why Ronald Reagan elected
nationed had turned to CONSERVATISM
entitlement programs
government programs giving benefits to particular groups
New Right
an alliance of conservative special interest groups - fought government regulation
reverse discrimination
laws which gave minorities opportunities in education or employment - it was seen as discrimination against white people-especially white men
conservative coalition
an alliance of conservative groups
what the conservative coalition wanted
end to big government, end to entitlements, end to busing and affirmative action to correct segregation, return to traditional moral standards
Moral Majority
religious conservatives who interpreted the Bible literally and believed in absolute standards of right and wrong
4 goals of strong conservative movement
1. shrinking federal government 2. promoting traditional morals 3. stimulating business by lowering taxes 4. strengthening national defense
1980 Republican nominee
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan chose ________for VP
George Bush
1980 Presidential election
Ronald Reagan - George Bush won
appeal of Ronald Reagan
thanks to acting career, he was relaxed, charming, affable, skill at simplifying issues- he was known as the (Great Communicator), commitment to military and economic strength
Reaganomics
Reagan's economic policy- called for reduction in income taxes for individuals and a big reduction in government spending
supply-side economics
cutting taxes, which would give people incentives to work, save and invest
SDI
Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) - a defense system that would keep Americans safe from enemy missiles
two weapon systems brought back by Reagan
B-1 bomber and the MX missile
a revived American economy
consumers went on a spending spree, inflation dropped, interest rates fell, stock market soared
Reagan had to raise taxes
national debt climbed, trade imbalance
trade imbalance
nation was importing more goods than it was exporting (meant American dollars were going to other countries)
most important way Reagan promoted traditional values and morality
through his appointments to the Supreme Court
Sandra Day O'Connor
conservative judge appointed by Reagan; first woman appointed to Supreme Court
William Rehnquist
conservative judge appointed by Reagan
President Bush appointees to Supreme Court
conservative David H. Souter conservative Clarence Thomas
Anita Hill
a law professor who testified that Clarence Thomas has sexually harassed her - Thomas won Senate approval by a vote of 52-48
conservative changes to Supreme Court
restricted woman's right to abortion, restrictions on civil rights, narrowed rights of arrested persons
Reagan reduced size and power of Federal government
cut back on Federal regulation of industry- removed price control on oil and gas, eliminated federal inspections of nursing homes, deregulated airline industry
results of Reagan's reduction of Fed government
lower prices for consumer
Savings and Loan industry
deregulated under the Reagan administration; some lost a lot of money as economy slowed down
the Environment
Reagan cut budge of EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (more oil and gas drilling, timber cutting) Reagan opposed federal intervention to preserve environment
1984 Presidential Election
Republicans - Reagan and Bush BEAT - Democrats - Mondale and GERALDINE FERRARO (from NY)
Geraldine Ferraro
first woman on a major party's presidential ticket
1988 Presidential Election
Republican George Bush BEAT Democrat George Dukakis
why Bush won
voters saw little reason for change
AIDS
acquired immune deficiency syndrome - virus that destroys body's immune system (transmitted by body fluids and blood)
pro-choice groups
against abortion - believed life begins at conception
Webster vs. Reproductive Health Care Services
put restrictions on abortion
Rust vs. Sullivan
federal gov could prevent doctors in gov sponsored clinics from providing women with info about abortion
measures to reduce drug abuse
random drug testing - law cut off college loans and public housing for marijuana users - military patrolled borders to prevent drug smuggling, Nancy Reagan "Just Say No
President Bush anti-drug measures
called for War on Drugs - law enforcement stopping drugs at border, death penalty for drug dealers
Education measures
building of new schools, reading and writing skills promoted, national achievement tests
Urban crisis
families left city for - homes outside city, malls, better schools - they took jobs and tax revenues with them
Equal Rights struggle
ERA went down in defeat so women concentrated on running for office
pay equity
a proposal that jobs would be rated on the basis of: amount of education required, amount of physical strength needed, number of people supervised
L. Douglas Wilder
1990-nation's first African-American governor (Virginia)
Jesse Jackson
African-American who ran for Dem. presidential nom in 1984 and 1988
affirmative action limited
by Supreme Court
fastest growing minority
Latinos
Selena Quintanilla-Perez
Latina singer murdered
debate over bilinguialism
Bilingualism Education Act of 1968 allowed Spanish speakers to go to school and vote in own language
opponents of bilingualism
argued is slowed rate at which Spanish-speaking people entered mainstream American life; feared nation would be split into English and non-English speakers
Native Americans
Reagan administration slashed aid to Native Americans; they won a ruling to have gambling on reservation lands
Asian Americans
second fastest-growing minority
gays and lesbians
26 states reduced criminal penalites for homosexual relations; Bush increased funding for AIDS research ; some states outlawed discrimination against gays.
