Questions and Answers
What was the outcome of the 1980 Election?
Which key policies did Reagan emphasize during his campaign?
There was an assassination attempt on Reagan in March 1981.
True
What were 'Boll Weevils' known for in the House?
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What was the main goal of Reagan's military spending?
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Reagan's initiative, known as ______, aimed to prevent missile attacks.
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What was a significant event that intensified tensions with the Soviets in 1983?
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What led to the Khobar Towers attack?
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What was a key feature of Gorbachev's leadership in the Cold War?
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What did the 1987 Treaty accomplish?
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Reagan was involved in the Iran-Contra Scandal.
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What is the term for a tool used by presidents to deny knowledge of illegal activities?
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What was one result of Reaganomics?
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Which event in 1986 is notable in US politics?
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Black Monday occurred on October 19, 1987.
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The aircraft carrier named after Reagan is the ______.
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What was the outcome of the 1988 Election?
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The Berlin Wall fell in 1989.
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What event occurred in Tiananmen Square in 1989?
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What occurred in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s?
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Study Notes
1980 Election
- Ronald Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter; Carter is president until 1981.
- Iranian hostages released immediately after Reagan's inauguration.
Reagan Campaign
- Capitalized on California's tax cuts through Proposition 13.
- Reduced welfare spending and lowered the top tax rate from 70% to 28%.
- Promoted supply-side or trickle-down economics to stimulate growth.
March 1981
- Attempted assassination of Reagan; gunman declared not guilty by reason of insanity.
"Boll Weevils"
- Southern conservative Democrats in the House who supported Reagan's tax cuts.
Reagan and the Cold War
- Increased military spending led to a higher US budget deficit.
- Aimed to win the Cold War rather than merely contain the Soviet Union.
- Described Soviets as the "Empire of Evil" and aimed for negotiations from a position of strength.
Killers to Soviet Economy
- Initiated the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars," aimed at missile defense.
"Solidarity" Movement
- The first non-communist trade union in a Warsaw Pact country, emerged in Poland.
- Reagan imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union in response to the crackdown on labor movements.
Worsening Tensions with Soviets
- Polish government crackdown on labor movements in response to Soviet pressures.
- 1983 incident when a South Korean passenger plane was shot down.
- US Marines killed in Lebanon due to a terrorist bombing linked to Al Qaeda.
Khobar Towers
- Terrorist attack by Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia on June 25, 1996, resulting in 19 deaths.
Reagan Involvement in Nicaragua
- Sent US advisors to assist El Salvador against left-wing Sandinista insurgents in Nicaragua.
1983 Grenada Invasion
- Military intervention to oust the communist government under the guise of rescuing American medical students.
1984 Election
- Reagan defeats Walter Mondale in a landslide; Mondale campaigns on the need for new leadership.
Gorbachev and Cold War
- Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
- Aims to reduce military spending and improve US-Soviet relations.
Glasnost
- Policy promoting openness and public debate within the Soviet government; aimed at reducing censorship.
Perestroika
- Economic restructuring of the Soviet Union, incorporating elements of capitalism to modernize its economy.
1987 Treaty
- Agreement with the US to eliminate all nuclear missiles in Europe; reduces Soviet missile presence.
Iran-Contra Scandal
- Reagan's administration secretly sold arms to Iran and funneled profits to support Nicaraguan contras.
- Reagan denied knowledge of the operations.
Plausible Deniability
- A strategy used by politicians to claim ignorance about controversial actions or decisions.
Reagan's Budget Legacy
- Reaganomics resulted in tax cuts that contributed to economic recovery but also created significant national deficits.
Reagan Court
- The Supreme Court became more conservative, influencing policies on affirmative action and abortion based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
1986 Senate Elections
- Democrats regained control of the Senate after the mid-term elections.
Black Monday
- On October 19, 1987, US stock market faced its largest single-day drop in history.
USS Ronald Reagan
- An aircraft carrier named in honor of President Reagan, symbolizing military strength.
1988 Election
- George H.W. Bush defeats Michael Dukakis.
Tiananmen Square Protests
- In 1989, Chinese students protested against government actions; protests were violently suppressed.
Eastern Europe late 1980s
- Pro-democracy movements gained momentum, toppling communist regimes in several Eastern European countries.
Fall of the Berlin Wall
- The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, leading to the reunification of Germany in 1990.
End of the Soviet Union
- Gorbachev resigns as the last Soviet president in 1991, resulting in the dissolution of the Soviet Union into 15 independent states.
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Description
Test your knowledge of significant events in the 1980s with this flashcard quiz. Covering major political events, campaigns, and economic policies from the decade, it's a great way to refresh your memory or learn something new. Perfect for history enthusiasts and students alike!