2. Ronald Reagan The Great Communicator

3. Election of 1980

4. Rise of Conservatism The leading voice of the conservative movement became a former actor named Ronald Reagan The 1980 election put a conservative in the White House.. Conservative ideas favor a limited role for government in the economy and in social programs.

5. Ronald Reagan takes over Because people saw Reagan as a symbol of hope and pride, Reagan defeated Carter in a landslide People were upset with Carter over the economy, Iran hostage crisis

6. Ronald Reagan was a former movie star and Governor of California. He pledged to take tough action to improve conditions for Americans abroad and at home. Reagan rises to power Left, Ronald Reagan with Marilyn Monroe; above, Reagan following his victory in California governors race

7. Reagan ‘s First Term Iran-Hostage Crisis On the day of his inauguration, Iran released its hostages after 444 days Reagan Popularity rises to over 64%

8. Reagan proposal for fighting inflation and creating jobs was called “Reaganomics” Budget cuts: social programs, urban mass transit, food stamps, welfare benefits, Medicaid, school lunches, & student loans Tax cuts: pay fewer taxes, they save more money; income tax cut by 25% Reduce government regulation Increase in Defense spending REAGONOMICS

9. Reagonomics Reaganomics believed in: Cutting taxes would help businesses use money they didn’t have to pay to the government to make new investments Increasing the growth of the business and create new jobs If more goods are bought; more goods will be produced and sold.

10. He wants to cut spending on welfare programs, food stamps, school lunches, student loans for college, eliminate most government regulation of business, take the federal government out of the field of education, and balance the budget.

11. Military Build-Up Increased funding for military 1980- 147.2 million 1989- 290.2 million Expanded Navy by 600 ships w/ 15 aircraft carriers Increased nuclear arsenal Beefed up Special Forces (Green Berets, Delta Force)

12. Military Build-Up Increased revenues would pay for the huge increase in military spending that Reagan believes necessary to continue to fight the Cold War.

13. Deregulation Decreasing the role of government in business was another goal of President Reagan. Conservatives wanted to do away with large numbers of regulation for business. This was called deregulation. The Federal Gov. had passed many regulations aimed at businesses with 3 goals: 1. protect consumers from unsafe products 2. ban unfair competition among business 3. to protect workers from unsafe working conditions.

14. Deregulation President Reagan believed that having to obey regulations cost companies money. This money would be better spent creating jobs. He encouraged deregulation in 3 major industries: energy; transportation and banking.

15. Some companies aren’t prepared for the responsibilities that go with their new freedom (no regulation.) Savings & Loan associations, created to lend money to ordinary people to buy houses, make speculative investments.

16. Many of the mortgage banks go broke when the value of their investments falls, in the end the savings & loan bailouts costs the taxpayers an estimated $481 billion. Many of the mortgage banks go broke when the value of their investments falls, in the end the savings & loan bailouts costs the taxpayers an estimated $481 billion.

17. At the same time, libraries, museums, national parks, and other public institutions find themselves with less government aid.

18. Spending on education drops 15 percents. And with the federal government doing less, city and state governments grow enormously during the Reagan years.

19. Reagan Reshapes Court President Reagan was able to sway the U.S. Supreme Court to the right with the appointments of two conservatives – Antonin Scalia and Sandra Day O’Connor O’Connor was the first woman chosen for the Supreme Court

20. Reagan’s Foreign Policy

21. Reagan Doctrine Reagan believed the U.S. should support groups that were fighting to overthrow Communists governments with weapons, money and advisors. This policy was called the Reagan Doctrine. Afghanistan: sent assistance to Muslim fighters opposing the Soviet Army Grenada: Reagan sent troops to the Island when discovered developing ties with Cuba. They overthrew the pro-Cuban government. Nicaragua: Gave support to anti-communist rebels there known as “Contras”

