1. Unit 13: Conservative Resurgence 1980-1992
Reagan & George H.W. Bush Presidency

2. RONALD REAGAN

3. Carter vs. Reagan 1980
afire

4. 1980 ELECTION

5. Reagan Presidency
The 1980s witnessed a resurgence of conservatism- the philosophy uncovered by Barry Goldwater
Reagan believed that the federal government had become too powerful and intrusive, beginning with the New Deal
In order to counter the power in the federal government, Reagan worked to combat unions, reduce taxes, cut government spending, and reduce the amount of government regulations,
while also favoring a strong military establishment.

6. New Right & Conservative Views
New Right: Conservative groups who supported Reagan during elections- including the following:
National Rifle Association: Promote rifle shooting skills
The Moral Majority: Fundamentalist, Conservative Christians
Heritage Foundation: Promote conservative policies– free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, values, & a strong national defense

7. SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR becomes first woman Justice on the Supreme Court

8. REAGANOMICS
1980, still facing stagflation (high unemployment, high prices)
Reagan tried to solve the problem with “supply-side economics”
Supply-side economics: reducing taxes & business regulations hoping to make it easier to produce goods.
Economists reasoned the larger supply of goods would drive down prices & stop inflation.

9. REAGANOMICS Cut taxes for the wealthy and big business
Businesses will then reinvest surplus
As a result of the reinvestment, economies and markets will grow
As the economy grows new jobs will be created for middle class
Deregulation of banking and business was also used

10. REAGANOMICS By 1983, the economy began to come out of recession.
Reagan’s tax cuts, deregulation, and military spending encouraged greater business activity, while new supplies of oil from Alaska & the North Sea stabilized oil prices.

11. Negative Side of Reaganomics
Federal deficit (amount of money government spends beyond what it collects in taxes) increased greatly, and the national debt more than doubled.

12. In the late 1980s about 1000 savings and loans banks failed, some due to fraudulent behavior and others because they made too many risky loans
This was called the Savings and Loan Crisis
Critics blamed Reagan’s deregulation policies for the Crisis
To prevent a broader panic, the federal government spent $200 billion to bail out the banks

13. As the number of elderly grew, the Social Security system began to collect less money than it paid out, leading to the Social Security Reform Act of 1983
This raised the retirement age and increased payroll taxes for Social Security
Also, America bought more goods and services than they sold overseas– creating a trade imbalance which led to loss of millions of jobs and drop in income

14. REAGAN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
On March 30, 1981, only 69 days into the new administration, Reagan, his press secretary James Brady, Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy were struck by gunfire from would-be assassin John Hinckley, Jr., outside the Washington Hilton Hotel.
Reagan Became the 1st president to survive being shot and was released from the hospital on April 11, 1981
James Brady was nearly killed and became permanently disabled
He became an ardent supporter of gun control

15. ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

16. REAGAN DOCTRINE
U.S. would not simply confine itself to the containment of Communism, it would also attempt to “roll-back” Communism by aiding anti-Communist “freedom fighters” in Afghanistan, Angola, Nicaragua, & Cambodia
Peace Through Strength: the best way to prevent war was to make America’s enemies think that the U.S. had both the means and the will to stop aggression. To carry this out, Reagan sharply increased military spending.

17. REAGAN DOCTRINE
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): “Star Wars” researching an anti-ballistic defense system—using lasers to shoot down missiles in order to prevent a nuclear attack

18. 1984 ELECTION

19. Reagan Doctrine
Reagan’s 2nd term witnessed the triumph of democracy in many parts of the world.
In the Philippines & Latin America, dictatorships and military governments were replaced by democratically elected civilian governments.

20. REAGAN V. SANDINISTAS
In Reagan’s first term, he attempted to undermine the Sandinista government in Nicaragua by mining their harbors and training freedom fighters in Honduras.

21. BOLAND AMENDMENT
When the Democratically- controlled Congress discovered that the Reagan Administration had been fighting a secret war in Nicaragua, the Boland Amendment was passed. It outlawed any U.S. military or intelligence service from attempting to overthrow the Sandinista communists.

