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Ronald Reagan: The Transformational President of the 1980s

Explore the impactful presidency of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, from his election victory to economic policies, foreign interventions, Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy, Iran-Contra Affair, anti-drug initiatives, renewal of détente with Gorbachev, and iconic speeches. Reaganomics, "Star Wars," Iran Hostage Crisis, and more reshaped American politics.

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Ronald Reagan: The Transformational President of the 1980s

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  1. President Reagan President Reagan

  2. Election 1980 • Reagan won 91% of the electoral vote • Appealed to Americans with references to the “good old days”

  3. Why Reagan wins • Jimmy Carter was weak and inefficient • Iran Hostage Crisis • “Moral Majority • California goes Republican • “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”

  4. Reagan assassinationAttempt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sHUPdTUmds Secretary of State Alexander Haig “I am in Control” http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/politics/2010/02/20/sot.haig.im.in.charge.cnn.html • Just 69 days into Reagan's Presidency an assassination attempt is made on his life. Potential Assassin John Hinckley Jr. fails to kill Reagan but does wound the President, a Secret Service agent and W.H. Press secretary James Brady

  5. Economy • rapid inflation • Supply-side economics a.k.a. Reaganomics What: • Cuts taxes (especially to the rich) • rich people would reinvest in businesses and hire workers (end regulation) • End the welfare state

  6. ` • Not the movie! • Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)--1983 • Massive satellite defense system designed to shoot down Soviet missiles • Known as “Star Wars”

  7. Foreign Policy- term 1 • Intervention in South America • Stop the spread of communism in to the Americas • Countries like: Grenada, Nicaragua, and El Salvador

  8. Election of 1984 Walter Mondale vs. Ronald Reagan • Reagan won the election with 98% of the electoral vote • First president since Eisenhower to serve a second term

  9. Space Shuttle Challenger • On January 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 76 seconds into its flight. This was viewed live on National TV and later that night President Reagan addressed the American public. • http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7293827n • http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ronaldreaganchallenger.htm

  10. Problems in the Middle East and Latin America • Iran-Contra Affair- 1986 top American officials sold weapons to Iran in order to free American hostages in Lebanon • Money from the sales went to support Nicaraguan contras • What would be the constitutional issues with this?

  11. Troubles elsewhere • Battling the drug trade “Just say no” • Ending apartheid- Economic sanctions on South Africa

  12. Renewal of Détente • Reagan and Gorbachev led talks between the two superpowers • Made possible because of Gorbachev’s new policies of perestroika (free enterprise) and glasnost (openness)

  13. Tear Down this Wall • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8

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