Mikhail Gorbachev
1985-general secretary of the Communist party in the Soviet Union
Gorbachev initiates reform
initiated peace talks with US to lessen Cold War tensions
INF Treaty
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty -treaty signed in 1987 - eliminated 2 classes of weapons systems in Europe, allowed each nation to make on-site inspections of the other's military installations.
glasnost
Gorbachev advocated this - it means openness in discussing social problems
perestroika
Gorbachev advocated this - it means economic and bureaucratic restructuring in the Soviet Union (he restored private ownership of land and replaced central planning with local decision making)- (decreased censorship and held free elections)
SOVIET UNION DISSOLVED
1991- after 74 yrs, Soviet Union dissolved, replaced by Commonwealth of Independent States
Commonwealth of Independent States
federation formed after coup against Soviet Union- Gorbachev resigned
Boris Yeltsin
1991- president of the largest Soviet Republic climbed on an armored truck and attempted a coup of government of Gorbachev
START II
designed to cut both nations' nuclear arsenals by 75% - signed by President Bush and Russian president Boris Yeltsin (started an era of friendship and partnership)
changes after Gorbachev's new policies
number of Soviet troops in Eastern Europe reduced; Poland-a non-Communist government; 1989-East Germany opened Berlin Wall- free passage between he two cities, first time in 28 years; 1990 Germany held free elections -2 nations became one.
Berlin Wall
1989-opened wall,..there was free passage between the two cities-first time in 28 years.. Germany held free elections in 1990
Eastern Europe
Czechoslovakia withdrew from Soviet bloc; Baltic states declared independence from Soviet Union; Yugoslavia collapsed
China
students began to demand freedom of speech and a greater voice in government
Tiananmen Square
1989- Chinese students constructed a version of Statue of Liberty to symbolize their struggle for democracy- military was ordered to crush protestors-soldiers killed hundreds
Li Peng
Chinese premier ordered military to crush the student protestors in Tiananmen Square
Nicaragua
ruled by Somoza
Sandinista rebels
toppled Somoza's rule in 1979 - President Carter recognized this new regime and sent them $83 million in aid !!!!
Reagan and Sandinistas
he cut all aid to Sandinistas and gave it to the CONTRAS - because they were against Communism
Boland Amendment
Congress passed this amendment and said no more military aid to Contras for 2 years...Reagan sent it anyway...!
Grenada
Reagan sent 2,000 troops to island of Grenada in 1983....to overthrow Communist pro-Cuba government and replace with one more friendly to American.....Reagan said invasion was necessary to protect US security.....
General Noriega
President Bush sent 20,000 soldiers into Panama to overthrow and arrest General Noriega on charges of drug trafficking.--flown by Miami to stand trial. Noriega convicted in April 1992-sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Iran-Contra scandal....
1983-terrorists (loyal to Iran) took Americans hostage in Lebanon- Reagan denounced Iran and urged US allies to NOT sell arms to Iran. Three years later, Americans learned Reagan administration had been violating its own policy-secretyly selling Iran anti
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North
member of National Security Council who played a key role in providing aid to Contras-said he was following president's orders.....some saw him as hero, some saw him as villain
Saddam Hussein
leader of Iraq (enemy of Iran)..tried to conquer Kuwait with plans to conquer Saudi Arabia-which would then put it in control of half the worlds known oil reserves
Operation Desert Storm
1991-international coalition against Iraqi aggression- launched by President Bush and Secretary of State James Baker....massive air assault and ground offensive - Kuwait was liberated.
casualties of Operation Desert Storm
400 UN coalition forces; 100,000 Iraqis; victory parade for returning soldiers
Bush's reelection campaign doomed
by weak economy and the tax hike