated two classes of weapons systems Allowed each nation to make on-site inspections of military installations on the other’s territory. Allowed each nation to make on-site inspections of military installations on the other’s territory.

In Nicaragua, the United States would support the Contras who were a group of right-wing rebels trying to overthrow the Sandinasta socialist government of Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, the United States would support the Contras who were a group of right-wing rebels trying to overthrow the Sandinasta socialist government of Nicaragua. CIA started helping the Contras mine harbors in the Nicaragua ports of Corinto and Puerto Sandino. CIA started helping the Contras mine harbors in the Nicaragua ports of Corinto and Puerto Sandino. This was an unauthorized action which led Congress to pass the Boland Amendment forbidding military aid to the Contras for a two year period. This was an unauthorized action which led Congress to pass the Boland Amendment forbidding military aid to the Contras for a two year period.

In 1986 the Iran-Contra affair would surface In 1986 the Iran-Contra affair would surface It was found out that the Reagan administration had secretly sold Iran weapons in attempt to release hostages. It was found out that the Reagan administration had secretly sold Iran weapons in attempt to release hostages. In addition, part of the profits from this sale had been secretly transferred to the contras In addition, part of the profits from this sale had been secretly transferred to the contras Eventually, several individuals were indicted as a result of the affair. Eventually, several individuals were indicted as a result of the affair.

In October 1983, a truck filled with explosives crashed into the marine barracks near the Beirut, Lebanon airport killing 241 Americans. In October 1983, a truck filled with explosives crashed into the marine barracks near the Beirut, Lebanon airport killing 241 Americans. Reagan would decide to pull the U.S. troops out of Lebanon. Reagan would decide to pull the U.S. troops out of Lebanon. In 1987 the United States would put its support behind Iraq in the Iraq-Iran War. In August 1988, Iraq and Iran would agree to a cease-fire. In 1987 the United States would put its support behind Iraq in the Iraq-Iran War. In August 1988, Iraq and Iran would agree to a cease-fire.

 Social Issues By 1980 the United States was becoming more and more suburbanized with cities becoming strained economically as businesses and tax revenue went to the suburbs. By 1980 the United States was becoming more and more suburbanized with cities becoming strained economically as businesses and tax revenue went to the suburbs. Cities throughout the 1980’s struggled to provide basic services like water, sanitation and police protection. Cities throughout the 1980’s struggled to provide basic services like water, sanitation and police protection.

Beginning in 1981 AIDS would rapidly spread throughout the world. Beginning in 1981 AIDS would rapidly spread throughout the world. The first cases of AIDS were first noticed in the homosexual community but were then identified by the mid to late 1980’s in others do to blood transfusions, drug use, and children born to mothers with the disease. The first cases of AIDS were first noticed in the homosexual community but were then identified by the mid to late 1980’s in others do to blood transfusions, drug use, and children born to mothers with the disease. From about 206,000 cases of AIDS had been reported in the United States. From about 206,000 cases of AIDS had been reported in the United States.

In 1981, the first space shuttle flight would occur. In 1981, the first space shuttle flight would occur. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded a minute after takeoff, killing all seven crew members. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded a minute after takeoff, killing all seven crew members.