1. Chapter 25 The 1980s

2. 4 Goals of Conservative Less fed. Gov interference in people’s lives
More freedom to state govt’s, business and people
Reduce entitlement programs (food stamps, welfare)
Promote family values and patriotic ideals
Strengthen National Defense
Lower taxes for people and businesses

3. Conservative Coalition: Who?
Business leaders
Middle class voters
Christian Groups
Democrats that didn’t identify with their party anymore

4. 2 major conservative groups
The New Right
Phyllis Schlafly: vocal leader
Formed to oppose liberal changes brought about in the 1960s by the gov.
Moral Majority
Jerry Falwell: vocal Leader
Formed to promote Christian ideals and values
Raised a lot of money to support politicians with the same beliefs through the televangelism

5. 1980 Election Demo: Carter Republicans: Reagan Not very popular
Poor economy, Iran Hostage Crisis
Republicans: Reagan
Actor
Good speaker (GE)
Gov. of CA
Had run in 76
Conservative policy

7. Results Reagan wins in lands Senate was mostly Republican
44 of 50 states
Senate was mostly Republican
What does this mean?
He has clean mandate to do what he wants when he takes office

8. Section 2: Reagan Oldest pres to be elected In office 2 terms
Almost assassinated in one year by John Hinckley Jr.
Popular through both terms
Likeable and charming
George Bush Sr. VP for both terms

9. Economy Recession during first 2 years
A lot of the same reasons for economic problems as when Carter was pres
High energy cost, High unemployment, etc

10. Reagan’s plan Reaganomics 3 major policies it depended on
Cutting the budget of entitlement programs
Impacted lower class big time
Food stamps, welfare, job training
Don’t touch middle class stuff
Soc Security, Medicare, military pensions

11. Increasing spending on National Defense
Def. budget doubled
Started numerous high tech programs
Most ambitious: Star Wars
Missile Defense system
Projected cost Trillions of $
Eventually scaled down a lot

12. Supply Side Lower taxes to help start a cycle Trickle Down
Bank would loan $ to Business
Business would use$ to improve operations
Improved operations would improve supply
Increased supply would lower prices
Lower prices allow for people to buy, but still save

13. Did it work? Yes Lowered unemployment Lowered rates for loans
Lowered taxes
Booming stock market
Except 1987 Crash
No:
Rich got richer
Business sometimes kept money for self
Poor impacted by cuts in entitlement programs
National debt doubled during his first term
Not enough tax money collected to pay for programs

15. Supreme Court 5 consv. Justices appt by Reagan and Bush
1st female ever: Sandra Day O’Connor
Less affirmative action, less legal abortion, etc

16. Deregulation
Having the Fed Govt. allow businesses more freedom to make decisions and encouraging competition
Positive:
Saves the Govt. money
Saves consumers
Negatives
May not always be in the publics best interest
Cutting the power of the Env. Protection agency more pollution
Depletion of Natural resources

17. 1984 Election Demo: Mondale Ferraro Repub: Reagan and Bush
Win 48 states

19. 1988 Election
Dem: Dukakis
Rep: Bush
Wins 41 states

21. Section 3: Social Issues in the 80s and 90s
AIDS:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Virus that destroys immune system
Spread rapidly initially
Awareness and prevention program started to slow it down
Still no cure Drugs used to slow down)

22. Abortion Abortion Still legal 1st 3 months Still Controversial
Pro-Life: people that oppose abortions
Babies can’t speak for themselves
Pro Choice
Women should be in control of own bodies
If abortions become illegal, more women will die from illegal abortions
Specifics vary from state to state

23. War on Drugs Drugs Public started to become openly concerned
Solutions offered
Legalize and tax?
More treatment facilities for addicts
Solutions used by gov:
Just Say No campaigns
In the media, in schools, etc
Drug use declined some throughout the decade

25. Education Govt. stated to become openly concerned by this
A Nation at Risk
Report that said US ed system was behind foreign countries
What to do?
More homework
Longer days
Longer years
Higher pay for teachers
More required core classes
Were recs followed?
Mostly no
Why?
Costs tax money
Parents and students resist

26. Deteriorating Cities Mainly due to white flight Results:
High unemployment
Crumbling Public buildings
No tax $ for public services
Trash collection, Maintenance, etc
Higher rates of crime and drug abuse

27. Women’s issues More politically involved in the 80s and 90s
1st female VP candidate (Ferraro)
Higher numbers in Congress and Cabinet
Salary becoming more equal (75 cents/dollar)
Higher poverty rates for female heads of households
Less alimony and child support rewarded than past
Workplaces begin accommodating women
Maternity leaves, child care, flexible schedule, etc
The govt. cuts funding for these programs though
Women erasing the pay gap:

28. African American Issues
More politically involved in 80s and 90s
Higher voter turnout in elections
Mayors of major cities and members of Congress
1st Black gov. : Wilder VG 1990
1st serious Black Pres candidate: Jackson 1984
Decrease in affirmative action programs
SC rules many as reverse discrimination

