The Reagan Revolution and the Fall of the Soviet Union

1. Chapter 36— The Conservative Resurgence 1980—1993 PART 2 OF 2

2. Reagan nominated conservative judges to the federal courts and three Justices to the Supreme Court: Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and Sandra Day O’Connor (the first women to sit on the Supreme Court). Reagan also elevated Justice William Rehnquistto the position as Chief Justice and continued the Court’s move to the political right. The Supreme Court Turns Right

3. The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal revealed in November 1986 and began as an operation to increase United States-Iranian relations, wherein Israel would ship weapons to a moderate, politically influential group of Iranians opposed to the Ayatollah Khomeini. The United States would reimburse Israel for those weapons and receive payment from Israel. The funds then would then be sent to aid the Contras (anti-communist forces) in Nicaragua who were resisting the Sandinistas(communist forces) fighting for control. Iran-Contra Affair

4. The plan eventually deteriorated into an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages being held in Lebanon by Hezbollah. In November of 1986, Reagan appeared on television and stated that the weapons transfers had indeed occurred, but that the United States “did not trade arms for hostages.” Though Reagan supported the Contras, no evidence could be found that he knew the full extent of the plan. Three members of Reagan’s Cabinet were found guilty. Iran-Contra Affair

5. Mikhail Gorbachev was a reforming leader of the Soviet Union (1985—1991) who met with Ronald Reagan to bring about the end of the Cold War. Gorbachev worked to bring changes to the Soviet Union which included Glasnost(openness) and Perestroika(reforms which moved resources from the state to private entities). Mikhail Gorbachev Gorbachev

6. On June 12, 1987, Reagan spoke in West Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate. Reagan’s speech acknowledged Mikhail Gorbachev’s efforts to reform the Soviet Union. Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to showing real commitment by his famous quote: “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” “Tear Down this Wall” Speech

7. In 1988, Gorbachev visited Reagan in the United States and Reagan eventually visited the “Evil Empire” and Gorbachev. Eventually, the Berlin Wall did come down, and the Cold War came to an end in 1991. The End of the Cold War

8. 2. What were the major characteristics of the conservative Reagan Revolution? The Reagan Revolution focused on reducing the size and influence of government. It lowered taxes and limited government intervention in Social Security, healthcare, and education. “The Conservative Resurgence”(p. 3)

9. 3. What were Reagan’s foreign policies, and how did they contribute to the fall of the Soviet Union? Reagan sought to confront communism, and he greatly expanded the United States military budget on programs such as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). The Soviets could not match the United States arms build-up, and their military disadvantage contributed to the fall of communism in 1991. “The Conservative Resurgence”(p. 3)

10. In the 1988 Presidential Election, the Republicans nominated the incumbent Vice President, George H.W. Bush who was riding on the coattails of Ronald Reagan. Bush made a campaign slogan from a speech in which he stated, “Read my lips, no new taxes.” The Democratic Party nominated former Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis. Bush won the election and continued the policies of Reagan and the conservative movement. Presidential Election of 1988

11. Presidential Election of 1988 Presidential Election of 1988 George H.W. Bush Michael Dukakis Dan Quayle

12. Presidential Election of 1988 Presidential Election of 1988

13. George H.W. Bush 41st President 1989 – 1993 Party: Republican Home State:Texas Vice President: Dan Quayle

14. Domestic Formulated a plan to bail out the Savings and Loan industry, when many savings and loans faced severe financial problems. Signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Bush served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), led the Republican Party as its chairman, and was Vice President under Reagan for eight years. George H.W. Bush

15. Foreign Sent troops to Panama in December 1989 to assist in overthrowing dictator Manuel Noriega. Launched the Persian Gulf War in 1991, which united international forces in driving Iraq out of Kuwait. Proposed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1991 between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. George H.W. Bush

16. Education became a political topic as schools in the United States seem be failing nationwide. Students continued to score low on standardized exams and were perceived as unable to compete globally. School vouchers(government checks spent on private schools) were an alternative offered by conservatives to force government schools to improve or loose funding. Liberals argued that it took funding away from government schools and discriminated against poor school districts. Domestic Issues in the Bush Presidency

17. In the early 1980s, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) became a major issue as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)spread originally in certain communities in the United States. By 1990, it had killed nearly 200,000 Americans. Without a cure, Bush began funding for research on the disease which also became a political issue in the 1990s./ Domestic Issues in the Bush Presidency

18. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensured that those with disabilities received the same opportunities in employment and access to public transportation and public places as other Americans. Domestic Issues in the Bush Presidency

19. In 1989, President Bush sent 12,000 soldiers to arrest Manuel Noriega (the dictator of Panama) for drug trafficking in the United States. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Invasion of Panama

20. In the Spring of 1989, Chinese students captured the world’s attention by staging pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square (center of Beijing, China). Many in China and in parts of the world hoped that it meant the fall of communism in China. In June, Chinese tanks rolled into the Square, killed hundreds of protestors, and crushed the demonstrations. Bush condemned the action of the Chinese government and levied minor sanctions against China. Tiananmen Square

21. Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square

22. By the end of the 1980s, economic and political pressure on South Africa’s forced that nation to end Apartheid (oppressive system of rigid segregation) and initiate a series of reforms. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison and met with President Bush, and in 1994, was elected president of South Africa. Changes in South Africa

23. On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein (President of Iraq) invaded Kuwait in an effort to take oil fields. President Bush began building a coalition of nearly 700,000 troops from nearly 40 nations. Planning and leader of the coalition was Colin Powell (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff). Persian Gulf War                                     <>

24. Operation Desert Storm— The name of the United States-led attack on Iraqi forces in Kuwait (January 16, 1991). By the end of February, coalition troops compelled the Iraqi forces to retreat from Kuwait. Despite the victory and President Bush’s approval rating near 90%, Saddam Hussein remained in power. Persian Gulf War

25. Persian Gulf War

26. Operation Desert Storm Persian Gulf War

27. 4. What actions did the United States take abroad during George H. W. Bush’s presidency? Took action to control the flow of drugs from the nation of Panama. Sent peacekeeping forces to Bosnia and Somalia. Suspended the sale of arms to China to protest human rights violations. Initiated Operation Desert Storm to free Kuwait from the Iraqis. “The Conservative Resurgence”(p. 4)

28. 5. How did George H. W. Bush approach the war against Iraq in 1991? Bush approached the war by creating a coalition of many nations that opposed the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He created a limited military action that could be carried out in a short time. “The Conservative Resurgence”(p. 4)