Essential QuestionEssential Question

What were the What were the important events of the important events of the Reagan and Bush (the Reagan and Bush (the Elder) presidencies? Elder) presidencies?

1980s1980s

Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan Former actorFormer actor

Two term Two term governor of governor of CaliforniaCalifornia

Elected in 1980Elected in 1980

Reagan PoliticsReagan Politics ““In this present In this present

crisis, government crisis, government is not the solution is not the solution to our problem. to our problem. Government is our Government is our problem.”problem.”

Americans need to Americans need to believe in believe in themselvesthemselves

U.S. EconomyU.S. Economy Economy Economy

suffering from suffering from high high unemployment, unemployment, high inflationhigh inflation

Supply-Side EconomicsSupply-Side Economics The economy is The economy is

weak because weak because taxes are too hightaxes are too high

Remove taxes, Remove taxes, businesses would businesses would invest in invest in expansionexpansion

ReaganomicsReaganomics ““Trickle-down Trickle-down

economics”economics”

Keep interest Keep interest rates highrates high

Massive tax cutsMassive tax cuts

ReaganomicsReaganomics Accepted a Accepted a

budget deficit in budget deficit in order to cut order to cut taxes and build taxes and build a strong militarya strong military

Economy going Economy going strong by 1984strong by 1984

Growth of the MilitaryGrowth of the Military American buildup American buildup

might pressure might pressure Soviets to follow Soviets to follow and collapse and collapse communismcommunism

Reagan DoctrineReagan Doctrine U.S. should U.S. should

support guerilla support guerilla groups fighting groups fighting to overthrow to overthrow communist communist governmentsgovernments

AfghanistanAfghanistan

NicaraguaNicaragua

GrenadaGrenada

Iran-Contra Iran-Contra AffairAffair

Government officials Government officials sold weapons to Iran sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the in exchange for the release of American release of American hostageshostages

Profits from the sales Profits from the sales sent to the contras sent to the contras (counterrevolutionari(counterrevolutionaries in South America)es in South America)

Star WarsStar Wars Strategic Defense Strategic Defense

Initiative (SDI)Initiative (SDI)

Development of Development of weapons that weapons that could intercept could intercept and destroy and destroy incoming missilesincoming missiles

Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev New Soviet leader New Soviet leader

(1985)(1985)

Summit meetings Summit meetings with Reaganwith Reagan

Believed the USSR Believed the USSR must reform its must reform its economy or collapseeconomy or collapse

Election of 1988Election of 1988 Republican – Republican –

George Bush Sr.George Bush Sr.

Democrat – Democrat – Michael DukakisMichael Dukakis

Victory for BushVictory for Bush

Cold War EndsCold War Ends Late 1980s – Soviet Late 1980s – Soviet

economy in collapseeconomy in collapse

Gorbachev allowed Gorbachev allowed greater freedomsgreater freedoms

Democratic Democratic governments in governments in Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Cold War EndsCold War Ends Nov. 9, 1989 – Nov. 9, 1989 –

guards at the guards at the Berlin Wall Berlin Wall opened the gatesopened the gates

1990 - East and 1990 - East and West Germany West Germany reunitedreunited

Persian Gulf Persian Gulf WarWar

August 1990 – August 1990 – Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwaitinvaded Kuwait

Jan. 16, 1991 – Jan. 16, 1991 – launch of launch of Operation Desert Operation Desert StormStorm

Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War Six weeks of Six weeks of

missile missile bombardmentbombardment

Massive ground Massive ground attack – 100 attack – 100 hours until Kuwait hours until Kuwait declared liberateddeclared liberated

1992 Election1992 Election Democrat – Democrat –

Bill ClintonBill Clinton

Republican – Republican – George BushGeorge Bush

Independent Independent – Ross Perot– Ross Perot