Reagan and the Reagan and the ’80s’80s

The Miracle on IceThe Miracle on Ice

The U.S. victory over Russia in the 1980 winter The U.S. victory over Russia in the 1980 winter Olympics restored American pride after a difficult Olympics restored American pride after a difficult

decade for the nationdecade for the nation

Rise of Rise of ConservatismConservatism

Conservative ideas gained support for two main reasons

• Some Americans believed that the Some Americans believed that the government’s role in the economy was leading government’s role in the economy was leading

the U.S. towards communismthe U.S. towards communism• Many Americans saw the Cold War as a Many Americans saw the Cold War as a

battle between good and evilbattle between good and evil

Conservative Republican Right

Capitalism

Liberal Democrat Left Socialism

Fiscally: Limited government spending, lower taxes

Socially: Strict enforcement of laws, moral values

Fiscally: Government programs to help poor, elderly, children

Socially: Protection of personal freedoms and liberties

Rise of Rise of ConservatismConservatism

The leading voice of the The leading voice of the conservative movement conservative movement became a former actor became a former actor named Ronald Reagannamed Ronald Reagan

Conservatism Conservatism grew throughout grew throughout

a region of the a region of the nation known as nation known as

the Sunbelt. the Sunbelt. Because most Because most people in this people in this

region are region are religious, the religious, the

area was known area was known as the Bible Beltas the Bible Belt

Ronald Reagan had gained Ronald Reagan had gained popularity as a Hollywood popularity as a Hollywood

movie star before becoming movie star before becoming Governor of California in 1967Governor of California in 1967

Reagan rises to Reagan rises to powerpower

Left, Ronald Reagan with Marilyn Left, Ronald Reagan with Marilyn Monroe; above, Reagan following his Monroe; above, Reagan following his victory in California governors racevictory in California governors race

Ronald Reagan takes Ronald Reagan takes overover

Because people saw Reagan as a Because people saw Reagan as a symbol of hope and pride, Reagan symbol of hope and pride, Reagan

defeated Carter in a landslide defeated Carter in a landslide

People were upset People were upset with Carter over with Carter over

the economy, Iran the economy, Iran hostage crisishostage crisis

Election of 1980Election of 1980

ReagonomicsReagonomics

Reagan brought to the presidency new economic policies, Reagan brought to the presidency new economic policies, advocating a limited government and economic laissez-faire advocating a limited government and economic laissez-faire philosophy. Reagan believed that the government should not philosophy. Reagan believed that the government should not

regulate big businesses that would keep them from prospering.regulate big businesses that would keep them from prospering.

ReagonomicsReagonomicsReaganomics believed in: Reaganomics believed in:

Cutting taxes would help Cutting taxes would help businesses use money they businesses use money they didn’t have to pay to the didn’t have to pay to the government to make new government to make new investmentsinvestmentsIncreasing the growth of Increasing the growth of the business and create new the business and create new jobsjobsMore goods for consumers, More goods for consumers, lower prices, while lower prices, while consumers would have consumers would have more money to spend.more money to spend.

Reagan Reshapes Reagan Reshapes CourtCourtPresident Reagan was able to sway President Reagan was able to sway

the U.S. Supreme Court to the right the U.S. Supreme Court to the right with the appointments of two with the appointments of two

conservatives – Antonin Scalia and conservatives – Antonin Scalia and Sandra Day O’ConnorSandra Day O’Connor

O’Connor was the first O’Connor was the first woman chosen for the woman chosen for the

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Reagan DoctrineReagan DoctrineReagan believed the U.S. should support groups that Reagan believed the U.S. should support groups that were fighting to overthrow Communists governments. were fighting to overthrow Communists governments.

This policy was called the Reagan Doctrine. This policy was called the Reagan Doctrine.

In Afghanistan, Reagan In Afghanistan, Reagan sent aid Afghani freedom sent aid Afghani freedom fighters known as the fighters known as the Mujahedeen, who were Mujahedeen, who were fighting off a Soviet fighting off a Soviet invasion. invasion.

Two places Reagan Two places Reagan implemented this policy implemented this policy

were Afghanistan in were Afghanistan in Southwest Asia and Southwest Asia and

Nicaragua in Central Nicaragua in Central America. America.

