Reagan Era facts for kids
The Reagan Era or Age of Reagan was an important time in American history. It lasted from 1981 to 1989. This period is named after President Ronald Reagan. Historians and political experts use this name because Reagan's ideas, known as the "Reagan Revolution," had a big and lasting effect on America. These changes impacted both how the country was run at home and its relationships with other countries.
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Ronald Reagan's Presidency
Ronald Reagan became President in 1980. He won by a lot, defeating the sitting President Jimmy Carter. Reagan won 44 out of the 50 American states.
First Term: Economic Changes
When Reagan became president, he signed a law called the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. This law lowered taxes for many people and businesses. Some people believe this helped the economy grow. After this, more jobs started to appear, and more people found work. Inflation, which is when prices go up, also went down.
During his first term, President Reagan also worked to make the American military stronger. This created even more jobs. However, building up the military also meant the government spent more money, which increased the national debt. The economy grew during his first term, with more people working and businesses doing better.
Second Term: Ending the Cold War
In 1984, Reagan won re-election by an even bigger margin. He won 49 out of the 50 American states. During his second term, Reagan focused on trying to end the Cold War. This was a long period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Reagan held many important meetings with other world leaders. These included Margaret Thatcher from the United Kingdom, Pope John Paul II, and the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Their first meeting was at the Geneva Summit in 1985. Both Reagan and Gorbachev shared a strong desire to end the Cold War. They met four times in total. These meetings led to the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. This treaty helped to reduce the number of certain types of nuclear weapons.
Foreign Policy Actions
During his second term, some of Reagan's actions abroad were popular in the U.S. These included the invasion of Grenada and the bombing of Libya. However, his support for the Contras rebels in Nicaragua caused a lot of debate. This was part of a big event called the Iran–Contra affair. This event showed that Reagan's way of managing things could sometimes lead to problems.
The AIDS Crisis
The AIDS crisis began to spread in America during Reagan's presidency. Many people felt that the government's response to this health crisis was slow.
What Was Reagan's Legacy?
Many people believe that Ronald Reagan had a huge impact on American history during his time in office. They compare his influence to that of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his "New Deal" policies from earlier times. The Reagan Era included not just Reagan himself, but also many new ideas and important people. Since he left office in 1989, Reagan has become one of the most popular Presidents in United States history.
What Made Reagan Stand Out?
Reagan is often seen as the main leader of a conservative movement. His ideas, whether people agreed with them or not, greatly influenced national policies. These policies included taxes, welfare, military defense, the federal judiciary (the court system), and how the U.S. dealt with the Cold War. Even though some Americans disagreed with his conservative ideas, many conservatives still admire Reagan. They see him as a symbol of their beliefs.
Images for kids
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Ronald Reagan with a cowboy hat at Rancho Del Cielo.
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President Joe Biden with former Democrat presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama during the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, September 11, 2021
