The Reagan Years

Moral Majority

supported Reagan; created by Jerrry Falwell (Baptist); new Christian Right; gave Reagon 2/3 of the while evangelical gvote; bring Christian values back to the US

Liberals

ideas tht dominated politics in the 1970s; government should regulate the economy; promote social programs; wealthy take the greatest tax burden; do not reulate the social behaviors of citizens

Conservatives

government power should be lijmited; free enterprise is more successful than government regulation; oppose high taxes and redistribution of wealthy; morality and relgion can help regulate the social behagvior of citizens

John Hinkley Jr.

tried to assassinate Reagan March 30th 1981 in Washington, DC; not guilty by reason of insanity

Nancy Reagan

“Just Say No" to drugs campaign

Just Say No Campaign

created by Nancy Reagan to try and prevent drug use for kids and teenagers

The New Right

coalition of conservative media commentators, think tanks, and Grassroots Christian groups; restore America's Christian values; advocated major reversal in liberal government

Reaganomics

Reagan's plan to reduce inflation; planned to reduce government spending, federal income tax, government regulation, and control of the money supply

Supply-Side Economics

“Tricke down economics"; economic theory that lowered tax rates will boost the economy as businesses and individuals invest their money, thereby creating higher tax revenue; people will have more money to spend; reduce the size and influence of the federal governmet to encourage private investments

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

a shield in space to protect the US against incoming Soviet missiles; battle stations in space could fire laser beams to destroy missiles on liftoff (theoretically); menat to bankrupt and destroy the SU if it tried to keep up

Peace through strength

the name for Reagan's stance towards relations with the Soviet Union

Budget deficit

when expenss are more than income

Deregulation

the cutting back of federal regulation of industry; removed price controls on oil, eliminated federal health and safety inspections for nursing homes, and allowed airlines to abandon unprofitable air routes

Sandra Day O'Connor

first woman appointed to the Supreme Court

Geraldine Ferraro

first woman on a major party's presidential ticket

1984 election

Reagan wins again

Lebanon October 1983

241 American marines weree killed in a bombing in Lebanon; reagan saw the American military presence as a stand for justice; decided to withdraw his troops from Lebanon in 1984 because he did not want to risk American lives; he received much criticism from opponents

Grenada 1983

communism threatened the island of Genada with help and aid by communist Cuba; US went to stop communism from spreading and it was effective