1. Essential Question What were the important events of the Reagan and Bush (the Elder) presidencies? What were the important events of the Reagan and Bush (the Elder) presidencies?

2. 1980s

3. Ronald Reagan Former actor Former actor Two term governor of California Two term governor of California Elected in 1980 Elected in 1980

4. Reagan Politics “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem. Government is our problem.” “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem. Government is our problem.” Americans need to believe in themselves Americans need to believe in themselves

5. U.S. Economy Economy suffering from high unemployment, high inflation Economy suffering from high unemployment, high inflation

6. Supply-Side Economics The economy is weak because taxes are too high The economy is weak because taxes are too high Remove taxes, businesses would invest in expansion Remove taxes, businesses would invest in expansion

7. Reaganomics “Trickle-down economics” “Trickle-down economics” Keep interest rates high Keep interest rates high Massive tax cuts Massive tax cuts

8. Reaganomics Accepted a budget deficit in order to cut taxes and build a strong military Accepted a budget deficit in order to cut taxes and build a strong military Economy going strong by 1984 Economy going strong by 1984

9. Growth of the Military American buildup might pressure Soviets to follow and collapse communism American buildup might pressure Soviets to follow and collapse communism

10. Reagan Doctrine U.S. should support guerilla groups fighting to overthrow communist governments U.S. should support guerilla groups fighting to overthrow communist governments

11. Afghanistan

12. Nicaragua

13. Grenada

14. Iran-Contra Affair Government officials sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages Government officials sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages Profits from the sales sent to the contras (counterrevolutionaries in South America) Profits from the sales sent to the contras (counterrevolutionaries in South America)

15. Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Development of weapons that could intercept and destroy incoming missiles Development of weapons that could intercept and destroy incoming missiles

16. Mikhail Gorbachev New Soviet leader (1985) New Soviet leader (1985) Summit meetings with Reagan Summit meetings with Reagan Believed the USSR must reform its economy or collapse Believed the USSR must reform its economy or collapse

17. Election of 1988 Republican – George Bush Sr. Republican – George Bush Sr. Democrat – Michael Dukakis Democrat – Michael Dukakis Victory for Bush Victory for Bush

18. Cold War Ends Late 1980s – Soviet economy in collapse Late 1980s – Soviet economy in collapse Gorbachev allowed greater freedoms Gorbachev allowed greater freedoms Democratic governments in Eastern Europe Democratic governments in Eastern Europe

19. Cold War Ends Nov. 9, 1989 – guards at the Berlin Wall opened the gates Nov. 9, 1989 – guards at the Berlin Wall opened the gates 1990 - East and West Germany reunited 1990 - East and West Germany reunited

20. Persian Gulf War August 1990 – Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait August 1990 – Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait Jan. 16, 1991 – launch of Operation Desert Storm Jan. 16, 1991 – launch of Operation Desert Storm

21. Persian Gulf War Six weeks of missile bombardment Six weeks of missile bombardment Massive ground attack – 100 hours until Kuwait declared liberated Massive ground attack – 100 hours until Kuwait declared liberated

22. 1992 Election Democrat – Bill Clinton Democrat – Bill Clinton Republican – George Bush Republican – George Bush Independent – Ross Perot Independent – Ross Perot