The Reagan Revolution

The Reagan RevolutionThe Reagan Revolution

1981-19931981-1993

Rise of Neo-ConservatismRise of Neo-Conservatism

• 1) Aging of Baby Boomers (Yuppies)1) Aging of Baby Boomers (Yuppies)

• 2) Religious Revival (Moral Majority)2) Religious Revival (Moral Majority)

• 3) Economic Conservatives3) Economic Conservatives

• 4) Foreign Policy Hawks4) Foreign Policy Hawks

Election of 1980Election of 1980

• Democratic ConventionDemocratic Convention– Pres. Jimmy Carter (Ga)Pres. Jimmy Carter (Ga)

•UNPOPULARUNPOPULAR

– Sen. Ted Kennedy (Ma)Sen. Ted Kennedy (Ma)•ChappaquiddickChappaquiddick

Carter v. ReaganCarter v. Reagan

• CarterCarter– PessimismPessimism

• ReaganReagan– Build MilitaryBuild Military– Cut Taxes/Lower InflationCut Taxes/Lower Inflation– States RightsStates Rights– ““Are you better off today, then you were Are you better off today, then you were

four years ago?”four years ago?”

• Reagan (R)- 489/ 51%Reagan (R)- 489/ 51%

• Carter (D)- 49/ 41%Carter (D)- 49/ 41%

Ronald Wilson Reagan (R)Ronald Wilson Reagan (R)

• 1911-20041911-2004

• Illinois/CaliforniaIllinois/California

• Eureka CollegeEureka College

• Movie ActorMovie Actor

• US Army in WWIIUS Army in WWII

• GEGE

• Gov. of California (1967-1975)Gov. of California (1967-1975)

Iran Frees the HostagesIran Frees the Hostages

• Jan. 20, 1981Jan. 20, 1981

• 444 Days444 Days

Reagan vs. StagflationReagan vs. Stagflation

• 1) Cut the Budget1) Cut the Budget– $35 Billion$35 Billion– Social ProgramsSocial Programs

• 2) Massive Tax Cuts2) Massive Tax Cuts– 30% Drop in Top Rate30% Drop in Top Rate– Laffer CurveLaffer Curve

• Supply Side Economics/ Supply Side Economics/ “Reaganomics”“Reaganomics”– Cut taxes for wealthyCut taxes for wealthy– This gives them more money to This gives them more money to

investinvest– And buy fancy stuffAnd buy fancy stuff– And hire peopleAnd hire people

InflationInflation

UnemploymentUnemployment

Assassination AttemptAssassination Attempt

• March 30, 1981March 30, 1981– John Hinckley Jr.John Hinckley Jr.

Reagan vs. the USSRReagan vs. the USSR

• 1) Massive Military Spending1) Massive Military Spending– 600 Ship Navy600 Ship Navy– Star Wars/SDIStar Wars/SDI

• US can withstand massive arms race/ US can withstand massive arms race/ Russia’s economy can not.Russia’s economy can not.

• 2) Oil as a Weapon2) Oil as a Weapon– Convince OPEC to produce more oilConvince OPEC to produce more oil

• 3) Fight the advance of Communism3) Fight the advance of Communism– AfghanistanAfghanistan– El SalvadorEl Salvador– GrenadaGrenada

Election of 1984Election of 1984

• Dem. PrimaryDem. Primary– VP Walter Mondale (MN)VP Walter Mondale (MN)

•““Where’s the Beef?”Where’s the Beef?”

•Raise TaxesRaise Taxes

– Jesse Jackson (IL)Jesse Jackson (IL)•““Hymietown”Hymietown”

• Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (NY)Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (NY)

• Reagan- 525/ 59%Reagan- 525/ 59%

• Mondale- 13/ 40%Mondale- 13/ 40%

Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev

• Glasnost: OpennessGlasnost: Openness

• Perestroika: Free MarketPerestroika: Free Market

• Thaw Cold WarThaw Cold War

Reagan and GorbieReagan and Gorbie

• ““Tear Down This Wall!”Tear Down This Wall!”

• IFN- Bans Intermediate MissilesIFN- Bans Intermediate Missiles

ImmigrationImmigration

• Immigration Reform Act of 1986Immigration Reform Act of 1986– AmnestyAmnesty– Tougher in FutureTougher in Future

Iran ContraIran Contra

• Money for arms to IranMoney for arms to Iran

• Iran uses influence to free Lebanese Iran uses influence to free Lebanese hostageshostages

• Profit funneled to Nicaraguan Profit funneled to Nicaraguan SandinistasSandinistas

Conservatism in the CourtsConservatism in the Courts

• Sandra Day O’Connor- 1Sandra Day O’Connor- 1stst Female Female JusticeJustice

• Affirmative Action: LessenedAffirmative Action: Lessened

• AbortionAbortion– Webster v Reprod. Health Services Webster v Reprod. Health Services

(1989)(1989)– Planned Parenthood v Casey (1992)Planned Parenthood v Casey (1992)– States can restrict to an extentStates can restrict to an extent

Crack and AIDS

•War on Drugs

Election of 1988Election of 1988

• Democratic ConventionDemocratic Convention– Sen. Gary Hart (Co)Sen. Gary Hart (Co)– Sen. Joe Biden (De)Sen. Joe Biden (De)

•PlagiaristPlagiarist

– Gov. Michael Dukakis (Ma)Gov. Michael Dukakis (Ma)

•Rep.- VP George H.W. Bush (Ma)– “Read my lips, no new taxes!”

•Campaign– Snoopy Moment– Dukakis Against the Pledge of Alleg.– Willie Horton

George H. W. Bush (R)George H. W. Bush (R)

• 1924-1924-• CT/TXCT/TX• WWIIWWII• YaleYale• Oil CompanyOil Company• Congressman (1964-1970)Congressman (1964-1970)• UN Ambassador (1971-1973)UN Ambassador (1971-1973)• Chairman of the RNC (1973-1974)Chairman of the RNC (1973-1974)• Ambassador to China (1974-1976)Ambassador to China (1974-1976)• CIA Director (1976-1977)CIA Director (1976-1977)• Vice President (1981-1989)Vice President (1981-1989)

US Wins the Cold WarUS Wins the Cold War

• 1989 Eastern Europe Collapses1989 Eastern Europe Collapses

• 1989 Berlin Wall Falls1989 Berlin Wall Falls

• 1991 Attempted Coup vs. Gorbachev1991 Attempted Coup vs. Gorbachev

Bush and the EconomyBush and the Economy

• End of the Cold War hurts US End of the Cold War hurts US economyeconomy

• Black MondayBlack Monday

• Bush raises taxes!Bush raises taxes!

Panama

•1989

•Op. Just Cause

Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War

• 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait1990 Iraq invades Kuwait

• 1991 Op. Desert Shield1991 Op. Desert Shield

• 1991 Op. Desert Storm1991 Op. Desert Storm– 4 Day War4 Day War– Gen. Norman SchwarzkopfGen. Norman Schwarzkopf

Americans with Disabilities Americans with Disabilities ActAct

• 19901990

• Prohibits DiscriminationProhibits Discrimination

• Clarence Thomas appointed to Clarence Thomas appointed to Supreme CourtSupreme Court

• Senate gives him a hard timeSenate gives him a hard time