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Reagan & Bush Administrations- 1980s. Chapter 25- US History.
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Reagan & Bush Administrations- 1980s Chapter 25- US History
It is the autumn of 1980. You are a campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, former film star and governor of California. Reagan must defeat Carter, who has lost support. Carter has failed to bring home the hostages in Iran and to revive the economy. Reagan, an optimist, pledges to do both. He also plans to cut taxes and cut back on gov’t programs.
Ronald Reagan (1980-1988) • 40th president of the US • “The Great Communicator”- expressed complex ideas simply • Very conservative (used to be Democrat) • Supported small gov’t and free enterprise • Elected governor of California in 1970 • Election of 1980 • Reagan v. Carter • Reagan’s VP= George Bush • Carter very unpopular for • Iran Hostage Crisis and weak economy
The Reagan Revolution and the First Inaugural Address “In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Steps will be taken aimed at restoring the balance between various levels of government. Progress may be slow, measured in inches and feet, not miles, but we will progress. It is time to reawaken this industrial giant, to get government back within its means, and to lighten our punitive tax burden. And these will be our first priorities, and on these principles there will be no compromise.” - Ronald Reagan 1981
What did conservatives want? • Had several different concerns with American economics, society, and politics • Government spending too much on entitlement programs • Provided guaranteed benefits to certain groups • By 1980- govt spent $300 billion a year on these • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and growing liberalism • Americans skeptical and uncomfortable with what it would bring • Social and moral decay in the United States
The New Right • As the 1970s went on, conservative groups across the country began to support and promote single issues that were in line with conservative interests • Opposing abortion • Blocking the Equal Rights Amendment (feminists supported it, anti-feminists opposed) • Evading court-ordered busing of students to create a certain racial ratio at schools • Opposing affirmative action • Also called for a return to school-sponsored prayer, which had been declared unconstitutional in 1962 • Felt that the country needed more roots based in Christianity
Conservatives and Affirmative Action • Affirmative action- policy in the United States that is designed to reduce the disadvantages that certain groups such as women, black Americans, or other minorities have historically faced • This policy is backed by many federal laws, executive orders, and Supreme Court decisions that require that government agencies, or sub-contracted agencies, follow them • Many in the New Right saw this as reverse discrimination, which discriminated against non-minority groups • Bakke v. Regents…
Conservative Coalition • As these small groups formed in the New Right, they began to band together into what became known as the Conservative Coalition • Business leaders, middle-class voters, and fundamentalist Christian groups • These groups began to publish in newspapers and other publications, writing in support of conservative issues and principles
The Moral Majority • Many members of the conservative movement were also evangelical Christians • believed in a nearly-literal interpretation of the Bible • Members of this Moral Majority pointed to many different social problems in the United States, and pointed to a return to the Bible, God, and morality as a way to solve them • High divorce rate, out-of-wedlock births, crime rate • The Moral Majority supported Christian evangelists like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Billy Graham • This movement dedicated itself to bringing back traditional “family values” • They began to support political figures that they felt would best support their interests
“Reaganomics” • Would: • promote and create new jobs • encourage capital investment, and • lead to stimulated industrial growth
Cutting Government Regulation - “deregulation” • Continued Carter’s programs to deregulate key industries • Removed price controls on oil and eliminated federal health and safety inspections for nursing homes • Cut budget of EPA • Positive result: competition increases and prices are lowered for consumers
Increased Defense Spending • Sharp increase in military spending = buildup • New weapons and new technology • Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) = better known as Star Wars • Defense system that keeps Americans safe from enemy missiles • Would cost trillions of $$$
Conservative Supreme Court Justices Reagan’s Appointments Bush’s Appointments • Sandra Day O’Connor • First female appt to Supreme Court • William Rehnquist • Most conservative • Still there today • Antonin Scalia • Still there today • Anthony Kennedy • Still there today • David Souter • Clarence Thomas • Goes on trial for sexually harassing a former employee • Televised Senate hearing • Thomas won approval by a close vote of 52 to 48 • Both men’s appointments ended liberal control of Supreme Court
Recession and Recovery • Consumers go on spending spree= tax cuts, low interest rates, low inflation • Stock market doing well • Unemployment declined • Market drops temporarily and recovers • National debt climbs • $909 billion in 1980 --- $3.2 trillion in 1990 • Federal deficit grew even as domestic spending decreased
Election of 1984 • People who approved of Reagan’s policies: • Business people • southerners- (welcomed small govt) • Westerners (resented fed controls of mining/grazing) • Reagan Democrats (thought Dem. Party was too liberal) • Reagan and Bush won by a landslide • First female to be on a major party’s presidential ticket • Geraldine Ferraro
Election of 1988 • George Bush runs against Michael Dukakis • Bush built on Reagan’s policies • No new taxes, conservative ideals of Moral Majority • Bashed his opponent for being ultraliberal, soft on crime and unpatriotic • Bush wins!
