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Trickle-Down Economics
The belief that high-income earners gain an increase in salary, then everyone in the economy will benefit as their increased income and wealth filter through to all sections of society. Link text -
1980 Election
Ronald Reagan won over Jimmy Carter because of the Iranian hostage crisis and America's stagflation.
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Release of the American Hostages by Iran
In November 1979, revolutionaries stormed the American embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage. The Carter administration tried unsuccessfully to negotiate for the hostages' release. On January 20, 1981, the day Carter left office, Iran released the Americans, ending their 444 days in captivity. Link text -
Assassination attempt on Reagan
John Hinckley was charged with attempting to assassinate Reagan in 1981. He wounded the president, the press secretary, and a secret service agent.
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AIDS
A huge deadly outbreak in the '70s started with gay men and was labeled the "gay plague" but soon began to affect drug users, hemophiliacs, and minorities. Link text -
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) AKA Star Wars
SDI was Reagan's intent to pursue a high technology missile defense system which was referred to as SDI or Star Wars.
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Iran-Contra Affair
scandal uncovered after investigations in 1987 revealed that the US had been selling weapons to the anti-American government in Iran
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1984 Election
The democratic candidate was Walter Mondale, who made history by naming Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro of NY as his vice-presidential running mate. However, Mondale's candidacy was tainted by his service as vice president to Carter. Mondale lost terribly, only winning his home state of Minnesota and the District of Columbia.
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The “Reagan Doctrine”
Oppose the global influence of the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War; U.S. provided overt and covert aid to anti-communist guerrillas and resistance movements in an effort to "rollback" Soviet-backed communist governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It became the opening the door for capitalism.
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Gorbachev’s Glasnost and Perestroika
Glasnost was the policy of openness or political liberation in the Soviet Union put forward by Mikhail Gorbachev in late 1980s and Perestroika was the policy of Mikhail Gorbachev calling for economic restructuring in the USSR in the late 1980s. It gave more leeway for private ownership and decentralized control in industry and agriculture.
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The Challenger Disaster
The space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight, killing all aboard. The explosion was caused by a faulty seal in the fuel tank. The shuttle program was halted while investigators and officials drew up new safety regulations, but was resumed in 1988 with the flight of the Discovery. Link text -
1988 Election
The Republican nominee was George H. W Bush, VP during Reagan's Presidency. Bush's VP was Danforth Quayle. Micheal Dukakis was the Democratic nominee. A lot of negative campaigning
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Unraveling of the Soviet Bloc
the unraveling of the Soviet bloc followed soon after as freedom was achieved; the event also led to the fall of the Iron Curtain. Link text -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Troops crushed protesters in their path and once they reached the square, fired indiscriminately into the crowds.
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The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The East German government was forced to announce much greater freedom of travel for East German citizens. As part of this decision, the East German government announced that East Germans would be allowed to cross the border with West Berlin.
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Operation Desert Storm
The United States and its allies defeated Iraq in a ground war that lasted 100 hours. The code name for the liberation of Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War of 1991.
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Collapse of the U.S.S.R
Failed attempts at reform, a stagnant economy, and a war in Afghanistan led to a general feeling of discontent. The dramatic drop in the price of oil in 1985 and 1986, and consequent lack of foreign exchange reserves in following years to purchase grain profoundly influenced actions of the Soviet leadership.
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