The Political Climate of the 1980s - Paper

The Political Climate of the 1980s - Paper

The Political Climate of the 1980s
Michael Joyner
Patrick Groves
Lashanda Robinson
Steven Johnson
Joe Rhoades
University of Phoenix
Dr. Annette E. Jefferson
History 145
September 3, 2007

The Political Climate of the 1980s
The 1980’s started with the United States trapped in what President Carter famously referred to as a malaise. After a decade that had seen the duel humiliations of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War, along with economic stagflation, the American people were eager to start feeling good about their country again. To that end the American voters turned away from the liberal policies, as well as the humble persona of the Carter administration, and elected the conservative, and unapologetically patriotic, former Governor of California, Ronald Reagan. The Reagan presidency would give birth to a new era of conservative politics, as well as a revival of Cold War politics. The decade would see an economic resurgence that would label the era the decade of greed. The 1980’s was also the era when The United States reengaged itself as a world super power in the global community
1980
At the start of 1980 The U.S. was in the middle of the Iran hostage crisis. The ongoing crisis, and the failed attempt to rescue the hostages were a major factor in President Jimmy Carter losing the 1980 election to the former Governor of California, Ronald Reagan. Such was the mood for change in Washington that not only was Reagan elected President, but the Senate was won by the Republican party for the first time since the 1950’s. The day after Reagan was elected the Iranians freed the hostages.
1981
With their perceived mandate following the 1980 election, Reagan and the Republican senate set about turning their conservative, supply side economic vision into law. To this end, The Economic Recovery Act was passed. This law cut all income taxes across the board by 25 percent.
In this same year President Ragan made history by nominating...

Similar Essays