1. Ronald Reagan Objective: Analyze the Presidency of Reagan

2. Conservative Movement
As the 1970s progressed, right-wing groups gained strength across the country.
The voice of the conservative movement became known as the New Right.

3. Conservative Movement
Support traditional family values, oppose gay marriage

4. Conservative Movement
Oppose abortion

5. Conservative Movement
Oppose affirmative action policies: those policies forcing employers and colleges to give special consideration to women and minorities, even if they were less qualified.

6. Conservative Movement
Evangelical Christians
Moral Majority

7. Conservative Movement
Promote patriotism and support the troops

8. Conservative Movement
Decrease taxes, decrease regulation of business. More profits for business owners.
Supply side economics or “trickle down” theory

9. 1980 Election
Reagan’s career started in Hollywood, where he acted in 53 films.

10. 1980 Election
As president of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan worked to remove Communist influences from the movie industry.

11. 1980 Election
Reagan appealed to conservative Americans’ traditional values.
Also, the Iranian hostage crisis, a weak economy, and high inflation, hurt Carter’s popularity.

12. 1980 Election
Reagan’s ability to simplify issues, and give clear answers earned him the nickname, “The Great Communicator.”

13. Reaganomics
Reagan’s package of new economic policies was dubbed “Reaganomics” and consisted of three parts:

14. Reaganomics 1. budget cuts
Less government spending on social programs, such as food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, school lunches, and student loans.

15. Reaganomics
2. tax cuts
Less taxes people save more money banks loan more money to businesses business expands, productivity improves, and prices fall

16. Reaganomics 3. increased defense spending
From , the Defense Department budget almost doubled.

17. Reaganomics
Despite these measures, problems continued to plague the economy.
Tax cuts helped the rich, while social welfare cuts had hurt the poor.

18. Reaganomics
Despite large budget cuts, government spending was still greater than revenue received through tax dollars.

19. Reaganomics
By the end of his first term, the national debt had doubled.

20. Deregulation
Reagan sought to reduce the size of the federal government, through less interference and regulation in industry.

21. Deregulation
Eliminated federal health and safety inspections for nursing homes

22. Deregulation Also, deregulated the airline, and banking industries.
Reagan cut the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

23. Other Challenges
Under Reagan, NASA took a hit when the space shuttle, the Challenger exploded mid flight 
Reagan survived an assassination attempt. 

24. His Legacy
According to most ranking systems (liberal and conservative), Ronald Reagan usually ranks between 8th and 25th in terms of the best U.S. Presidents in history. For those who are conservative, he was one of America’s best leaders, pulling us out of recession and winning the Cold War. For liberals, he favored the rich with conservative policies, ran up the debt, and was connected to other scandals.