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Presidents: Ronald Reagan-George W. Bush
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Ronald Reagan's Convention Speech
This was Reagan's speech about the actions he would take if he was elected president. He talked about the economy and what he was going to do to improve the economy. He tended to do supply-sided economics. This is the decrease in taxes. Reagan wanted to increase interest rates to decrease inflation. The inflation rate dropped about 10% in under 10 years. He lowered taxes, which mostly benefited the wealthy. The wealthy then invested and it created more jobs. -
Ronald Reagan elected as President
After beating Jimmy Carter, Reagan was elected to be the next President. Reagan beat Carter with his strong convervatism. He supported state's rights, condemned, "welfare cheats", busing, and affirmative action. However, he won the most votes for supporting family values. -
Congress Passes the Tax Reform Act
Taxes had already been decreased by Reagan earlier, but Congress took an even bigger step and lowered the top income tax to 28%. Taxes were extremely low at this time. -
America's Economic Bill of RIghts
This Bill of Rights laid out Reagan's economic revolution. He curtained union power, reduced federal legislation of industry and the environment, but most importantly it lowered taxes. -
Republican Convention
This is important because President Bush made a promise at this convention. He said, "Read my lips, no new taxes." This was not a smart move because it later caught up with him. He raised taxes to combat the national defiicit. -
George H.W. Bush Sworn into Office
Bush was previously Reagan's vice president for two terms. In 1988, Bush won the election against Michael Dukakis. He was sworn into office later. His experiences serving America helped him. He was a war hero, young pilot, Congressman, UN ambassador, and director of the CIA. -
Deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait
Saddam had previously invaded Kuwait in 1990. Bush brought the issue to several groups and they decided on a resolution and deadline. Saddam was to leave Kuwait by January 15 of 1991. He did not flee, so the U.S. and 34 other nations intervened. America launched an air war that destroyed Iraq's defense. The army defeated the Iraqi army in just 100 hours. This war was successful and there were less than 300 soldiers left dead (American.) -
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties
These treaties were a result of the Cold War. This was between the U.S. and USSR They reduced the number of nuclear weapons. Each country could only possess 3,000-3,5000 warheads now. This progress was good for both sides. -
Oslo Accords
This was one of the successes of the Clinton administration. The Oslo Accords is when Israel recognized the Palestinian Liberation Organization. However, it did not create peace in the Middle East. -
Murrah Federal Building Bombing
Terrorism was increasing during this time. The biggest attack during Clinton's presidency was the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. Two American terrorists, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, carried out this bombing, killing more than 100 people and injuring around 600 people. -
Telecommunications Act
This decreased one part of the government, which most presidents don't do. Clinton reduced parts of the government with policies. The act deregulated broadcasting. -
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act
This was Clinton's big welfare reform. It replaced Aid to Families with the Dependent Child Program. This change gave states grants with work requirements and time limits for benefits. This contributed to the low unemployment rate (under 4%.) -
9/11 Attacks
Some terrorists involved with al Qaeda hijacked four airliners on September 11. Two planes were flown into the Manhattan World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and the last one crashed in Philadelphia because the passengers overpowered the hijackers. Around 3,000 people died and around 400 cops and firefighters died too. After this attack, foreign policy was the most important and the country became more united. -
War on Terror Speech
This speech was Bush's response to the 9/11 attacks. He said, "We love freedom...and they hate freedom," regarding why al Qaeda targeted the U.S. He introduced a new principle called the Bush Doctrine. It was a foreign policy that stated that America would go to war with terrorism. This later led to the first airstrike conducted by the U.S. on Afghanistan. -
USA Patriot Act
This act was meant to fight terrorism. It gave the government uncommon powers to combat domestic terrorism. This included the ability to wiretap and spy on Americans. The government arrested around 1,200 people connected to the Middle East. This act also led to the establishment of the prison in Guantanamo Bay. -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
This act was signed in 2002. It mandated that states enforce stringent standards and testing requirements to improve those standards. This act is extremely controversial, especially among teachers.
