The 1980s and the Cold War

The 1980s

• The 1980s were a time of significant political events.
• President Reagan played a key role in ending the Cold War.
• President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union, engaged in peace talks, which reduced tension between the US and the Soviet Union.

Cold War Background

• The Cold War began at the conclusion of World War II.
• The US and the Soviet Union emerged as the world's strongest countries after the war.
• The US and the Soviet Union had opposing ideologies of US democracy vs Soviet communism.
• The US aimed to control communism through containment.
• Containment is defined as keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
• The "Cold War" title stems from the absence of direct military engagement between the two countries.
• The Cold War was a major part of the 20th century.
• By the close of the 1980s, the Cold War appeared to be nearing its end.

The Berlin Wall

• The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War.
• In 1945, following Germany's defeat, the country was divided into two parts.
• West Germany, also known as the Federal Republic of Germany, was under the control of Americans, British, and French in 1949.
• The Soviet Union controlled East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic in October 1949.
• Berlin, Germany’s capital, was divided in half, with West Germany and East Germany controlling differing sections.
• The physical location of Berlin was in East Germany.
• East Germany sought to prevent its citizens from traveling or escaping to West Germany.
• The East German government believed democracy would negatively influence its citizens.
• The border closed in 1952, restricting East Germans from leaving without government permission.
• In August 1961, the East German government built the Berlin Wall to prevent citizens from escaping.
• The wall symbolized the separation between communist and democratic countries in Europe.
• When the Berlin Wall went up, families become separated
• Some East Germans were killed while trying to escape to West Germany.
• In 1987, President Reagan called for Gorbachev to tear down the wall
• In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell.
• The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of a significant symbol of the divide between the US and Eastern Europe, but it was not the end of the Cold War.

End of the Cold War

• After several Soviet countries fought to leave, the Soviet Union officially dissolved in December 1991, marking the end of the Cold War.
• After serving two terms, President Reagan left office.
• On January 20, 1989, George H.W. Bush, Reagan's vice president, assumed office after winning the 1988 elections.

Presidential Term Limits

• Presidents were not always limited to two terms.
• Until 1951, with the 22nd Amendment, the two-term limit was a tradition that began with George Washington.
• Other Presidents followed George Washington's example.
• President FDR served more than two terms due to the disorder caused by the Great Depression and WWII.
• FDR is the only president who has served four terms.

Three Branches of US Government

• The presidency is one of the three branches of the US government.
• The Constitution is the supreme law of America, created post US founding.
• The Constitution established the three branches of government that exist today.
• The first branch of government is the Legislative Branch, which creates laws.
• The Legislative branch is composed of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• The Executive Branch, which includes the president, vice president, and cabinet, is the second branch.
• The president’s cabinet, a group of special advisers chosen by the president.
• The executive branch carries out, or executes, laws.
• The Judicial branch is the third branch of government.
• The Judicial Branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts
• The judicial branch interprets laws.
• The three-branch system allows for the separation of powers.
• Following the American Revolution, the colonists rebelled against the English government and wanted to ensure the government would not be too powerful.
• A strong leader, like a president, is important, but they did not want the president to become like the King of England.
• The three branches of government and the separation of powers was established to stop the president or any other branch becoming too powerful.
• Each branch of government keeps the other branches from becoming too powerful
• This is accomplished through checks and balances.
• The Constitution gives each branch different duties and powers.
• No single branch can function without the others.
• Checks and balances allow the branches to ensure that others are acting consitutionally.

Example of Checks and Balances

• Congress has the ability to create bills, which become laws.
• The President can sign the bill into law, or veto it.
• If the president vetoes the bill, Congress can override this veto.
• The Supreme Court can declare the law unconstitutional, even if both Congress and the president agree to pass it.
• These checks and balances are part of what makes US government a democracy.