Reagan’s Second TermReagan’s Second Term

The Election of 1984The Election of 1984

Ronald Reagan would again be the Republican Ronald Reagan would again be the Republican candidate for President.candidate for President.

Walter Mondale would be the Democratic Walter Mondale would be the Democratic candidate for President and Geraldine Ferraro candidate for President and Geraldine Ferraro would be the first woman vice-presidential would be the first woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket.candidate on a major party ticket.

Reagan was reelected in a landslide with 525 Reagan was reelected in a landslide with 525 electoral votes to Mondale’s 13 electoral votes.electoral votes to Mondale’s 13 electoral votes.

Second Term Economic ReformsSecond Term Economic Reforms

The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985 would be passed 1985 would be passed

• Provided for automatic across the board Provided for automatic across the board spending cuts if the federal budget did not spending cuts if the federal budget did not go down by a certain amount each year.go down by a certain amount each year.

• Automatic aspect of the Gramm-Rudman Automatic aspect of the Gramm-Rudman Act would be found unconstitutionalAct would be found unconstitutional

Changes in the Supreme CourtChanges in the Supreme Court

In 1981, Reagan would appoint the first woman In 1981, Reagan would appoint the first woman to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor.to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor.

In 1986, Antonin Scalia would become the first In 1986, Antonin Scalia would become the first Italian American to be nominated to the Italian American to be nominated to the Supreme Court.Supreme Court.

In 1987, Reagan would appoint Anthony In 1987, Reagan would appoint Anthony Kennedy to the Supreme Court after his first Kennedy to the Supreme Court after his first two nominees, Robert Bork and Douglas two nominees, Robert Bork and Douglas Ginsburg were rejected by the Senate.Ginsburg were rejected by the Senate.

Foreign Policy DecisionsForeign Policy Decisions

When Ronald Reagan took office in 1980 When Ronald Reagan took office in 1980 he pledged to make the United States he pledged to make the United States “stand tall” in world affairs and that they “stand tall” in world affairs and that they would take a strong stand against the would take a strong stand against the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

Reagan would call the Soviet Union the Reagan would call the Soviet Union the evil empire soon after taking office.evil empire soon after taking office.

In March 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev In March 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the became the General Secretary of the Communist Party. Communist Party.

Gorbachev was from a younger Gorbachev was from a younger generation of Communists who believed generation of Communists who believed that better relations with the United that better relations with the United States would allow the Soviets to reduce States would allow the Soviets to reduce their burden of military spending and their burden of military spending and reform their economy.reform their economy.

Gorbachev would initiate a series of Gorbachev would initiate a series of meetings and arms control negotiations meetings and arms control negotiations in Geneva in November 1985 and in in Geneva in November 1985 and in Reykjavik, Iceland in October 1986. Reykjavik, Iceland in October 1986. Tensions would reduce between the two Tensions would reduce between the two countriescountries

Gorbachev would encourage Glasnost or Gorbachev would encourage Glasnost or openness in Soviet society and openness in Soviet society and Perestroika or economic restructuring.Perestroika or economic restructuring.

On December 8, 1987, Reagan and On December 8, 1987, Reagan and Gorbachev would sign the INF Treaty Gorbachev would sign the INF Treaty or Intermediate-range nuclear forces or Intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement. agreement.

Eliminated two classes of weapons Eliminated two classes of weapons systems systems

Allowed each nation to make on-site Allowed each nation to make on-site inspections of military installations on inspections of military installations on the other’s territory. the other’s territory.

In Nicaragua, the United States would In Nicaragua, the United States would support the Contras who were a group of support the Contras who were a group of right-wing rebels trying to overthrow the right-wing rebels trying to overthrow the Sandinasta socialist government of Sandinasta socialist government of Nicaragua.Nicaragua.

CIA started helping the Contras mine CIA started helping the Contras mine harbors in the Nicaragua ports of Corinto harbors in the Nicaragua ports of Corinto and Puerto Sandino. and Puerto Sandino.

This was an unauthorized action which This was an unauthorized action which led Congress to pass the Boland led Congress to pass the Boland Amendment forbidding military aid to the Amendment forbidding military aid to the Contras for a two year period.Contras for a two year period.

In 1986 the Iran-Contra affair would surface In 1986 the Iran-Contra affair would surface

It was found out that the Reagan administration It was found out that the Reagan administration had secretly sold Iran weapons in attempt to release had secretly sold Iran weapons in attempt to release hostages. hostages.

In addition, part of the profits from this sale had In addition, part of the profits from this sale had been secretly transferred to the contrasbeen secretly transferred to the contras

Eventually, several individuals were indicted as a Eventually, several individuals were indicted as a result of the affair.result of the affair.

In October 1983, a truck filled with In October 1983, a truck filled with explosives crashed into the marine explosives crashed into the marine barracks near the Beirut, Lebanon airport barracks near the Beirut, Lebanon airport killing 241 Americans. killing 241 Americans.

Reagan would decide to pull the U.S. Reagan would decide to pull the U.S. troops out of Lebanon.troops out of Lebanon.

In 1987 the United States would put its In 1987 the United States would put its support behind Iraq in the Iraq-Iran War. support behind Iraq in the Iraq-Iran War. In August 1988, Iraq and Iran would agree In August 1988, Iraq and Iran would agree to a cease-fire.to a cease-fire.

Social Issues Social Issues

By 1980 the United States was becoming more By 1980 the United States was becoming more and more suburbanized with cities becoming and more suburbanized with cities becoming strained economically as businesses and tax strained economically as businesses and tax revenue went to the suburbs.revenue went to the suburbs.

Cities throughout the 1980’s struggled to Cities throughout the 1980’s struggled to provide basic services like water, sanitation provide basic services like water, sanitation and police protection.and police protection.

Beginning in 1981 AIDS would rapidly Beginning in 1981 AIDS would rapidly spread throughout the world. spread throughout the world.

The first cases of AIDS were first noticed The first cases of AIDS were first noticed in the homosexual community but were in the homosexual community but were then identified by the mid to late 1980’s in then identified by the mid to late 1980’s in others do to blood transfusions, drug use, others do to blood transfusions, drug use, and children born to mothers with the and children born to mothers with the disease.disease.

From 1981-1992 about 206,000 cases of From 1981-1992 about 206,000 cases of AIDS had been reported in the United AIDS had been reported in the United States.States.

In 1981, the first space shuttle flight would In 1981, the first space shuttle flight would occur. occur.

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded a minute after takeoff, Challenger exploded a minute after takeoff, killing all seven crew members. killing all seven crew members.