1. What was the greatest achievement of President Carter?
Warm Up
What was the greatest achievement of President Carter?

2. 1980s Pt 1- Foreign Policy

3. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan- Republican elected in 1980, defeating Jimmy Carter
Former film actor, governor of Cali
Showed revival of conservatism and “renewed sense of hope” after problems of the 1970s

4. Foreign Policy/ Cold War
Reagan’s approach to the Cold War: Peace through Strength – huge increases in defense, weapons, and military
Thought weapons increased security by discouraging attacks from Soviets or other countries
Also put pressure on Soviets to increase their defense spending- pressured Soviet economy
Caused huge budget deficits

5. Many say Reagan was responsible for the end of the Cold War
Relations with Soviets improved- Reagan met with Mikhail Gorbachev, the new leader
1989- Berlin Wall fell (was torn down, Germany was reunified as one country)
Credited to Reagan’s defense spending and relationship w/ Gorbachev
Many say Reagan was responsible for the end of the Cold War

9. Why did Ronald Reagan increase defense spending?

10. Foreign Policy
US continued support for Israel- had been pro-Israel since it was created after WWII and the Holocaust
Problem when Israel was created: there were already people living there- the Palestinians- caused a lot of conflict

12. Foreign Policy
Why the US supported Israel: it was a democracy that supported the West (US, Europe) in the Middle East- we needed friends there because many countries didn’t like us
So the US gave a lot of military and economic aid to help them survive
There was strong support from American Jews

13. Terrorism
US involved in Middle East to prevent communism and try to keep the region stable (they have the oil)
Marines in Lebanon – 241 Americans killed when a barracks was bombed in Lebanon in 1983
Marines were in Lebanon as part of a peacekeeping force to contain Lebanon’s civil war
Public pressure led to Reagan pulling all U.S. troops out of the country 4 months after the bombing

15. Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra Affair was the biggest scandal of Reagan’s administration
Reagan supported anti- communist forces called the Contras in Nicaragua
Congress cut off funding for support- so we weren’t supposed to send them any more money or help

16. Illegal activity uncovered- investigation started
Reagan administration continued to fund Contras with money from secret weapons sales to Iran
US sold weapons to Iran in exchange for hostage release, then sent money to Contras
Illegally sent support to Contras against Sandinistas (communists)
Illegal activity uncovered- investigation started
Reagan denied knowledge of it- said people did it without his permission

17. US sold weapons to Iran for hostage release
US sent money from weapons sales to Contras fighting communism
Reagan denied knowledge of it
United States
Contras
Iran

20. What was the Iran-Contra Scandal?

21. George H.W. Bush George H.W. Bush was Reagan’s VP
Elected as president in ‘88

22. Cold War milestones during Bush’s presidency (as a result of Reagan’s policies):
1989 – fall of Berlin Wall & German reunification
1991 – collapse of Soviet Union & official end of Cold War

23. Prior to 1991 Collapse

24. Collapse – New nations created

25. George H.W. Bush
Persian Gulf War- most significant event of Bush’s presidency
Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in 1990 for control of oil
U.N. coalition led by US liberated (freed) Kuwait in ‘91
Saddam Hussein stayed in power but not allowed to have weapons of mass destruction; hostile relationship with US throughout 90s
Bush lost re-election in ‘92 to Bill Clinton due to bad economy

30. Iraq (Saddam Hussein) invaded Kuwait for oil
US sent troops to defend Kuwait
Kuwait was liberated
Hussein stayed in power in Iraq

31. Why did the United States get involved in the Persian Gulf War
Why did the United States get involved in the Persian Gulf War? What happened to Kuwait at the end?

33. What was Reagan’s approach to the Cold War?
Big Idea
What was Reagan’s approach to the Cold War?