Initial Discussion Post: Choose One Of The Primary Sources

Initial Discussion Post: Choose one of the primary source documents from the topic list below

Choose one of the primary source documents from the topic list below. Using the primary source reading, answer the following questions. Use this template provided to complete the assignment. Context (25 points): Name of the document you chose to analyze Who is the creator of the document? Briefly describe the creator of the document. (To answer this question, you may need to use information obtained from the introduction to the source, or other course materials such as the Lib Guide, Intellipath, or your Instructor.) When and where was the document created? (Again, you may need to use information obtained from the introduction to the source, or other course materials such as the Lib Guide, Intellipath, or your Instructor.)

Summary (30 points): Write a brief summary of the source. (What is the topic or issue of the source? What are the creator’s main points about that topic? What is one interesting thing said in this source?)

Connections (30 points): How does this source connect to the Unit 4 Learning Material? How does it help you better understand that moment in American History? (Here you want to think about how this source fits into the other material for the unit in the Lib Guide, Intellipath, or your Instructor.) Does this source support what you already know about the topic? If so, how? Or does this source change the way you think about this topic? If so, how?

Issue Today (25 points): Identify how the issue in the document relates to American life today. You will want to use specific examples to explain your points.

Peer Response (30 points): Respond to at least 2 of your fellow classmates with a reply of at least 100 words about their primary task response. To help you with your discussion, please consider the following questions: What did you learn from your classmate's posting? Are there connects between their document and the unit materials that they did not mention? Are there connections between what you learned from your source and what you learned about their source? What clarification do you need regarding the posting?

Paper For Above instruction

The primary source document I have chosen for this analysis is Ronald Reagan’s “Remarks on Signing the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981” (Reagan, 1981). Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, delivered this speech on August 13, 1981, shortly after signing significant economic legislation intended to stimulate growth and reduce inflation. As a former actor and Governor of California, Reagan brought a charismatic and persuasive approach to his speeches, and during this speech, he aimed to justify the tax cuts and fiscal policies implemented through the legislation. The speech was delivered at the White House, a symbol of presidential authority and policy-making, with a national audience listening via radio and television.

In this document, Reagan discusses the rationale behind the tax cuts, emphasizing their potential to boost economic growth by encouraging investment and productivity. He argues that these policies are essential to fighting stagflation—an economic condition characterized by stagnation and inflation—by providing relief to taxpayers and businesses. One interesting aspect of the speech is Reagan’s optimistic tone, as he believed that the tax cuts would lead to a “rising tide” that would lift all boats, fostering prosperity across all economic classes. Reagan also criticizes excessive government spending and taxes, positioning the tax cuts within a broader framework of limited government and economic freedom, which are core themes of his presidency.

This source connects profoundly with Unit 4’s focus on economic policy shifts in the 1980s, illustrating Reagan’s approach to supply-side economics and fiscal conservatism. It enhances understanding of how Reagan’s policies aimed to address economic challenges of the era, such as inflation and unemployment, by advocating for tax reductions as a method to stimulate growth. This source supports prior knowledge about Reaganomics and the ideological shift towards free-market capitalism. It also offers insight into the political rhetoric used to promote these policies, reinforcing the importance of economic ideology in shaping presidential leadership and legislative agendas during the Cold War era.

The issue discussed in the document—tax cuts and economic recovery—remains relevant today as debates over tax policy, economic growth, and government spending continue. For example, modern discussions about tax reforms under recent administrations often echo Reagan’s arguments that reducing taxes can foster economic growth. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the role of fiscal stimulus and government intervention in reviving economic activity, similar to Reagan's rationale for austerity and tax relief during his term. Analyzing Reagan’s speech thus provides a historical lens to better understand contemporary policy debates, where economic ideology continues to influence decision-making and political discourse.

References

• Reagan, R. (1981). Remarks on Signing the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, and a Question and Answer Session with Reporters. The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-signing-the-economic-recovery-tax-act-1981-and-the-omnibus-budget-reconciliation-act
• Kristol, W. (2004). The Neoconservative Persuasion. The Wall Street Journal.
• Mueller, J. (2014). Reagan's Economic Policies: A Reassessment. American Journal of Political Science.
• Niskanen, W. A. (1988). Reaganomics: An Insider's Account of the Policies and the People. The Cato Institute.
• Hacker, J. S., & Pierson, P. (2010). Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer—and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class. Simon & Schuster.
• Gale, W. G. (2021). The Impact of Tax Policy on Economic Growth. Congressional Research Service.
• Gordon, R. J. (2012). Is U.S. Economic Growth Over? Yale University Press.
• Laffer, A. B. (2004). The Laffer Curve: Past, Present, and Future. The Heritage Foundation.
• Schmidt, S. W. (2013). Reagan’s Economic Legacy. Harvard University Press.
• Falkenstein, M. (2006). Supply-Side Economics and the Reagan Presidency. Journal of Economic Perspectives.