Reagan & Bush Administrations- 1980s

1. Reagan & Bush Administrations- 1980s Chapter 25- US History

2. It is the autumn of 1980. You are a campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, former film star and governor of California. Reagan must defeat Carter, who has lost support. Carter has failed to bring home the hostages in Iran and to revive the economy. Reagan, an optimist, pledges to do both. He also plans to cut taxes and cut back on gov’t programs.

3. Ronald Reagan (1980-1988) • 40th president of the US • “The Great Communicator”- expressed complex ideas simply • Very conservative (used to be Democrat) • Supported small gov’t and free enterprise • Elected governor of California in 1970 • Election of 1980 • Reagan v. Carter • Reagan’s VP= George Bush • Carter very unpopular for • Iran Hostage Crisis and weak economy

4. Election of 1980- Reagan Wins!

5. The Reagan Revolution and the First Inaugural Address “In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Steps will be taken aimed at restoring the balance between various levels of government. Progress may be slow, measured in inches and feet, not miles, but we will progress. It is time to reawaken this industrial giant, to get government back within its means, and to lighten our punitive tax burden. And these will be our first priorities, and on these principles there will be no compromise.” - Ronald Reagan 1981

6. What did conservatives want? • Had several different concerns with American economics, society, and politics • Government spending too much on entitlement programs • Provided guaranteed benefits to certain groups • By 1980- govt spent $300 billion a year on these • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and growing liberalism • Americans skeptical and uncomfortable with what it would bring • Social and moral decay in the United States

7. The New Right • As the 1970s went on, conservative groups across the country began to support and promote single issues that were in line with conservative interests • Opposing abortion • Blocking the Equal Rights Amendment (feminists supported it, anti-feminists opposed) • Evading court-ordered busing of students to create a certain racial ratio at schools • Opposing affirmative action • Also called for a return to school-sponsored prayer, which had been declared unconstitutional in 1962 • Felt that the country needed more roots based in Christianity

8. Conservatives and Affirmative Action Affirmative action- policy in the United States that is designed to reduce the disadvantages that certain groups such as women, black Americans, or other minorities have historically faced This policy is backed by many federal laws, executive orders, and Supreme Court decisions that require that government agencies, or sub-contracted agencies, follow them …

9. Supply-Side Economics a.k.a“Reaganomics”

10. “Reaganomics” • Would: • promote and create new jobs • encourage capital investment, and • lead to stimulated industrial growth

11. Cutting Government Regulation - “deregulation” • Continued Carter’s programs to deregulate key industries • Removed price controls on oil and eliminated federal health and safety inspections for nursing homes • Cut budget of EPA • Positive result: competition increases and prices are lowered for consumers

12. Increased Defense Spending • Sharp increase in military spending = buildup • New weapons and new technology • Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) = better known as Star Wars • Defense system that keeps Americans safe from enemy missiles • Would cost trillions of $$$

13. Conservative Supreme Court Justices Reagan’s Appointments • Sandra Day O’Connor • First female appt to Supreme Court • William Rehnquist • Most conservative • Still there today • Antonin Scalia • Still there today • Anthony Kennedy • Still there today

14. Recession and Recovery • Consumers go on spending spree= tax cuts, low interest rates, low inflation • Stock market doing well • Unemployment declined • Market drops temporarily and recovers • National debt climbs • $909 billion in 1980 --- $3.2 trillion in 1990 • Federal deficit grew even as domestic spending decreased

15. US Invades Grenada (1983) After noting this Caribbean Island was developing ties with Communist Cuba, Reagan sends 2000 American troops. They overthrew the pro-Cuban gov’t and replaced it with one that was friendly to the US. Reagan declared that this mission was crucial to defending US security.