22. INVASION OF GRENADA
Operation Urgent Fury began on October 25, with a mission to overthrow the communist government in Grenada

23. INVASION OF GRENADA The two-month operation was a success
15 U.S. soldiers were killed; more than Grenadian and Cuban troops were killed or captured

24. Threat of Terrorism
Terrorism: use of bombing, assassination, kidnapping, or other acts of terror to ensure a political group’s voice is heard
In 1982, an Israeli force invaded Lebanon, setting a civil war between Christians & Palestinian refugees.

25. U.S. MARINES IN LEBANON
At the request of the U.N., President Reagan sent U.S. Marines into Lebanon to act as peacekeepers during the Israeli-Hezbollah War.

26. HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS
In response to the U.S. presence in Lebanon, the Shiite Muslim terrorist group Hezbollah attacked the U.S. Embassy
on April 18,1983

27. HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS

28. Results of Marines in Lebanon
241 US Marines & 58 French were killed
Reagan removes all forces from Lebanon
Reagan announced that he would not negotiate with terrorists, and even bombed 2 cities in Libya in 1986 when he thought its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, had supported terrorist activities

29. LEBANON HOSTAGE CRISIS
However…
Empowered by Reagan’s decision to pull out the Marines, Hezbollah begins to kidnap Westerners off the streets of Beirut

30. IRAN-IRAQ WAR

31. IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR

32. Iran Contra Affair
In 1986, officials in Reagan Administration acted against the policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists by secretly selling arms to Iran as part of a deal in exchange for the release of American hostages in Lebanon that were held by the Hezbollah.
Profits from sales of arms to Iran were then diverted to support the anti-Communist “Contra” rebels fighting the Communist gov’t in Nicaragua.
This was done even after Congress had prohibited US aid to the Contras.

33. Effects of Iran Contra Affair
When exposed to the public, it shocked the nation. Several officials were convicted of lying to Congress & sent to prison
Iran Contra Affair greatly tarnished America’s credibility in the world, and once again the US citizens question their trust in their government

34. Reagan & the Cold War
The final years of Reagan’s administration, saw the beginnings of the end of the Cold War
Mikhail Gorbachev (head of Soviet Communist Party in 1985) introduces reforms in the Soviet Union, and agreed to meet with Reagan.
Gorbachev & Reagan sign an agreement dismantling thousands of nuclear missiles. (START)

35. 1988 Election

36. 1988 ELECTION

37. GEORGE H.W. BUSH

38. George H.W. Bush Presidency 1989-1993
Bush served as Vice President for 2 terms under Reagan.
Bush promised to continue Reagan’s policies, but with greater emphasis on homelessness, poverty, improving education, and fighting drug use.
Bush’s greatest domestic challenge: reduce the budget deficit. Easing tensions in Soviet Union allowed for cuts in military spending, and Bush increased income taxes on the wealthy in 1990.

39. George H.W. Bush Presidency 1989-1993
Bush made several appointments to the Supreme Court, leading to a conservative majority.
The Supreme Court toughened rules for criminal defendants, reduced the scope of abortion rights, and many other changes
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment & public accommodations.

40. Bush’s Foreign Policy
End of Cold War: , Eastern Europe moved from Communism to democracy.
the Berlin Wall was torn down, and Germany was reunited.
In 1991, the Cold War ends. The Soviet Union dissolved and was replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Russian Confederation
Bush recognizes Russia & new republics and offered them economic assistance.

41. START—Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
START began as a proposal by President Ronald Reagan in
A treaty between the U.S. and the USSR on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms
The treaty was signed on 31 July 1991 by then President George H.W. Bush
This treaty further reduced our “strategic offensive arms” from the amounts set under the SALT treaty
This treaty stated that the United States and Russia would have 6,000 fighter aircraft, 10,000 tanks, 20,000 artillery pieces and 2,000 attack helicopters.

42. Bush’s Foreign Policy: The Gulf War
The Gulf War: 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, capturing its vast oil wealth & extending Iraq’s border.
Hussein refused UN requests to withdraw.
UN forces landed an attack against Iraq.
Invasion succeeded in only a few days, Hussein agreed to remove all Iraqi troops from Kuwait & pay Kuwait for damages.

43. PERSIAN GULF WAR 1990-91 OPERATION DESERT STORM
President Bush put together the largest coalition in world history to liberate Kuwait from invading Iraqi forces

44. President Videos
Ronald Reagan
Reagan Video
George H.W Bush
Bush Video