1980 Election: Reagan ( R) v. Carter (D) v. Anderson (I)
- ABC Movement
- Rise of the "moral majority"
-Reagan's popular appeal v. Carter's lack of managerial skills + a sense that events were beyond his control
*Hostage release - January 20, 1981
Reagan as President
Domestic Policy:
- Major Goal: reduce the size of the federal government & the federal budget & lower taxes
- Reaganomics: supply side economics (trickle down)
-Belief that budgetary and tax reductions would stimulate new investment, boost productivity, & Foster new economic growth
But: result was the deepest recession since the 1930's!
*Economy saved by massive military spending (which resulted in the federal deficit increasing)
Foreign Policy:
- Saw the Soviet Union as the focus of evil in the modern world
- 1981: Solidarity (a working class union) movement in Poland (Martial Law led to U.S. Sanctions)
- 1982: Israel invades Lebanon
- 1983: U.S. sends Marines into Lebanon as part of a U.N. peace keeping mission (suicide bombing killed 200+)
But: no blame on Reagan (the "Teflon President")
U.S. Aid to El Salvador and contras in Nicaragua
U.S. invasion of Granada (justified by Roosevelt Corollary of the Monroe Doctrine)
Star Wars (strategic defense initiative) propose
- 1984: Soviet boycott of the L.A. Summer Olympics
1984 Election: Reagan ( R) v. Mondale (D)
- Geraldine Ferraro first woman V.P. candidate (but Reagan had appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court)
- Gary Hart & The Yuppies
- Jesse Jackson & The Rainbow Coalition
Reagan's Second Term
Call for a "Second American Revolution"
- Lower federal and state taxes & shrink government activities
- 1986: Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act which mandated a balanced budget by 1991 but debt limit allowed to increase each year
- Oil Glut on world market resulted in lower prices which gave a strong boost to the economy
- Air raid strike on Khadafy"s Libya
- "Constructive Engagement" Policy towards South Africa led to calls for boycotts
- Social issues: Reagan "supported" school prayer, restrictions on abortion, & limits on affirmative action
1988 Election: Bush ( R) v. Dukakis (D)