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Essential Question. What were the important events of the Reagan and Bush (the Elder) presidencies? . 1980s. Ronald Reagan. Former actor Two term governor of California Elected in 1980. Reagan Politics.
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Essential Question • What were the important events of the Reagan and Bush (the Elder) presidencies?
Ronald Reagan • Former actor • Two term governor of California • Elected in 1980
Reagan Politics • “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem. Government is our problem.” • Americans need to believe in themselves
U.S. Economy • Economy suffering from high unemployment, high inflation
Supply-Side Economics • The economy is weak because taxes are too high • Remove taxes, businesses would invest in expansion
Reaganomics • “Trickle-down economics” • Keep interest rates high • Massive tax cuts
Reaganomics • Accepted a budget deficit in order to cut taxes and build a strong military • Economy going strong by 1984
Growth of the Military • American buildup might pressure Soviets to follow and collapse communism
Reagan Doctrine • U.S. should support guerilla groups fighting to overthrow communist governments
Iran-Contra Affair • Government officials sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages • Profits from the sales sent to the contras (counterrevolutionaries in South America)
Star Wars • Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) • Development of weapons that could intercept and destroy incoming missiles
Mikhail Gorbachev • New Soviet leader (1985) • Summit meetings with Reagan • Believed the USSR must reform its economy or collapse
Election of 1988 • Republican – George Bush Sr. • Democrat – Michael Dukakis • Victory for Bush
Cold War Ends • Late 1980s – Soviet economy in collapse • Gorbachev allowed greater freedoms • Democratic governments in Eastern Europe
Cold War Ends • Nov. 9, 1989 – guards at the Berlin Wall opened the gates • 1990 - East and West Germany reunited
Persian Gulf War • August 1990 – Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait • Jan. 16, 1991 – launch of Operation Desert Storm
Persian Gulf War • Six weeks of missile bombardment • Massive ground attack – 100 hours until Kuwait declared liberated
1992 Election • Democrat – Bill Clinton • Republican – George Bush • Independent – Ross Perot