1 / 29

The American President’s 1980-present

The American President’s 1980-present. Mr.Mancuso Terre Haute South Vigo High School. Ronald Reagan -Quick Facts. Feb. 6, 1911-June 5, 2004. 40 th President of the United States (1981-1989) Also an actor, broadcaster, and former governor of California

cybele
Download Presentation

The American President’s 1980-present

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The American President’s 1980-present Mr.Mancuso Terre Haute South Vigo High School

  2. Ronald Reagan -Quick Facts • Feb. 6, 1911-June 5, 2004. • 40th President of the United States (1981-1989) • Also an actor, broadcaster, and former governor of California • Defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980 Presidential Election 489 electoral votes to 49

  3. Why did Reagan Win? • Good public speaker • Iran Hostage Situation • Came from California (many electoral votes

  4. Reaganomics • Lower the top income tax rates would spur economic growth • Known as Reaganomics • Businesses would then create jobs • Cut federal income taxes by 25 percent

  5. Reaganomics Tax cuts favored wealthy Americans (people who voted for Reagan) Deficit in the federal government. Results: inflation drops to 4 percent (was 10 percent) Some people argued that the poor did not benefit (did not get as big of a tax cut)

  6. Cold War Relations • Increased military spending early in the decade • Pentagon budget went from $150 billion to $250 billion by 1985 • Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)

  7. Star Wars • Critics of Reagan’s SDI called the plan “Star Wars” after hit movie series. • Untested technological theories • A missile defense system • Expensive • Would upgrade the arms race.

  8. More U.S./Soviet relations • Mixed relations between the superpowers. • Soviet’s shot down Korean Airliner on September 1, 1983. • All passengers (269) dead • Soviet’s boycotted 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles after the United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

  9. 1984 Election • Reagan defeated Walter Mondale (right) in 1984. • Electoral votes were 525 for Reagan to 13 for Mondale (one of the biggest margins ever) • This showed that the public was behind Reagan

  10. Other Reagan Highlights • Appointed Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman justice on the Supreme Court • Embracing of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev • Arms reduction with the Soviet Union

  11. Iran/Contra Affair • Most serious crisis in Reagan’s term • U.S. ships arms (guns) to Iran. • Profits went to supply the Contras (fighting Nicaraguan government). • Also tied to this was secretly bargaining for release of U.S. hostages in Lebanon by Iranian groups • Caused mistrust of government

  12. Legacy of Reagan • Helped end the Cold War • Improved economy • Deficit • Arms reductions • Popular President

  13. George H.W. Bush Quick Facts • Born 1924 • President from 1989-1993 (41st President) • Ronald Reagan’s Vice President 1981-1988 • Defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis 426 electoral votes to 111 electoral votes • Also served as a Congressman from Texas • Served in World War II

  14. The End of the Cold War • Had to deal with the collapse of the Soviet Union • Helped with the end of Communism and the re-unification of Germany • Friend of Gorbachev • Continued Reagan’s legacy

  15. The Persian Gulf War • August 1990-Iraq invades Kuwait to control oil fields. • United States backed Saddam against Iran • Bush rushes to the defense of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. • Desert Shield-protect Saudi Arabia

  16. Desert Storm

  17. Desert Storm • President Bush and the United Nations built a coalition to oppose Saddam Hussein. • Several of the countries were mortal enemies (Israel and Syria/Jordan) • 690,000 troops fought in the conflict which began January 16, 1991. • Air War proved coalitions power. • Ground war began on February 23rd.

  18. Casualties • Coalition victory. • 150 killed 450 wounded for the Americans. • Emergence of leaders such as General Norman Schwarzkopf, Secretary of Defense Dick Chaney and General Colin Powell

  19. Why Not Baghdad • Uncertainty of Middle East without Saddam? • Possible riots • Who to replace Saddam? • Saddam better than other possibilities? • People criticize Bush for this.

  20. Bush versus Clinton

  21. 1992 Election • Economy floundered near the end of Bush’s campaign. • Bush had to raise taxes after he promised “No New Taxes” • Ross Perot runs as 3rd party candidate. (took votes away from Bush) • Clinton wins election 370-160

  22. The Clinton Bio (1946- • Democratic President of the United States 1992-2000. • Served 5 terms as governor of Arkansas • Married to Hillary Rodham Clinton (political marriage) • Good economy during his tenure

  23. The Clinton Era • Tried to get universal health care passed (it didn’t) • Negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt (mortal enemies) • Humanitarian missions with UN in Somalia and Bosnia • Defeated Bob Dole in 1996 election.

  24. Criticisms of Clinton • Soft on terrorism-did not go after terrorists/Bin Laden after 1993 World Trade Center Attack • Soft on Iraq after Iraq evaded UN inspectors. • Impeachment after Monica Lewinsky scandal.

  25. Clinton Scandals • 1994-former Arkansas state employee said that Clinton sexually harassed her. • Whitewater. • Improper relationship (affair) with an intern Monica Lewinsky. Lied to the grand jury, led to impeachment. • Not convicted in impeachment trial, but will scar his legacy according to some historians.

  26. Overall Legacy • Good economic times • Great Public speaker • Family man • Democratic party has not been the same since he left office. • Wants to run for 3rd term, probably will not happen. • Campaigns for human rights now with former President Bush.

  27. George W. Bush • Republican • Born in 1946 • Former owner of the Texas Rangers • Former governor of Texas • Won election in 2000 over Al Gore and in 2004 John Kerry

  28. The Bush Presidency • 9/11-effect on the economy • War with the media • Asian Economic recession catching up with America • Tax cuts similar to Reagan • Iraq • Hurricane Katrina • War on Terrorism

  29. Future Questions • What is the future for the war on terror? Iran? Korea? • Who is the enemy? • Osama bin Laden • Who will win in 08? Hilary Clinton? Newt Gingrich?

More Related