While Reagan was praised for his actions, he also received much criticism for them as well. The economy did well under Reagan, but when he left office, the economy was in worse shape than when he entered. He was praised for his foreign policy but criticized for his heavy military spending.
Using a grid storyboard, students will discuss these and other issues, outlining the viewpoints of both Reagan's supporters and his opposition on his major executive decisions. They'll be able to assess both sides of the arguments and examine the legacy of Reagan's decisions.
Extended Activity
Have students analyze and explain the support and opposition towards another president. Some recommendations are George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, or Barack Obama. Students should analyze their major executive decisions as well as the support and criticisms they received.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard defining the viewpoints of Reagan's supporters and opponents.
Organize your students into two groups—supporters and opponents of Reagan’s major policies. This structure encourages every student to research and advocate for a position, building critical thinking and empathy.
Give each student or small group a specific policy or event from Reagan’s presidency to investigate. This ensures comprehensive coverage and helps students become experts on their assigned topic.
Establish respectful debate rules and provide a rubric focusing on evidence, clarity, and respect. Clear expectations create a safe, productive environment for sharing diverse viewpoints.
Require students to use primary and secondary sources to back up their arguments. This practice strengthens research skills and promotes academic honesty.
Lead a discussion on what students learned and how their views may have changed. Reflection helps solidify understanding and encourages open-mindedness.
Supporters of Ronald Reagan highlight his economic policies and strong foreign policy, while opponents criticize his heavy military spending and the economic condition at the end of his term. Both sides provide distinct views on the impact of his executive decisions.
Students can use a grid storyboard to organize and compare the perspectives of Reagan’s supporters and opponents on various policies. This visual approach helps outline key issues, summarize arguments, and encourage critical assessment of both sides.
A grid storyboard is a chart with rows and columns where students list issues, then summarize viewpoints for each side. It helps visually compare and contrast the actions and legacies of leaders like Reagan by showing supporters’ and opponents’ perspectives side by side.
Reagan’s economic policies were praised for stimulating growth during his presidency but criticized because the economy was weaker when he left office. This mixed legacy fuels ongoing debates about his long-term impact.
Teachers can have students analyze another president, like George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, or Barack Obama, using the same storyboard method. This helps students compare support and opposition for different leaders’ major decisions.