29. Latino Issues Fastest growing pop in 80s and 90s Most from Mexico
Most settled in SW US
More politically involved
Higher voter turnout
Congress and Govs
Important issue Bilingual Ed
Wanted to keep their language and heritage
Some people oppose this
Slower to assimilate into US society
Would divide the country

30. Native American issues
Native American Student Organization
Govt. cuts funding dramatically in the 80s and 90s
Need $ for reservation programs
Begin opening casinos
Help some, but does not solve problems

31. Asian American 2nd fastest growing minority during 80s and 90s
Low crime rate, low dropout rate, low divorce rate
Compared to other races

32. Gay Issues Community fighting to be treated equally in 80s and 90s
Mostly successful by 2000
State and National Laws vary

33. The Collapse of the Soviet Union
Why did it happen?
The Economy sucked
High Oil Prices
Needed to spend $ on Defense to compete with the US
Wealthy Western Countries wouldn’t continue to loan the Communists $

34. Leadership change Russia gets new leader: Gorbachev
Glastnost: Openness
Perestroika: Restructuring
Becoming more Democratic

35. How did it happen?
Drastic reduction in active neutral aresenals of US and SU
Begins with INF Treaty
Reduced weapons by 2/3 in 10 yrs

36. Drastic reduction of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe by 1980s
Formerly called satellite nations
Far less troops
More freedom to govern themselves
Most choose democracy
1989 Wall comes down in E Germ
Yugoslavia:
Country splits in 2
Split along ethnic and religious lines

37. Soviet Union splits
14 areas declare their own independence
11 of the areas agree to join Russia and collectively work together for some purposes
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Most areas are slowly transitioning towards Democracy

38. Section 4: The Collapse of the Soviet Union
Why did it happen?
The Economy bombed
High Oil Prices
Needed to spend $ on Defense to compete with the US
Wealthy Western Countries wouldn’t continue to loan the Communists $

39. Leadership change Russia gets new leader: Gorbachev Glasnost: Openness
Perestroika:
Restructuring
Becoming more Democratic

40. How did it happen?
Drastic reduction in active neutral arsenals of US and SU
Begins with INF Treaty
Reduced weapons by 2/3 in 10 yrs

41. Drastic reduction of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe by 1980s
Formerly called satellite nations
Far less troops available to police them
More freedom to govern themselves
Most choose democracy
1989 Wall comes down in E Germ
Yugoslavia:
Country splits in 2
Split along ethnic and religious lines

42. 14 areas declare their own independence
Soviet Union splits
14 areas declare their own independence
11 of the areas agree to join Russia and collectively work together for some purposes
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Most areas are slowly transitioning towards Democracy

43. Less Rigid Communism in China
China opens up more trade with US and others
Starts with Nixon
Improves with Reagan
More freedom for businesses:
3 basic economics ?S themselves:
What to produce
How to produce
Who to produce for
Could also decide prices
Economy did not translate to complete freedom
Tiananmen Square

44. Latin America and US 1980s
US needed to make sure govs. of countries friendly to US
Nicaragua
US helps a dictatorship under Somoza family stay in power for 40 years
Friendly with US
Treated citizens poorly
Led to revolution

45. Nicaragua Civil war in the 1970s with a rebel group called Sandinistas
Carter helped them get power
Provided them with millions to help with human rights
Also got aid from Commies

46. Sandinistas vs. Contras
Regan helps Contras
Wanted to stop Commies
Money and Military support (CIA) even though Boland Amendment forbid

47. Grenada 1983 US invades to stop Communism Army installs new gov
Bit of a morale boost for US
18 US dead

48. Panama 1989 US sends soldiers to capture Noriega
Had been getting money from US
But got too involved with drug trade, and we wanted an end to it
40 years prison: Drug trafficking

49. US – Middle East Not good relations in 80s Problem 1: US and Israel
Problem 2: US support of Shah

50. US-Iran Teflon Khomeini: overthrows Shah Mad at US for helping Shah
Encourages hijacking and hostage taking
US convinces allies not to trade with Iran
White house sells weapons to Iranian rebels and sends money to Nic.
Makes secret deals to free hostages
Iran Contra scandal
No one with any real power is held responsible
Teflon

51. Iraq 1980-1989 war with Iran US needs SA for oil and is an ally
1 trillion $ in damages
US supported Iraq more than Iran
In debt because of war
Invades Kuwait 1990
Needs oil and money
Threatens to invade Saudi Arabia next
US needs SA for oil and is an ally

52. Operation Desert Storm
UN offensive
US heavily involved
100,000 Iraqi deaths
400 US and UN
Hussein surrenders in 6 weeks: Victory for US
Iraqi people suffer
Trade embargo had limited supplies into the country
Many civilians die of disease and malnutrition
Anti American sentiment is common