16. Election of 1984 • People who approved of Reagan’s policies: • Business people • southerners- (welcomed small govt) • Westerners (resented fed controls of mining/grazing) • Reagan Democrats (thought Dem. Party was too liberal) • Reagan and Bush won by a landslide • First female to be on a major party’s presidential ticket • Geraldine Ferraro

17. Iran-Contra Scandal (1985-1986) • Iranian terrorist took a group of Americans hostage in Lebanon • “American will never make concessions to terrorists.” – no selling arms to Iran • 1986 Reagan approved selling arms in Iran • In exchange, Iran promised to release 7 hostages • Part of the profits were sent to Contras in Nicaragua- violation of Boland Amendment • Congress investigates • Found members of Reagan’s administration guilty of covering up the affair • President Bush pardons all who were involved in 1992

18. Reagan and the Cold War • Called Soviet Union the “evil empire” • (1985) Mikhail Gorbachev becomes new Communist Leader in Soviet Union • Soviet Union having problems • Horrible economy • Not able to keep up with America’s defense • Glasnost– Russian word meaning “openness” • Allow criticism of govt and moved toward freedom of press • “perestroika”-restructuring Soviet society • Less govt control, some private enterprise • INF Treaty-(Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) eliminated two classes of weapons system in Europe and make their own on-site inspections of other military installations

19. Election of 1988 • George Bush runs against Michael Dukakis • Bush built on Reagan’s policies • No new taxes, conservative ideals of Moral Majority • Bashed his opponent for being ultraliberal, soft on crime and unpatriotic • Bush wins!

20. Equal Rights Struggle Women African americans • ERA did not pass • Although some women did hold Cabinet positions during this time • Women were still paid less than men (.75 per $1) • 31% of women lived poverty • Pay equity- system where jobs were rated on the basis of the amount of education they required, the amount of physical strength needed, and # of people that an employee supervised • L. Douglas Wilder- first African American governor • Reverend Jesse Jackson- ran for Democratic presidential nomination • Some African Americans saw the backlash of affirmative action

21. More Social Concerns • Drug Abuse • “Just Say No!” Reagan’s War on Drugs slogan • Urban Crisis • High unemployment • No money for health services, homelessness, deteriorating schools • Education • American children CANNOT READ! • 23 million cannot follow instruction or fill out a job application form • Solution: • More homework, longer school days, promote increased pay for teachers, greater focus on English, math, science, SS, and computer science

22. Reagan’s “Berlin Wall” Speech

23. Communism Continues in China • Loosened grip on business and got rid of some price controls • Students begin protesting • Freedom of speech • Greater voice in govt • Tiananmen Square protest- constructed Statue of Liberty • Li Peng- China’s premier crushed the protest • Some students died • Watched on television • “The government has won the battle here today. But they have lost the people’s hearts.”- student protester

25. Problems in Nicaragua • Dictatorship run by Somoza family for 42 years • Rigged elections & assassinated rivals • Most believe revolution would bring this to an end • Civil war ensued between Somoza’s national guard and Sandinistas • Sandinistas overthrew Somoza’s • America sent $83 million in aid (as well as Russia and Cuba) • 1981- Reagan believed Nicaragua was a Soviet outpost and cut all aid • Began supporting Contras (guerilla forces that went against Sandinistas) • 1990- Nicaragua didn’t solve their problems • Contras too weak/divided

26. Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) • Leader of Iraq- Saddam Hussein • Iraq found itself in huge debt after waging wars with Iran • 1990- Iraq forces invaded and looted Kuwait and headed toward Saudi Arabia • Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are rich in oil • Conquered both and controlled 50% of world’s oil • Threatening to US • Bush launched Operation Desert Storm • Liberate Kuwait =successful! • Successful Ground offensive-Saudi Arabia • Boosted American mood

28. Kuwait Liberation Metal

29. Bush Domestic Policies Not successful Hurt by rising deficit and recession Raised taxes (after he promised he wouldn’t) Hurt his popularity 12 year reign of Republicans was over…

30. Overall Conservative Movement • Causes: • Dissatisfaction with liberal policies • Revival of Evangelical Christianity • Reagan as a spearhead of conservatism • Inflation and unemployment • Emergence of the New Right and conservative coalition • Effects: • Republican control of the presidency • Cuts in taxes and government spending • Dramatic increase in national debt • More conservative Supreme Court • Increase defense spending • Deregulation