Reagan’s involvement in Nicaragua led to a Reagan’s involvement in Nicaragua led to a scandal that came to be known as the Iran-Contra scandal that came to be known as the Iran-Contra

scandal.scandal.

Iran-Contra Iran-Contra ScandalScandalThe Iran-Contra affair The Iran-Contra affair

was a scandal during was a scandal during Reagan’s presidency Reagan’s presidency

over an arms-for-over an arms-for-hostages deal with Iran hostages deal with Iran

in exchange funds for in exchange funds for Nicaraguan rebels Nicaraguan rebels

known as the Contrasknown as the Contras

Members of the Reagan administration secretly arranged Members of the Reagan administration secretly arranged for the illegal sale of arms to Iran in exchange for hostagesfor the illegal sale of arms to Iran in exchange for hostages

The money was then illegally funneled to support an The money was then illegally funneled to support an attempted over-throw of Nicaragua's communist government attempted over-throw of Nicaragua's communist government

Iran-Contra Iran-Contra ScandalScandalThe key figure in the Iran-The key figure in the Iran-

Contra scandal was a Contra scandal was a military aide to the National military aide to the National Security Council, Lieutenant Security Council, Lieutenant

Colonel Oliver North Colonel Oliver North

Democrats called for an investigation and Democrats called for an investigation and wanted to find out if President Reagan knew wanted to find out if President Reagan knew

of the illegal activities, but no evidence of the illegal activities, but no evidence implicating Reagan was ever foundimplicating Reagan was ever found

$$$$$$=

Arms Iran Contras

Hezbollah

No more hostagesNo more hostages

Money

Iran-Contra Iran-Contra ScandalScandal

NicaraguaIran

Reagan wins re-Reagan wins re-electionelection

Reagan’s win in 1984 was the largest landslide in Reagan’s win in 1984 was the largest landslide in U.S. historyU.S. history

Space Shuttle Space Shuttle launchedlaunchedThe United The United

States States launched the launched the

first space first space shuttle on April shuttle on April

12, 198112, 1981

The space shuttle The space shuttle ColumbiaColumbia was the was the first of over 100 first of over 100 shuttle missions shuttle missions

flownflown

Challenger DisasterChallenger DisasterDisaster hit the program Disaster hit the program

on January 20, 1986 on January 20, 1986 when the shuttle when the shuttle

ChallengerChallenger exploded exploded shortly after takeoffshortly after takeoff

The crash killed the entire The crash killed the entire seven member crew, seven member crew,

including teacher Christa including teacher Christa McAuliffeMcAuliffe

Reagan and the Cold Reagan and the Cold WarWarPresident Reagan abandoned the President Reagan abandoned the

belief in détente. He viewed the belief in détente. He viewed the Soviet Union as evil and believed Soviet Union as evil and believed that the U.S. should not negotiate that the U.S. should not negotiate with the Russianswith the RussiansReagan believed the U.S. had to be Reagan believed the U.S. had to be strong militarily to deal with the strong militarily to deal with the Soviet Union. He began a huge Soviet Union. He began a huge military buildup called Star Wars.military buildup called Star Wars.The Star Wars program was a The Star Wars program was a defense system that would shoot defense system that would shoot Soviet missiles out of the sky in Soviet missiles out of the sky in space before they reached the space before they reached the United States. United States.

In a speech at the Brandenburg Gate In a speech at the Brandenburg Gate by the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, by the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987,

Reagan challenged Soviet leader Reagan challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this

wall”.wall”.

Reagan and the Reagan and the Cold WarCold War

Pop Culture of the Pop Culture of the 80s80s

Valley Girl LookValley Girl Look

Original Nike’sOriginal Nike’s

JoggingJoggingChiai PetChiai Pet

Pac-ManPac-Man

Pop Culture of the Pop Culture of the 80s80s

The Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show

Top TVTop TVShowsShows

The A-TeamThe A-Team

Married with ChildrenMarried with ChildrenDallasDallas

Pop Culture of the Pop Culture of the 80s80s Top inTop in

MoviesMovies

Pop Culture of the Pop Culture of the 80s80sTop inTop inMusicMusic