Transcript CONSERVATIVE POLICIES UNDER REAGAN

 Pres. Ronald Reagan
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& Vice-President
George H.W. Bush
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Regan, Actor
 Ronald Reagan in
California
REAGANOMICS
 WHAT WAS REAGANOMICS?
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PRES. REAGAN’S PLAN / POLICY TO IMPROVE THE U.S.
ECONOMY
EXPLAIN: REAGANOMICS WAS BASED ON 3 BASIC
PRINCIPLES:
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LARGE TAX CUTS…
WOULD INCREASE PRIVATE INVESTMENTS…
WOULD INCREASE U.S. SUPPLY OF GOODS & SERVICES
OTHER PRINCIPLES OF REAGANOMICS:
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SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS: DEFINE:
CUTTING TAX RATES…
GAVE PEOPLE MORE INCENTIVE TO WORK, SAVE & INVEST
 HOW DID IT WORK (IN THEORY)?
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MORE BUSINESS INVESTMENT = MORE JOBS
WHY? ENTREPRENEURS & OTHER SUPPLIERS
DEVELOPED NEW PRODUCTS & SERVICES
MORE WORKERS = MORE TAXPAYERS
MORE TAXPAYERS = WEALTHIER U.S. GOV’T.
REAGANOMICS (CONT’D.)
 SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS WAS ALSO CALLED…
TRICKEL-DOWN ECONOMICS
 WHY? BECAUSE THE PROSPERITY ENJOYED BY THE
BUSINESS OWNERS WAS SUPPOSED TO “TRICKLEDOWN” TO THE WORKING CLASSES
 SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS:
 PROS?
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INFLATION DECREASED
STOCK MARKET IMPROVES
UNEMPLOYMENT DECLINED
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP): UP 10%
CONS?
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NATIONAL DEBT INCREASED
EX.: 1980-92: $900 BIL. TO $4 TRILLION
TRADE IMBALANCE (DEFINE)
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
 SUPREME COURT MOVES TO THE RIGHT:
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EXAMPLES?
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SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR: 1st WOMAN APPOINTED TO
THE SUPREME COURT
WILLIAM RHENQUIST: VERY CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE
BECOMES CHIEF JUSTICE
SO WHAT? REAGAN (AND LATER BUSH, Sr.) MAKE
SUPREME CT. MORE CONSERVATIVE
 INCREASED MILITARY SPENDING:
 WHY?
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TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY
CONCERN OVER SOVIET THREAT
EXAMPLE?
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STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (S.D.I.): NICKNAMED
“STAR WARS”
GOAL: TO ELIMINATE SOVIET ICBM THREAT
 Reagan at the
Berlin Wall:
“Mr. Gorbachev,
tear down this
wall!”
S.D.I. / “STAR WARS”
DE-REGULATION
 REAGAN DEREGULATES THE ECONOMY
 WHY? TO STIMULATE MORE BUSINESS &
BUSINESS PROFITS
 EXAMPLES?
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SAVINGS & LOAN INDUSTRY: S & L’s ALLOWED
TO INVEST IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
PROBLEM? RISKY INVESTEMENTS LED TO S & L
FAILURES
EFFECT? INVESTOR SAVINGS WIPED OUT
 OTHER EXAMPLES?
 E.P.A. BUDGET CUT
THE 1984 & 1988 ELECTIONS
 CONSERVATIVES WIN BOTH ELECTIONS:
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SO WHAT? REPUBLICAN PARTY IN WHITE
HOUSE FOR 3 TERMS (12 YEARS)
 WHY?
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CONSERVATIVE COALITION HAD MANY
GROUPS / SUPPORTERS
COALITION HAD WIDE GEOGRAPHIC
SUPPORT IN U.S.
SEE P. 986, TOP
CHAPTER 33, SECTION 3
 IMPORTANT TERMS:
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A.I.D.S.
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ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
PAY EQUITY
L. DOUGLAS WILDER
JESSE JACKSON
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
CHAPTER 33, SECTION 3
 IMPORTANT DATES:
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1983: A NATION AT RISK REPORT
PUBLISHED
1984: REV. JESSE JACKSON RUNS FOR
DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINATION
1988: JACKSON RUNS AGAIN
1990: L. DOUGLAS WILDER ELECTED
GOV. OF VIRGINIA
1992: THE RODNEY KING RIOTS
NEW PROBLEMS
 New Problems: Health Issues
 Examples:
 A.I.D.S.
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Reaction?
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Origin: Most likely Central / East Africa
How? Animal – Human, then Human – Human
Primarily Blood-borne / Bodily fluids
H.I.V. virus is source
N.America: 1st becomes noticed in Gay / Bisexual
and I.V. Drug user groups
Bad; Gov’t. is not sympathetic to victims
Gov’t funds for research are slow to develop
Result?
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Disease jumps into Heterosexual community
Is still an ongoing health concern
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A.I.D.S in
Europe
NEW PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)
 DRUG USE & EPIDEMICS:
 PROBLEM: Drug use among citizens continued to
increase in 1980’S
 WHAT GROUPS? Primarily young Americans
 “NEW” DRUGS ADD TO TROUBLE:
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Examples:
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Cocaine
“Crack”
PCP
Methamphetamines / Synthetic Drugs (“Ecstasy”, “Crank”, etc.)
WHY IS PROBLEM GETTING WORSE?
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Answer: Expansion of drug use coincides w/ more
gang-related violence
Examples:
 1980: 10 U.S. cities reported major gang-related violence
 1990: 125 U.S. cities report major gang-related violence
NEW PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)
 Gov’t Response to Drug problem:
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Nancy Reagan: Just Say No! Campaign
Gov’t. begins random drug testing
Congress cuts off college loans & public housing
for marijuana users
U.S. Military becomes more heavily involved in
drug enforcement (Coast Guard, Navy, Army)
Penalties increased for drug users / dealers
 Result? “The War on Drugs” begins
 Problem: Drug dealers / suppliers constantly
change methods of distribution / production
2007 Major Drug Problems by Region
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Green: Marijuana
Blue: Cocaine
Red: Methamphetamines
Major International Drug Traders
 Pablo Escobar
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Rayful Edmond, III
Body of Pablo Escobar
after shootout, 1993
NEW PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)
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1983: Presidential Commission Report
Subject: U.S. education
Title: A Nation at Risk
Result?
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Reports serious problems w/ U.S. education
Examples?
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Scores on standardized tests among students had
declined since 1957
Most 17-yr. olds couldn’t read a paragraph in
English
23 mil. Americans couldn’t follow instruction
manuals or complete job application form
Most 17-yr. olds could find U.S. on a world map
 Response: Many suggestions, few effective
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
 New Leadership in Minority Communities:
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Democratic Party: Jesse Jackson
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Republican Party: L. Douglas Wilder
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Runs for Dem. Presidential nomination, 1984,’88
Elected Governor of Virginia
1st African-American state gov. in U.S. history
Urban leadership: Rev. Al Sharpton, D-NY
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Becomes major leader of NYC Af.-Am. Community
Elected to Congress (House of Reps.)
 The Rev. Jesse Jackson
GUESS WHO (Again)?
 L. Douglas Wilder,
Governor of Virginia
THE RODNEY KING RIOTS
 WHEN? 1991
 WHERE? Los Angeles
 WHY? Acquittal of 4 LAPD officers charged w/
videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King
 RESULT? Widespread violence / looting in Central
L.A.
 Rodney King Video, 1991