Equal Rights Struggle Women African americans • ERA did not pass • Although some women did hold Cabinet positions during this time • Women were still paid less than men (.75 per $1) • 31% of women lived poverty • Pay equity- system where jobs were rated on the basis of the amount of education they required, the amount of physical strength needed, and # of people that an employee supervised • L. Douglas Wilder- first African American governor • Reverend Jesse Jackson- ran for Democratic presidential nomination • Some African Americans saw the backlash of affirmative action
Equal Rights Struggle Latinos/native amer. Asian/gays • Latinos outnumber Afr. Amer. • (88)Laura Cavazos- appt Sec. of Edu. • (90)Antonia CoelloNovello- surgeon general • Native Americans- • Fought for return of land and schools to teach NA kids • push for gambling casinos on their land to make profit • Asians- Second fastest growing minority • Lowest rate for crime, drop outs, divorce yet still live in poverty & unemployment • Gay Rights Movement- • Began actively campaigning for anti-gay discrimination to end
Social Concerns of the 1980s • Health • AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) • On the rise all over the world • Homosexual men • Women infected gave it to their children • Virus that destroys the immune system • Weakens the body so that it is prone to infections and rare cancers • Abortion • Roe v. Wade- • Pro-life– human life begins at conception; no woman has the right to terminate a human • Pro-Choice– reproductive choices were personal healthcare matters • Webster v. Reproductive Health Care Services- states had the right to impose new restrictions on abortion • Today, abortion restrictions vary from state to state
More Social Concerns • Drug Abuse • “Just Say No!” Reagan’s War on Drugs slogan • Many will argue what to do about the problem • Make them legal • More treatment facilities • Urban Crisis • High unemployment • No money for health services, homelessness, deteriorating schools • Minorities v. whites • Education • American children CANNOT READ! • 23 million cannot follow instruction or fill out a job application form • Solution: • More homework, longer school days, promote increased pay for teachers, greater focus on English, math, science, SS, and computer science
Reagan and the Cold War • Called Soviet Union the “evil empire” • (1985) Mikhail Gorbachev becomes new Communist Leader in Soviet Union • Soviet Union having problems • Horrible economy • Not able to keep up with America’s defense • Glasnost– Russian word meaning “openness” • Allow criticism of govt and moved toward freedom of press • “perestroika”-restructuring Soviet society • Less govt control, some private enterprise • INF Treaty-(Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) eliminated two classes of weapons system in Europe and make their own on-site inspections of other military installations
Soviet Union Declines/Collapse • 1987- Reagan gives speech that demands the Berlin Wall be torn down. • Wants Gorbachev to back up talk with action • Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania depart from Communism • STOP CHILDREN, WHAT’S THAT SOUND? • 14 republics in Soviet Union will declare their independence • Gorbachev resigns • Soviet Union dissolves after 74 years. • 1992 Formal statement is issued by Bush and new Russian president, Yeltsin to END THE COLD WAR!
Communism Continues in China • Loosened grip on business and got rid of some price controls • Students begin protesting • Freedom of speech • Greater voice in govt • Tiananmen Square protest- constructed Statue of Liberty • Li Peng- China’s premier crushed the protest • Slaughtering students • Watched on television • “The government has won the battle here today. But they have lost the people’s hearts.”- student protester
Problems in Nicaragua • Dictatorship run by Somoza family for 42 years • Rigged elections & assassinated rivals • Most believe revolution would bring this to an end • Civil war ensued between Somoza’s national guard and Sandinistas • Sandinistas overthrew Somoza’s • America sent $83 million in aid (as well as Russia and Cuba) • 1981- Reagan believed Nicaragua was a Soviet outpost and cut all aid • Began supporting Contras (guerilla forces that went against Sandinistas) • 1990- Nicaragua didn’t solve their problems • Contras too weak/divided
US Invades Grenada (1983) After noting this Caribbean Island was developing ties with Communist Cuba, Reagan sends 2000 American troops. They overthrew the pro-Cuban gov’t and replaced it with one that was friendly to the US. Reagan declared that this mission was crucial to defending US security.
Iran-Contra Scandal (1985-1986) • Iranian terrorist took a group of Americans hostage in Lebanon • “American will never make concessions to terrorists.” – no selling arms to Iran • 1986 Reagan approved selling arms in Iran • In exchange, Iran promised to release 7 hostages • Part of the profits were sent to Contras in Nicaragua- violation of Boland Amendment • Congress investigates • Found members of Reagan’s administration guilty of covering up the affair • President Bush pardons all who were involved in 1992
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) • Leader of Iraq- Saddam Hussein • Iraq found itself in huge debt after waging wars with Iran • 1990- Iraq forces invaded and looted Kuwait and headed toward Saudi Arabia • Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are rich in oil • Conquered both and controlled 50% of world’s oil • Threatening to US • Bush launched Operation Desert Storm • Liberate Kuwait =successful! • Successful Ground offensive-Saudi Arabia • Boosted American mood
Bush Domestic Policies Not successful Hurt by rising deficit and recession Raised taxes (after he promised he wouldn’t) Hurt his popularity 12 year reign of Republicans was over…
Overall Conservative Movement • Causes: • Dissatisfaction with liberal policies • Revival of Evangelical Christianity • Reagan as a spearhead of conservatism • Inflation and unemployment • Emergence of the New Right and conservative coalition • Effects: • Republican control of the presidency • Cuts in taxes and government spending • Dramatic increase in national debt • More conservative Supreme Court • Increase defense spending • Deregulation
