The Reagan Revolution

1. The Reagan Revolution

2. A Broad New Coalition • Reagan’s race for presidency came at a time of change for America (boisterous freedoms on 60’s and expensive social programs of 70’s) • This widespread support swept Reagan into office with a mandate- an order from the voters-to make changes in the way the nation was run.

4. A new Conservatism • Conservatives believed that the govt. had spent too much of the tax payers money, created bloated, inefficient bureaucracies, and kept the economy from flourishing on its own. • They believed the govt. should withdraw itself from most areas of American life, and businesses in particular should be freed from govt. restraint so they could get more profit. This was called Neo-conservatism

5. The Religious Right Along with Neo-conservatism, Evangelical Christianity gained much popularity during the 70’s. The movement grew rapidly with television ministers preaching to home audiences nationwide. By the 70’s, as many as 70 million Americans viewed themselves as born again.

6. Religious Right cont. • Many evangelicals saw their religious zeal reflected in political conservatism. • Opposed drugs, pornography, and abortion. Believed in free enterprise and a foreign policy backed up by strong military. • Most effective group was the Moral Majority, founded in 1979, by evangelist Jerry Falwell. • The group registered between 2 and 3 million new voters were registered. This group boasted until it was disbanded in 1989.

7. Shifting Political Allegiance • Reagan captured 44 of the 50 states, giving him 489 electoral votes. • The republicans also captured the senate. • Had supporters throughout Great lakes and in Northeast , which was a democratic stronghold. • Supporters were mostly blue collar, and ethnic voters. • Also had every southern state except for Carters home-state Georgia.

8. Reagan + Economics = Reaganomics • Most Presidents followed ideas of British economist John Maynard Keynes, who believed stimulating economy was govt. spending which often required higher taxes. • Reagan replaced this idea with what is called supply-side economics. • According to theory, key to economic vitality was to reduce taxes, especially on big businesses and wealthy individuals which would lead to more saving and investment, which would lead to expansion and more jobs.

9. Reaganomics Cont. • Lowering taxes meant cut in Welfare, food stamp recipients were taken off the list. Cut of public food for children, Medicare benefits were slashed, and unemployed compensation was cut.

10. Recession and Recovery • By 1982, 11 million people were out of work. • This was because the nation’s productivity was at an all-time low since 1940 • Many farmers and business people were in a bind, since they took loans out with high interest during 70’s, and with income low, they were unable to make payments. • In a week of August In 1982, 572 businesses failed, making it the highest weekly total since the great depression. • In the end of 1982 though, the tides turn.

11. Recession and Recovery • Interest rates dropped by about half, which meant companies could afford to invest again. • With inflation going down, people could afford to keep more of their tax cuts to buy houses, cars, and other consumer goods.

12. The Drive to deregulate • Reagan signaled he would deregulate, which meant he gave companies more leeway to operate freely. • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration slowed demands for air bags and tighter fuel efficiency standards. • The Federal Communications Commission took a hands off attitude toward cable television, allowing unrestricted growth in that area. • The airline industry gained a lot out of this because congress began to free the fares and routes of the airways. These price cuts turned into price wars and the effect was that some small communities lost service all together.

13. Reagan sided with businesses Let corporations use public lands for oil drilling, mining, and logging. EPA eased safety checks required on new chemicals and pesticides. 1985, 2/3 of Americans rejected Reagan's approach to environment. The Environmental Rearguard

14. The Reagan Legacy • As the economy recovered from the 1982, the presidency’s popularity soared. • The inflation rate dropped just as the 25 percent cut in income taxes was putting more money into the hands of the consumers. • By the end of 1988, unemployment had dropped to 5.5 percent. Lowest in 14 years.

15. Shortcomings of the Revolution • Reagan’s pro family philosophy appealed to women voters in the 1980 election. • Reagan’s lack of concern alienated many women. • Many peopled feared Reaganomics because its inability to produce a balanced budget. • During 1980 election, Reagan attacked Carter administration for spending $73.8 billion more than it took in a year. By 1985, the deficit shot up to $212 billion. • By the following year, the Reagan administration had run up a greater total deficit than all the administrations in American history combined.

