4 May 2015
APUSH
Reagan Essay Outline
Intro:
The presidency of Ronald Reagan, from 1981 to 1989, as compared to that of Lyndon B. Johnson about two decades prior, was certainly a revolution. Reagan’s domestic policy allowed specifically for economic expansion which had been unachievable to LBJ. His successful foreign policy led to the end of the Cold War, which America had been involved in since 1947 and from which LBJ failed to remove the US. The public political legacy of Reagan is undeniable and incomparable to that of LBJ because of the myriad improvements he made to the life of all American citizens at the time. Overall, Reagan’s revolution was evident through all aspects of his presidency and transitioned America into its …show more content…
Reaganomics- cut taxes, balanced budget, and Cut LBJ’s Great Society programs
Arthur Laffer’s “supply-side” economics- cutting taxes for wealthy elite would encourage spending, allowing money to “trickle down” the American economy into the homes of the middle and lower classes
This would remove the need for social welfare systems
Went against Keynesian economics
1981 Economic Recovery Act
GDP increased 23% | Federal Revenue increased 33%
1989 had the 85th month of economic growth, which surpassed that of any other post war economic boom
CA- these tax cuts led to decreased support of women and minorities, whose rights LBJ made strides in protecting with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965
R- Reagan focused on recovering from long lasting recession due to war rather than social issues
R- LBJ’s “blank check” caused much of this economic strife decades before, from which the American economy never recovered, and he took no action to resolve the issues which he created
Foreign Policy:
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)- national defense network of missile to protect US from attack near limitless military spending continuation of Arms Race beginning of presidency
Confrontation of Soviets and Confidence in