1980 Review

Conservatives

Favor traditional values and limited government; Criticized New Deal

Reagan's background

Former actor and California governor.

Election of 1980

Reagan EASILY defeated Jimmy Carter.

Moral Majority

Religious group advocating conservative policies.

Reagan's historical significance

Helped end the Cold War.

Reagan's nickname

Called 'The Great Communicator.'

Reagan's foreign policy

Focused on anti-communism.

Soviet-Afghan War

U.S. supported Afghan rebels.

Military Spending

Increased significantly under Reagan.

Reagan's economic policy

Supply-side economics, aka 'Reaganomics.'

Effect on Great Society Programs

Reduced social welfare funding.

Strategic Defense Initiative

Proposed missile defense system.

Nicaragua

Supported Contras against Sandinistas.

Election of 1984

Reagan won re-election overwhelmingly.

1980s Celebrations

Economic growth and cultural shifts.

Antonin Scalia

Conservative Supreme Court Justice.

Criticisms of Reagan

Favored the wealthy, increased deficits.

Reagan's approach to governing

Promoted limited government.

Relations with the Soviets

Improved during his presidency.

1988 INF Treaty

Reduced nuclear missiles.

1988 Campaign

Bush ran to continue Reagan policies.

Civil Rights under Bush

Debates over policy continued.

Eastern Europe in the late 1980s

Shifted away from communism.

Glasnost

Soviet policy promoting openness.

Perestroika

Soviet economic restructuring.

Persian Gulf War

U.S.-led coalition liberated Kuwait.

Persian Gulf War Allies

Nations supported U.S. efforts.

Persian Gulf War Media

Extensive news coverage.

Early 1990s recession

Economic downturn post-Cold War.

Bush's approval rating

Peaked after Gulf War victory.

Foreign events during Bush presidency

U.S. dealt with the Gulf War and post-Cold War diplomacy.

Clarence Thomas

Conservative Supreme Court Justice confirmed in 1991.

1992 Campaign

Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot.

Health Care Reform

Clinton proposed changes but faced opposition.

Michael Dukakis

Democratic nominee in the 1988 election, lost to Bush.

Sandra Day O’Connor

First woman on the Supreme Court, appointed in 1981.

Walter Mondale

1984 Democratic presidential candidate, lost to Reagan.

George H. W. Bush

41st president, led U.S. through the Gulf War.

John Hinckley Jr.

Attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Geraldine Ferraro

First female vice presidential candidate for a major party (1984).

Colin Powell

Military general and Secretary of State, helped lead the Gulf War.

Norman Schwarzkopf

U.S. general who led coalition forces in the Gulf War.

Iraq

Invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to the Gulf War.

CNN

Became prominent during live coverage of the Gulf War.

Muammar Qaddafi

Leader of Libya, clashed with the U.S.

Evil Empire

Reagan’s term for the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Contras

Rebel group in Nicaragua supported by the U.S.

Dan Quayle

Vice president under George H.W. Bush.

Newt Gingrich

Led Republican revolution in Congress in the 1990s.

Ross Perot

Independent candidate in the 1992 election.