The greatest accomplishments of Jimmy Carter’s presidency include the Camp David Agreement, the creation of the Department of Education, and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. These were his greatest accomplishments because they marked his presidency and had a lasting impact. His most important accomplishment was the Camp David Agreement because it ensured lasting peace in the Middle East. His biggest challenges and failures include the Iranian Hostage Crisis and his loss in the Election of 1980 because they tainted his reputation. His biggest failure was the Iranian Hostage Crisis because it labeled him as a weak president and led to his downfall in his reelection campaign. I don’t think Carter was that great of a president because he was unable to free American hostages in Iran and had an approval rate of 23%, which was lower than Nixon’s after Watergate. 

The greatest accomplishments of Ronald Reagan’s presidency include his dominating victories in the Elections of 1980 and 1984, Reaganomics, and his Reagan Doctrine. These were his greatest accomplishments because they had a lasting impact and marked his legacy. His most important accomplishment was his dominating victories in the Elections of 1980 and 1984 because he won by a massive electoral college landslide, which showed he had the support from the American public. His biggest challenges and failures include an increase in national debt and the Iran-Contra Scandal because these negatively impacted the economy and the reputation of the U.S. His biggest failure was the Iran-Contra Scandal because it involved negotiation with terrorists and Reagan had no idea it was occurring. Reagan was a great president to a large extent because he had great confidence, youthful look, and only a minor scandal.

The “New Right” consisted of Christian religious leaders, conservative business leaders, and fringe political groups. The goals of the New Right include the cut of spending on social welfare to reduce the tax burden, less government involvement in businesses, and ultimately fix the moral decline America was experiencing. To a large extent, the New Right was successful because many of their goals were achieved during Reagan’s presidency. Reaganomics was the policy of economics under Ronald Reagan’s presidency. It fit into the philosophy of the New Right because it consisted of a 25% tax cut, less government involvement in business, and called for less government spending on welfare programs. My opinion regarding Reaganomics is that it was helpful in certain cases because it led to a short-term recession but long-term growth.

The big social and cultural movements and changes during the 1970s and 1980s include new fashion rules, the Sexual Revolution, Cable Television, Yuppies, and the “Just Say No” campaign. I would call the 1970s the decade of “Livin’ Loose” because it involved great sexual and drug experimentation, over-the-top fashion trends, and discos. I would call the 1980s the decade in which “Material Matters” because it was an extremely materialistic decade filled with new products and services for Americans. The most influential cultural/social movement or change during the 1980s was the introduction of cable television because the public had a new form of entertainment in which they could watch sports, sitcoms, the news, and music videos in the comfort of their home.

The main reason the Cold War ended was the fall of the Soviet Union ultimately caused by the failure of Communism. The Cold War started to end after the disintegration of the Soviet Bloc. In June 1989, Poland declared a noncommunist government. Shockingly, Gorbachev refused to act and invade Poland to reestablish Soviet control. As a result, other Eastern European communist governments fell like dominos, which eventually led the Soviet Union to fall apart, marking the end of the Cold War.

The main difference makers during this time period include Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Reagan faced the challenges of stagflation and the Cold War. Carter faced the challenges of the Cold War and the Iran Hostage Crisis. Reagan overcame his challenge by implementing Reaganomics. Carter overcame his challenge by focusing on protecting human rights globally but was unable to overcome his challenge of the hostage crisis because of a failed helicopter rescue attempt. Reagan used great confidence and courage to overcome his challenges. Carter used optimism and morals to overcome his challenges.
Reagan made a difference and left his mark by reinstituting a conservative government after a period of loose morals. Carter made a difference by attempting to initiate more peace in the world but unfortunately, left his mark by being known as a weak president.