The Bush Years
The Bush Years. Does George Bush continue the “Reagan Revolution”?. 1988 Election. 1988: Election between VP George Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis Critics say Bush to “weak” to follow in Reagan’s footsteps Dukakis argues Reagan ran up debt, Bush has no plan
The Bush Years
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Presentation Transcript
The Bush Years Does George Bush continue the “Reagan Revolution”?
1988 Election • 1988: Election between VP George Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis • Critics say Bush to “weak” to follow in Reagan’s footsteps • Dukakis argues Reagan ran up debt, Bush has no plan • Bush promises a kinder, gentler nation and a no new tax pledge • Bush goes on the attack in campaign commercials • Makes Dukakis seem weak on defense and crime http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1988 Q: What negatives are said about Dukakis in each commercial?
The Bush Presidency • Nov 1988: Bush easily wins the election • 1991: Soviet Union collapses, becomes Russia and 14 independent republics • Bush/Russian president Boris Yeltsin declare end to Cold War • Bush & Yeltsin sign START, which will reduce nuclear weapons by 2/3 – Bush improves relations w/ other E. European nations Panama • Panama’s president Manuel Noriega of drug trafficking • Bush sends army into Panama to capture Noriega
The Persian Gulf War • 1990: Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait • 1991: Bush puts together a multi-nation UN coalition and launches “Desert Storm” • Gen Schwarzkopf & allies win decisive victory of Saddam • Map page 854 • What major targets do Iraqi missles hits? • From what country did the UN coalition invade Iraq & Kuwait? • Where were US naval forces located? • Despite winning the war, years of deficit spending were hurting economy, less defense jobs due to end of Cold War • Bush must raise taxes to pay off debt – costs him 1992 election