This chapter discusses the political and economic events in the United States from the 1970s to early 1990s. It covers Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter's presidencies, the rise of conservatism under Ronald Reagan, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Key events included the Watergate scandal, the Iran hostage crisis, Reagan's economic policies, and the first Gulf War under George H.W. Bush.

1. Alan Brinkley,Alan Brinkley,
AMERICAN HISTORY 13/eAMERICAN HISTORY 13/e
Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From The “Age of Limits” to theFrom The “Age of Limits” to the
Age of ReaganAge of Reagan

2. Gerald Ford
(Library of Congress)
Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 Politics and Diplomacy After WatergatePolitics and Diplomacy After Watergate
– The Ford CustodianshipThe Ford Custodianship
 Nixon PardonedNixon Pardoned
 Oil Prices SpikeOil Prices Spike
 Ford’s DiplomaticFord’s Diplomatic
SuccessesSuccesses
2

3. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
The Election of 1976
3

4. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 Politics and Diplomacy After WatergatePolitics and Diplomacy After Watergate
– The Trials of Jimmy CarterThe Trials of Jimmy Carter
 Carter’s Lack of DirectionCarter’s Lack of Direction
 Lack of Exp. in Fed. Govt.Lack of Exp. in Fed. Govt.
 Religious Piety and HonestyReligious Piety and Honesty
 High Interest RatesHigh Interest Rates
Jimmy Carter
(Library of Congress)
4

5. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 Politics and Diplomacy After WatergatePolitics and Diplomacy After Watergate
– Human Rights and National InterestsHuman Rights and National Interests
 Camp David Accords-1979Camp David Accords-1979
 Panama Canal Treaty-1977Panama Canal Treaty-1977
 Communist China Formally Recognized-1978Communist China Formally Recognized-1978
 Carter Questioned BackingCarter Questioned Backing
Authoritarian RegimesAuthoritarian Regimes
 USSR Invades Afghanistan-1979USSR Invades Afghanistan-1979
 U.S. Imposes Economic Sanctions on SovietsU.S. Imposes Economic Sanctions on Soviets
– The Year of the HostagesThe Year of the Hostages
 Iranian Revolution-1979Iranian Revolution-1979
 Ayatollah Ruhollah KhomeiniAyatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
 Iranians Demand the Return of the ShahIranians Demand the Return of the Shah
 Carter’s Falling PopularityCarter’s Falling Popularity
5

6. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
Ayatollah Khomeini (top) supported the taking of U.S. hostages in
Tehran in 1979. During their 14-month captivity, the hostages were
blindfolded and paraded through the city streets

7. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan-1979
– Economic sanctions
 1980 Olympics
 U.S. Boycotts
 SALT II Suspended

8. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The Rise of the New American RightThe Rise of the New American Right
– The Sunbelt and Its PoliticsThe Sunbelt and Its Politics
 Rise of the “Sunbelt”Rise of the “Sunbelt”
 Sagebrush RebellionSagebrush Rebellion
 Conservative Opposition to Environmental LawsConservative Opposition to Environmental Laws
 Suburban ConservatismSuburban Conservatism
 Orange County, CaliforniaOrange County, California
8

9. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
Growth of the Sunbelt, 1970-1990
9

10. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The Rise of the New American RightThe Rise of the New American Right
– Religious PoliticsReligious Politics
 Evangelical Christianity- “Christian Right”Evangelical Christianity- “Christian Right”
 Opposed Supreme Court RulingsOpposed Supreme Court Rulings
from Warren and Burger Courtsfrom Warren and Burger Courts
 The Moral Majority andThe Moral Majority and
the Christian Coalitionthe Christian Coalition
 Jerry Falwell and Pat RobertsonJerry Falwell and Pat Robertson
 ““Secular Humanism”Secular Humanism”
– The New RightThe New Right
 Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
 Two Term Governor of Ca.Two Term Governor of Ca.
 Heir to Barry GoldwaterHeir to Barry Goldwater
10
Ronald Reagan
(Library of Congress)

11. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The Rise of the New American RightThe Rise of the New American Right
– The Tax RevoltThe Tax Revolt
 Proposition 13Proposition 13
 Howard JarvisHoward Jarvis
 Attacking TaxesAttacking Taxes
– The CampaignThe Campaign
of 1980of 1980
 1980 Election1980 Election
 Reagan v. CarterReagan v. Carter
The Election of
1980
11

12. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The “Reagan Revolution”The “Reagan Revolution”
– The Reagan CoalitionThe Reagan Coalition
 Corporate ElitesCorporate Elites
 ““Neo-Conservatives”Neo-Conservatives”
 Battled the Left to Influence CultureBattled the Left to Influence Culture
 Populist ConservativesPopulist Conservatives
– Reagan in the White HouseReagan in the White House
12
Reagan gives a televised address from theReagan gives a televised address from the Oval OfficeOval Office,,
outlining his plan for tax reductions in July 1981outlining his plan for tax reductions in July 1981

13. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The “Reagan Revolution”The “Reagan Revolution”
– ““Supply-Side” EconomicsSupply-Side” Economics
 ““Reaganomics” or “Trickle Down Economics”Reaganomics” or “Trickle Down Economics”
 Supply-side EconomicsSupply-side Economics
 Reduction of Personal and Corporate TaxesReduction of Personal and Corporate Taxes
 ““Deregulation”Deregulation”
 Secretary of the Interior James WattSecretary of the Interior James Watt
 Sources of the RecoverySources of the Recovery
13

14. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
Federal Budget Surplus/Deficit, 1940 to 2004
14

15. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The “Reagan Revolution”The “Reagan Revolution”
– The Fiscal CrisisThe Fiscal Crisis
 Soaring National Debt-1980sSoaring National Debt-1980s
 Increased Military Spending, EntitlementsIncreased Military Spending, Entitlements
and Health Care Costsand Health Care Costs
 Large Tax CutsLarge Tax Cuts
 Welfare Benefits CutWelfare Benefits Cut
15

16. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 The “Reagan Revolution”The “Reagan Revolution”
– Reagan and the WorldReagan and the World
 SDI-Making Nuclear War ObsoleteSDI-Making Nuclear War Obsolete
 ““Evil Empire”Evil Empire”
 Reagan DoctrineReagan Doctrine
 Intervention in Latin AmericaIntervention in Latin America
 Nicaragua and GrenadaNicaragua and Grenada
 Bombing of U.S. Barracks in Lebanon-1983Bombing of U.S. Barracks in Lebanon-1983
 U.S. Withdraws from BeirutU.S. Withdraws from Beirut
 Terrorism-1980sTerrorism-1980s
16

17. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
– The Election of 1984The Election of 1984
– Jesse Jackson runs for Dem. NominationJesse Jackson runs for Dem. Nomination
– Mondale v. ReaganMondale v. Reagan
– Geraldine Ferraro Chosen as Dem. V.P. CandidateGeraldine Ferraro Chosen as Dem. V.P. Candidate
Walter Mondale
The Election
of 1984

18. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 America and the Waning of the Cold WarAmerica and the Waning of the Cold War
– The Fall of the Soviet UnionThe Fall of the Soviet Union
 Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev
 Glasnost and Perestroika-1980sGlasnost and Perestroika-1980s
 Tiananmen Square-1989Tiananmen Square-1989
 China Brutally Puts Down ProtestChina Brutally Puts Down Protest
 Dissolution of the USSR-1991Dissolution of the USSR-1991
– Reagan and GorbachevReagan and Gorbachev
18

19. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 America and the Waning of the Cold WarAmerica and the Waning of the Cold War
– The Fading of theThe Fading of the
Reagan RevolutionReagan Revolution
 Savings and Loan CrisisSavings and Loan Crisis
 Iran-Contra ScandalIran-Contra Scandal
 Reagan Admin. Sold Weapons to IranReagan Admin. Sold Weapons to Iran
 U.S. Supported Contra Rebels in NicaraguaU.S. Supported Contra Rebels in Nicaragua
with Illegal Arms Saleswith Illegal Arms Sales
19
Oliver North

20. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
– The Election of 1988The Election of 1988
 Bush’s NegativeBush’s Negative
CampaignCampaign
 Attack Ads AgainstAttack Ads Against
Michael DukakisMichael Dukakis
The Election
of 1988

21. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 America and the Waning of the Cold WarAmerica and the Waning of the Cold War
– The Bush PresidencyThe Bush Presidency
 Political GridlockPolitical Gridlock
 1990 Recession1990 Recession
– The First Gulf War-1991The First Gulf War-1991
 Invasion of Kuwait-1990Invasion of Kuwait-1990
 Iraq DefeatedIraq Defeated
George Bush
21

22. Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
 America and the Waning of the Cold WarAmerica and the Waning of the Cold War
– The Election of 1992The Election of 1992
 Gov. Bill ClintonGov. Bill Clinton
 Worsening Recession-1991Worsening Recession-1991
 Ross Perot-Texas BillionaireRoss Perot-Texas Billionaire
 The Best Third Party ShowingThe Best Third Party Showing
Since 1912Since 1912
The Election of
1992
22
Bill Clinton with Ross Perot, Independent, and President
George H. W. Bush, Republican, in a national debate

23. Patterns of Popular Culture:Patterns of Popular Culture:
The MallThe Mall
Chapter Thirty-one:Chapter Thirty-one:
From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of ReaganFrom “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan
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