16. A New Orientation on the Supreme Court • Reagan opposed two major Supreme court decisions, the prayer in public schools is unconstitutional and women have a constitutional right to abortion. • 1981, He named Sandra Day O’Connor the first women justice in the courts history.

17. ACTIVITY • Draw out, or write how you think Reagan and his policies affected America for better or for worse.

18. Collapse of communism Chapter 25 Sect.2

19. A challenge for the soviets • Ronald Reagan was a young film maker. • Played the part of a wild west her in movies such as Santa fe trail(1940) and law and order(1953). • 1982 Reagan told an audience that the soviet was the ‘’focus of evil in modern world.’’

20. The arms build up • The united states and the soviet union had maintained a nuclear balance called mutual deterrence. • As long as accurate missiles capable of complete destruction targeted both countries neither nation would ever start nuclear war

21. CONT. • Reagan wanted to develop new weapons and enlarge the fleet • Urged congress to vote funds for an untried system of orbiting satellites that could fire laser beams to shoot down any soviet missiles launch toward u.s • Stratic defense initiative (SDI) • 1993 confirmed Reagan worst fears sov. Installed new representative gov. and jailed members of popular democratic revolution.

22. Soviet president Mikhail gorbachev and president Ronald Reagan

23. A Thaw in the cold war • The intermediate –range nuclear forces (INF) went into effect in June 1988. • Reduce the number of nuclear missiles in each superpowers arsenal. • bush halted nuclear testing for 1 year by ordered destruction of all soviet short range nuclear missiles.

24. The soviet break up • Glasnost- Russian word for a policy of openness • Perestroika- Russian word for restructuring • Eastern Europe changes • A new Germany • The attempted gorbachev coup • Collapse of soviet union

25. Central America • El Salvador controlled by military officers and small group of land owners. • Nicaragua made up of Marxist revolutionaries who called themselves Sandinistas. • Iran-contra scandal. United states officials privately arranged arm forces sales to Iran.

26. The Caribbean • 1957 dr. François Duvalier was elected president • Established himself as a dictator • 1971 Duvalier appointed his son as his successor. Jean-Claude Duvalier

27. The Bush Presidency Chapter 25 section 3

28. Elections in 1988 Bush and Dukakis relied on heavily expert consultants. Bush carried 40 states, with him having 426 electoral votes and 112 to Dukakis. U.S. had to reevaluate diplomatic and military goals.

29. Cont. Election in 1988 • Pentagon ordered personal cuts and other cuts it would save 103 billion over 5 years.

31. The Persian Gulf War • August 1990 Iraqi forces had invaded Kuwait and taken over their capital. • Saddam Hussein threaten half of the world’s oil supply. • January 17,1991 the U.S. military forces air strikes against Iraqi military targets in Baghdad.

32. Cont. Persian gulf war • Feb 24,1991 the allied tanks and personal advanced against Iraqi troops in Kuwait. • Hussein wanted Israel into the war.

33. International Politics • Apartheid- a policy racial segregation in South Africa. • Nelson Mandela was the leader of African National Congress. • F.W. De Klerk got elected president of South Africa in 1989.

34. Cont. international politics • China’s leaders ordered troops to crush a democracy movement in Beijing on June 1989. • 1977 the U.S. imposed an arms embargo for companies. • 1986 the U.S. congress imposed economic sanctions.

36. Battle for Markets • Trade-deficit- a gap in value between a country's imports and exports. • Canada and the U.S. joined Mexico to sign the North American Free Trade Agreement in Aug 1992. • The U.S. leading the most in exporting goods to other nations.

37. Recession Adjustment • In 1991 the economic growth had halted and unemployment was rising. • Global economy- A system of worldwide trade. • Bush proposed a cut in capital gains tax. • Bush agreed to a tax increase with those who are low and average incomes.

38. Wealth and Poverty • Working poor- members of the United States workforce with earnings too low for them to rise above poverty. • Women and children were the poorest. • Poor single parent families increased. • In the1990s 40 percent of jobs that were lost was the white collar jobs.

39. Activity • Draw what the word Apartheid means.