Chapter 25: The Reagan and Bush Years "The Reagan Legacy"

Introduction In the 1980 presidential election, it seemed that the United States was ready for Ronald Reagan. The two previous decades had seen turmoil, war, economic troubles, and weakening political influence abroad. Ronald Reagan's homespun values and promises to restore Americans' faith in the government appealed to many voters, and they gave him a decided victory. During his two terms in office, he proposed increased military spending, decreased taxes, and reduced government control. Did his presidency deliver on his campaign promises? Draw your own conclusions after visiting this Web site about American presidents. Destination Title: The Presidents Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window. Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips. Directions Start at the The Presidents Web site. Click on the picture of Reagan, and then select a topic on the left side of the page. Be sure to visit the "Domestic Policy" topic to review Reagan's views on tax cuts and the "Foreign Affairs" topic to review his speech about the Iran-contra affair. Browse through the site, taking notes as you go. After you have read through the information, answer the following questions. 1. Characterize Reaganomics and its impact on the national economy. 2. What effect did the economic program have on the federal deficit? 3. How did Reagan's views of the Soviet Union influence his foreign policy? 4. Compare the Iran-contra scandal and the Watergate scandal. 5. Many admired Reagan's communication skills, and some even called him "the great communicator." He often began his speeches with a heartwarming story or a joke. On a separate sheet of paper, compose a brief speech presenting your thoughts on the Reagan legacy—the facets of his administration that define his presidency. Then present your speech to the class in Reagan's folksy manner.