America in the 1980's Flashcards

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1
Q

Election of 1980

A
  • Lack of support for Carter because of failures in his presidency
  • Reagan gets the entire Republican Party behind him
    - Gains 90% of the electoral vote
  • Republicans control the Executive and Legislative branches for the 1st time since 1954
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2
Q

Ronald Reagan

A
  • Staunch conservative republican
  • Has a large following:
    - Mainly lower / middle class southern & midwesterners
    - Had strong opinions on religions, gun ownership, immigration, & abortion)
  • Goals:
    - Bring back trickle down theory and reduce federal spending programs
    - Appoint more conservative judges
    - End the Cold War
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3
Q

Reaganomics

A
  • Ronald Reagan’s new fiscal policy
  • Cut down federal income tax to promote trickle down theory
  • Upper class will gain more wealth
  • Upper tax bracket : 70% to 50 %
  • Lower tax bracket : 14% to 11 %
  • Slows down the recession
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4
Q

Problems with Reaganomics

A
  • Trying to end the Cold War accompanied by reducing tax cuts creates Federal deficits
  • Reagan had spent more than any president before him
  • First time since WWI that the U.S. is a nation in debt
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5
Q

Sandra Day O’Connor

A
  • 1st woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court
  • Appointed by Ronald Reagan
  • Conservative judge
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6
Q

Reagan’s Cold War Strategy

A
  • Increase relations between the Soviet Union and China

- Limit the spread of Communism (especially in the Western Hemisphere / Middle East)

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7
Q

Boland Agreement

A
  • In Nicaragua, the Contras and Sandinistas (Communists) were fighting for control
  • U.S. funds and gives weapons to the Contras
  • The money and guns are used to take over the Central American narcotics trade
  • This agreement stops the funding of the Contras
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8
Q

Iran-Contra Affair

A
  • Iraq invades Iran to take over oil and uses chemical weapons
  • Weapons are sold to Iran, the profits going back to the Contras in Nicaragua
  • U.S. violates Boland Agreement, funds Iraq as well
  • Ronald Reagan knew and set the orders, but had early onset Alzheimer’s
  • Like Watergate Scandal
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9
Q

Soviet Afghan War

A
  • U.S. secretly funds the mujahideen (against the Soviets)
  • Unlimited budget, spending amounts to 500 million
  • 1988 & 1989 end of Communism / Cold War
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10
Q

Election of 1988

A
  • Reagan’s Vice President wins, George Bush I

- Wants to continue Reagan’s policies

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11
Q

George Bush I’s Goals

A
  • Reduce the economic deficit
  • Officially end the Cold War
  • Keep balance in the Middle East
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