22. Iran-Contra Scandal The Iran-Contra affair was a scandal during Reagan’s presidency 7 American hostages were being held in Lebanon CIA secretly sells weapons to Iran to release the hostages and uses profits to support Contras in their fight against communism in Central America (Nicaragua)

23. Iran-Contra Scandal The key figure in the Iran- Contra scandal was a military aide to the National Security Council, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North Democrats called for an investigation and wanted to find out if President Reagan knew of the illegal activities, but no evidence implicating Reagan was ever found

24. Reagan and the Cold War President Reagan abandoned the believe in détente. He viewed the Soviet Union as evil and believed that the U.S. should not negotiate with the Russians Reagan believed the U.S. had to be strong militarily to deal with the Soviet Union. He began the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or the Star Wars program was a defense system that would shoot Soviet missiles out of the sky in space before they reached the United States. Nothing ever came of it. The program was abandoned in 1990 under President Clinton

25. End of the Cold WAR Reagan spent billions on Defense to bring the Soviets to the negotiation table Changes in Leadership in the Soviet Union Gorbachev comes to power Reagan uses SDI ( Strategic Defense Initiative) to break the back of the Soviet Union Gorbachev begins to make reforms in the Soviet Union (USSR) called Glasnost (openness) for the first time, people can criticize the govt. & make suggestion w/out fear and Perestroika (ownership of private business)

26. In a speech at the Brandenburg Gate by the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, Reagan challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall”. Reagan and the Cold War

27. United States-Soviet Relations Pres. Reagan called the Soviet Union “the evil empire” By 1980 it was a mortally wounded empire. Decades of communist control had drained the strength of the Soviet; economic growth was slow; manufacturing & farming were inefficient & there was shortages of food & basic goods.

28. Reagan & Gorbachev Then something remarkable happens, President Reagan and Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev begin talking to each other. The talk about the dangers of nuclear war, and about grandchildren.

29. Reagan the Cold Warrior is anxious to become a peacemaker. In 1988, Reagan goes to Moscow, this time as a friend of the Russian premier. The two leaders realize they have a chance to change history.

30. They can end the insane arms race that has been so costly to both nations and has affected the whole world.

31. The discussion leads to productive arms- control agreements. Reagan & Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Both nations agreed to destroy some of their nuclear missiles. Gorbachev, who is a communist but also a realistic leader, is aware that Russia needs to change. Gorbachev, who is a communist but also a realistic leader, is aware that Russia needs to change.

32. Fall of the Soviet Union In 1989, the Soviet Union breaks into pieces. Yes, the Soviet Union, the U.S.S.R., the land we call Russia, falls apart.

33. The Soviet Union doesn’t collapse militarily, but, as a political system, communism has failed. The Cold War is over.

34. The burden of ever-growing military expenditures wrecked Russia’s economy. The U.S. was spending trillions on military. http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1985/1101851118_400.jpg

35. How do things turn out for Mr. Reagan? Well, by the end of the 1980s, the United States is the world’s greatest superpower, and very wealthy.

36. But in most inner cities, schools, bridges, roads, and buildings are falling apart. Urban crime is soaring. Some education statistics are in a free fall.

37. Access to good health care is not equal to that in most developed nations. Aids is ignored as it develops into a national epidemic.

38. Programs directed at the poor and middle class are reduced by $41 billion. The gap between rich and poor grows tremendously.

39. Miami Drugs War Miami had become the cocaine capital of the USA.The amount of money produced by Miami's coke industry in the Eighties was unlike anything ever seen in the nation's history. So much cash was pouring into town from the wholesale and retail sectors of the trade that its sheer bulk presented logistical problems for the banks enthusiastically and unquestioningly accepting it. Miami was the murder capital of the United States in the early 80’s, the police department was stretched so thin that they went from requiring that officers had never used drugs to basically admitting anyone onto the force who did not show up with a nose bleed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9OddN29Z4

40. What happens to the national debt? It goes from $383 billion in 1980 to $2.3 trillion in 1988. Reagan’s deficits total more than the deficits of all the presidents before him combined.