1. THE REAGAN YEARS The 1980S

2. The 1980 Election - Pres. Carter runs for re-election against Republican Ronald Reagan - Key issues:the Iran hostages high federal taxes Reagan’s age and health strength of US military - 50% of all registered voters cast ballots - Reagan’s victory seen as victory for conservatives

4. Reagan’s Domestic Policies - supply side economics/ trickle down theory/ Reaganomics - reduced government spending on social programs - was shot in the chest in 1981 by Hinckley - economic recovery begins 1983-1988 - greatly increased military spending; soaring deficit - appoints first woman Supreme Court Justice; Sandra Day O’Connnor - very popular; called “The Great Communicator”

7. Reagan’s Foreign Policies - Reagan saw USSR as “the evil empire” - very concerned over spread of communism in Latin America - sent aid to anti-communist rebels in El Salvador (the Sandinistas) and Nicaragua (the Contras) -sent US Marines to Lebanon as peacekeepers; a suicide bomber kills 241 marines

8. The Second Term - Reagan easily wins re-election over Democrats Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro - supports new B2 stealth bombers and the expensive Star Wars satellite defense plan - Michael Gorbachev becomes new leader of USSR and makes important changes; “glasnost” and “perestroika” - appoints two more conservative Supreme Court Justices - the Iran-Contra Scandal; the “Teflon President” -1987 stock market crashes, partly due to computer trading -1987 INF Treaty with Gorbachev

10. <> Giving his acceptance speech at the 1984 Republican National Convention

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