The Bush YearsThe Bush Years

Does George Bush continue the “Reagan Revolution”?

1988 Election

Election between VP George Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis

Dukakis argues Reagan ran up debt, Bush has no plan

Critics say Bush to “weak” to follow in Reagan’s footsteps

Bush promises a kinder, gentler nation and a no new tax pledge

• Bush goes on the attack in campaign commercials

• Makes Dukakis seem weak on defense and crime

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1988

Q: What negatives are said about Dukakis in each commercial?

Bush Foreign Policy

1991: Soviet Union collapses, becomes Russia and 14 independent republicsBush/Russian president Boris Yeltsin declare end to Cold WarBush & Yeltsin sign START, which will reduce nuclear weapons by 2/3 – Bush improves relations w/ other E. European nations

•Bush easily wins 1988 election

•1989: Panama’s president Manuel Noriega of drug trafficking•Bush sends army into Panama to capture Noriega

The Persian Gulf War

•1990: Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait

•1991: Bush puts together a multi-nation UN coalition and launches “Desert Storm”

•Gen Schwarzkopf & allies win decisive victory over Iraq

• Map page 8541. What major targets do Iraqi missiles hits? 2. From what country did the UN coalition invade Iraq & Kuwait?3. Where were US naval forces located?

•Despite winning the war, years of deficit spending were hurting economy, less defense jobs due to end of Cold War

•Bush must raise taxes to pay off debt – costs him 1992 election