1. Escalation of the Cold War
Ronald Reagan
Escalation of the Cold War

2. Domestic Policy Reagan gets elected in 1980 when defeats Jimmy Carter
Attacks inflation> blames “big government” and government spending for inflation

3. New Federalism
Giving more control to the states for some welfare programs
Farm Aid: Paid farmers not to plant crops to cut the surplus
Supply-side economics..aka Reagonomics..aka Trickle Down Theory
Tax cuts for businesses and wealthy
Increase the federal deficit…fought military cuts

4. New Federalism “Star Wars” National Security based on a strong defense
Increased military spending
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
Use of ground and space missiles to protect from an attack

5. Foreign Policy Questioning Détente: called the USSR the ‘evil empire”
Poland> US economic sanctions
Brings back détente during his second term
Worried about domino theory in Latin America
Unstable economy right for Communist take-over
Uses military to intervene (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Grenada)

6. Terrorism
Terrorism becomes a major issue thorughout the world as a way to promote a political cause

7. Second Term
Defeated Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro in a landslide victory (525-13)
VP is George Bush

8. Domestic Policy Promised to create a balanced budget by the 1990’s.
Deep cuts in federal programs and tax cuts
Huge deficit mounted due to Reagan’s spending on the military

9. Foreign Policy Iran-Contra Affair
Top Presidential aids sold arms to Iran in exchange for help in freeing American hostages in Lebannon
Money is then given to the Contras (rebels supported by US) in Nicaragua
Reagan denied knowledge at first(said would negotiate for hostages, then admitted something happened
Colonel Oliver North is charged with a crime

10. Foreign Policy Re-opening of Détente
New Soviet leader = Mikhail Gorbachev
Slow ending of Communist USSR
Glasnost
Perestrokia
Several “summits” between Reagan and Gorbachev to reduce missiles

11. Other info War on Drugs: “Just Say No” campaign
1986> Congress imposes strict sanctions on South Africa until it ended apartheid
Nominates Sandra Day O’Connor to Supreme Court: 1st women on the Court
Assassination

13. Assassination
President Ronald Reagan Shot in Assassination Attempt