President Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Major Laws that Reagan passed

Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 which reduced the federal income tax to 25 percent.

Social Security Amendments of 1983 amended Social Security to adjust for new retirees.

1984 Expansion of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 - tightened federal standards for the disposal of toxic waste and extends controls to small companies

Tax Reform Act of 1986 - simplified the income tax code, broadened the tax base and eliminate many tax shelters and other preferences.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 - granted amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously.

Wars that Were Fought

1986 Bombing of Libya

It was believed that Gaddafi, Fidel Castro, and Leonid Brezhnev were part of a group known as the "unholy trinity." In April 1986, a bomb exploded in Berlin resulting in 1 death and 63 injuries. There was proof that Libya directed the attack. U.S responded by sending a series of air strikes on ground targets in Libya.

The Iran-Contra Affair

In 1986, this became the largest political scandal in the U.S in the 1980s. The administration was accused of using the proceeds from covert arms to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. It was ruled that the U.S. had violated international law in Nicaragua due to its obligations not to intervene in the affairs of other states. There was no direct evidence that Reagan had prior knowledge of the program, but he was heavily criticized for his disengagement from managing his staff.

Events that occurred between the U.S. and other nations!

• Escalation of the Cold War : Reagan escalated the Cold War, accelerating a reversal from the policy of détente which began in 1979 following the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Reagan ordered a massive buildup of the United States Armed Forces and implemented new policies towards the Soviet Union.

• Libya Bombing

• Iran-Contra Affair

End of the COLD WAR! In November 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down, the Cold War was officially declared over at the Malta Summit on December 3, 1989 and two years later, the Soviet Union collapsed.

Major Events that Occurred within the U.S.

Sandra Day O'Connor named first woman Supreme Court justice (1981).

Attempted assassination of Reagan (1981).

Air Traffic Controllers' Strike: Reagan stated that if the air traffic controllers "do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated. They did not return and on August 5, Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order.

War on Drugs: Midway into his second term, Reagan declared more militant policies in the War on Drugs. He said that "drugs were menacing our society" and promised to fight for drug-free schools, Workplaces, and also expanded drug treatment, stronger law enforcement and drug interdiction efforts. Which all promoted greater public awareness.

Economy During Reagan's Term

The four rules of Reagan's economic policy were to reduce; the growth of government spending, income tax, capital gains tax, government regulation of economy, and control money supply to reduce inflation. This was successful because it has been claimed that Reagan's policies brought about the second longest peacetime with economic expansion in U.S. History.

The end

Reagan Explains his plan for Tax Reduction on National TV.