U.S. History module 8

8.02 The 1980s
"1980 election: This was a political event because it caused a change in the government. Americans wanted a firm, patriotic leader who had a plan to fix the economic problems carrying over from the 1970s. Jimmy Carter was running for reelection, and Americans overall were very unhappy with his leadership. Ronald Reagan emerged as his challenger, a former actor with great public skills and a plan. They elected Ronald Reagan in 1980 who had a controversial plan for fixing the U.S. economy, later dubbed “Reaganomics.”"
Reagan and Nicaragua: Political. When Nicaragua went through a revolution to take down their government because it was corrupt, the Sandinistas took power. The Sandinistas preferred to postpone elections and emulated the Soviet Union. Reagan decided to help fund the Contras, who wished to take down the Sandinistas. Americans were afraid that Reagan's involvement would make it somewhat similar to the Vietnam War. His consequence was an investigation of the Iran-Contra Affair.
Reagan's Plan: Economic. Former President Reagan proposed to decrease the government's taxes, influence over business, and relaxed rules in banking and savings. Job training, mass transportation development (underground metros, buses...), and student loans were reduced as well, since the government needed a balance. He increased defense spending, and in consequence, people thought that he wasn't caring for the poor.
1980s Deregulation: Economics. Since people thought that the poor was less cared for by Reagan, he made changes to his plans. People started to buy more(consumerism) in 1983 and initiated or returned to investing in the stock market. Consequence: The stock market crashed 3 years after his reelection and American found low-paying jobs under Reagan, thus causing a controversial debate of Reaganomics.
Sun Belt: People were leaving the Rust Belt, where industrial and manufacturing was in the Northeast and Midwest, for the Sun Belt, the South and West. Globalization caused plenty of unemployment in the prior booming corporations. Many workers were displaced as businesses extended overseas. Since the 1950s, there had been a demographic shift.
The Cold War Ends: Social/political. Mikhail Gorbachev founded reforms in the Soviet Union——Perestroika and Glasnost. His people had more rights. This caused Reagan to challenge the sincerity of his reforms. Reagan addressed Gorbachev at the Brandenburg Gate, saying that the Germans were separated from each other and that there was doubt of mankind's freedom. Reagan demanded Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. When the wall came down, Germany reunified in 1990.
First Lady's impact: Social. Cocaine ravaged many cities. First Lady Nancy Reagan visited many schools to warn schoolchildren of drug use. Although many students listened and avoided teenage drugs, others went down the wrong path. As of today, far from the "War on Drugs," there are stoners and people who are non-addicts. Her impact couldn't help everyone, as everyone made their choices, but inspired people then to stay away.
Punk/Glam Rock: Social. Both were the music of the 1980s. Its popularity brought the Live Aid concert. The concert was watched all over the world, and with support, millions were raised to relieve famine in Africa. The Live Aid concert, which helped Ethiopia especially, took place in Mid-Atlantic America and England. A consequence was famine relief, and soon music was reached outer space; it was method of waking up astronauts.
1. Ronald Reagan's policies had a negative effect overall, in my opinion. I respect the fact that his plans kind of parallel with Calvin Coolidge's. He also was definitely anti-Communist and preferred the Berlin Wall to be torn down, which I would support, were I in his place. But for this country, for America, his improvement was a temporary mark that faded. I believe that countless low-paying jobs would affect people's happiness (referring to the history of minimum wages and strikes), and the our happiness would be what will bring our economy up, or crush it down. If the urban poor do not improve, it will leave the majority with the doubt of how much change there was.
2. I would think that it's the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Wall has been there for so long and I agree with Ronald Reagan when he addresses Mikhail Gorbachev. The Berlin Wall reminds me too much of the Union and the Confederacy and the sad segregation in the early 1900s.