Reagan/BushReagan/Bush

Challenges of the 1980s Challenges of the 1980s and the Bolshevism and the Bolshevism

Slayers Slayers

Carter’s Carter’s ““malaisemalaise””

By 1978, President CarterBy 1978, President Carter’’s approval s approval rating was down to 29% (lower than rating was down to 29% (lower than Nixon)Nixon)

President Carter and his staff seemed to President Carter and his staff seemed to demonstrate their inexperience in demonstrate their inexperience in governinggoverning

Carter did not seem able to effectively deal Carter did not seem able to effectively deal with the faltering economy and energy with the faltering economy and energy crisis crisis

Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-80Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-80

Iranians seized the Iranians seized the American embassy in American embassy in TeheranTeheran

American embassy American embassy personnel were held personnel were held hostage for over 444 hostage for over 444 daysdays

Year Inflation Rate(percent)

UnemploymentRate (percent)

1973 6.2 4.8

1974 11.0 5.5

1975 9.1 8.3

1976 5.8 7.6

1977 6.5 6.9

1978 7.7 6.0

1979 11.3 5.8

1980 13.5 7.0

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States

Actor/GovernorActor/Governor

Election of 1980Election of 1980– ““New BeginningsNew Beginnings””– Carter dealing with:Carter dealing with:

Iran Embassy HostagesIran Embassy Hostages Energy ShortagesEnergy Shortages InflationInflation

ConservativismConservativism

11stst Term Domestic Policies Term Domestic Policies

1.1. New FederalismNew Federalism2.2. ReaganomicsReaganomics3.3. Balanced BudgetBalanced Budget4.4. Star WarsStar Wars5.5. Farm AidFarm Aid6.6. ImmigrationImmigration

11stst Term Foreign Policy Term Foreign Policy

1.1. Questioning DétenteQuestioning Détente

2.2. Intervention in Central AmericaIntervention in Central America

3.3. Middle EastMiddle East

4.4. TerrorismTerrorism

Election of 1984Election of 1984

Walter Mondale v. Jesse JacksonWalter Mondale v. Jesse Jackson Reagan wins 58% of Popular VoteReagan wins 58% of Popular Vote

22ndnd Term Domestic Policy Term Domestic Policy

Tax CutsTax CutsGovernment Government

Program cutsProgram cutsTrade Trade

ImbalanceImbalance

22ndnd Term Foreign Policy pt. 1 Term Foreign Policy pt. 1

Focus on U.S.S.R.Focus on U.S.S.R. DistractionsDistractions

22ndnd Term Foreign Policy pt. 2 Term Foreign Policy pt. 2

Renewal of Renewal of DétenteDétente

Arms Arms ReductionsReductions

Troubles Troubles ElsewhereElsewhere

1988 Election1988 Election

Michael Dukakis v. Michael Dukakis v. Jesse Jackson for Jesse Jackson for DemsDems

George H.W. Bush George H.W. Bush for Repsfor Reps

Bush Wins Bush Wins

Bush Administration DomesticBush Administration Domestic Budget ProblemsBudget Problems

Savings and Loan ScandalSavings and Loan Scandal

Supreme ControversySupreme Controversy

Urban ViolenceUrban Violence

Bush Administration ForeignBush Administration ForeignEnd of Cold War CausesEnd of Cold War Causes End of Cold War ResultsEnd of Cold War Results

Anticommunist forces gain Anticommunist forces gain force in Eastern Europe force in Eastern Europe

Reform leaders come to Reform leaders come to power after free elections power after free elections in Poland and in Poland and Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia

Soviet Leader Mikhail Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev encourages Gorbachev encourages Eastern European leaders to Eastern European leaders to

adopt more open policiesadopt more open policies

New governments take New governments take charge in Bulgaria, charge in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Hungary, Romania, and Albania Albania

Berlin Wall falls, East and Berlin Wall falls, East and West Germany are West Germany are reunified reunified

Soviet Union breaks apart Soviet Union breaks apart

Invasion of PanamaInvasion of Panama

Continues ReaganContinues Reagan’’s s War on DrugsWar on Drugs

Noriega as DictatorNoriega as Dictator– CIA Informant 1959-CIA Informant 1959-

19861986– Listening Posts to Listening Posts to

CubaCuba– Cocaine TraffickingCocaine Trafficking– 40 years posh 40 years posh

prison termprison term

Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War Hussein invades Hussein invades

KuwaitKuwait Bush sends troopsBush sends troops UN SactionsUN Sactions 500,000 US troops500,000 US troops UN TroopsUN Troops 100 days, air strikes100 days, air strikes Iraq agrees to UN Iraq agrees to UN

terms of cease-fireterms of cease-fire 300 Allied Deaths – 300 Allied Deaths –

100,000 Iraqi Deaths100,000 Iraqi Deaths

Bosnia and The BalkansBosnia and The Balkans

19911991 Bosnia and Bosnia and

Slovenia declare Slovenia declare independence from independence from YugoslaviaYugoslavia

Milosevic and Milosevic and Bosnians commit Bosnians commit ““ethnic cleansingethnic cleansing””