1. Essential QuestionEssential Question
 What were the importantWhat were the important
events of the Reagan andevents of the Reagan and
Bush (the Elder)Bush (the Elder)
presidencies?presidencies?

2. 1980s1980s

3. Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
 Former actorFormer actor
 Two term governorTwo term governor
of Californiaof California
 Elected in 1980Elected in 1980

4. Reagan PoliticsReagan Politics
 ““In this present crisis,In this present crisis,
government is not thegovernment is not the
solution to oursolution to our
problem.problem.
Government is ourGovernment is our
problem.”problem.”
 Americans need toAmericans need to
believe in themselvesbelieve in themselves

5. U.S. EconomyU.S. Economy
 Economy sufferingEconomy suffering
from highfrom high
unemployment,unemployment,
high inflationhigh inflation

6. Supply-Side EconomicsSupply-Side Economics
 The economy isThe economy is
weak becauseweak because
taxes are too hightaxes are too high
 Remove taxes,Remove taxes,
businesses wouldbusinesses would
invest in expansioninvest in expansion

7. ReaganomicsReaganomics
 ““Trickle-downTrickle-down
economics”economics”
 Keep interest ratesKeep interest rates
highhigh
 Massive tax cutsMassive tax cuts

8. ReaganomicsReaganomics
 Accepted a budgetAccepted a budget
deficit in order todeficit in order to
cut taxes and buildcut taxes and build
a strong militarya strong military
 Economy goingEconomy going
strong by 1984strong by 1984

9. Growth of the MilitaryGrowth of the Military
 American buildupAmerican buildup
might pressuremight pressure
Soviets to followSoviets to follow
and collapseand collapse
communismcommunism

10. Reagan DoctrineReagan Doctrine
 U.S. shouldU.S. should
support guerillasupport guerilla
groups fighting togroups fighting to
overthrowoverthrow
communistcommunist
governmentsgovernments

11. AfghanistanAfghanistan

12. NicaraguaNicaragua

13. GrenadaGrenada

14. Iran-Contra AffairIran-Contra Affair
 Government officialsGovernment officials
sold weapons to Iran insold weapons to Iran in
exchange for theexchange for the
release of Americanrelease of American
hostageshostages
 Profits from the salesProfits from the sales
sent to the contrassent to the contras
(counterrevolutionaries(counterrevolutionaries
in South America)in South America)

15. Star WarsStar Wars
 Strategic DefenseStrategic Defense
Initiative (SDI)Initiative (SDI)
 Development ofDevelopment of
weapons that couldweapons that could
intercept andintercept and
destroy incomingdestroy incoming
missilesmissiles

16. Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev
 New Soviet leaderNew Soviet leader
(1985)(1985)
 Summit meetings withSummit meetings with
ReaganReagan
 Believed the USSRBelieved the USSR
must reform itsmust reform its
economy or collapseeconomy or collapse

17. Election of 1988Election of 1988
 Republican –Republican –
George BushGeorge Bush
Sr.Sr.
 Democrat –Democrat –
MichaelMichael
DukakisDukakis
 Victory for BushVictory for Bush

18. Cold War EndsCold War Ends
 Late 1980s – SovietLate 1980s – Soviet
economy in collapseeconomy in collapse
 Gorbachev allowedGorbachev allowed
greater freedomsgreater freedoms
 DemocraticDemocratic
governments ingovernments in
Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

19. Cold War EndsCold War Ends
 Nov. 9, 1989 –Nov. 9, 1989 –
guards at the Berlinguards at the Berlin
Wall opened theWall opened the
gatesgates
 1990 - East and1990 - East and
West GermanyWest Germany
reunitedreunited

20. Persian GulfPersian Gulf
WarWar
 August 1990 –August 1990 –
Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein
invaded Kuwaitinvaded Kuwait
 Jan. 16, 1991 –Jan. 16, 1991 –
launch of Operationlaunch of Operation
Desert StormDesert Storm

21. Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War
 Six weeks ofSix weeks of
missilemissile
bombardmentbombardment
 Massive groundMassive ground
attack – 100 hoursattack – 100 hours
until Kuwaituntil Kuwait
declared liberateddeclared liberated

22. 1992 Election1992 Election
 Democrat –Democrat –
Bill ClintonBill Clinton
 Republican –Republican –
George BushGeorge Bush
 IndependentIndependent
– Ross Perot– Ross Perot