Major Events of Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Terms (1981-1989)

To best understand the sequence of events and policies made during Reagan's presidency, it's helpful for students to have a timeline that encompasses both presidential terms. This will allow them to see how Reagan's first term paved the way for his re-election and how certain themes played out through those eight years.

Using the timeline layout, students will outline of major events and decisions surrounding Reagan’s presidency. Students can focus on one thematic issue (such as economics or social issues) or mix and match various events that define his presidency.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options, and update the instructions accordingly.

Extended Activity

Have students swap timelines, doing either one thematic timeline or one on a certain issue, or have students create a holistic timeline of what defines Reagan’s presidency. We recommend having students complete a thematic timeline, then utilize other students’ timelines to create a more comprehensive, holistic timeline.

Student Instructions

Create a timeline detailing the events and policies during Reagan's presidency from 1981-1989.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Identify important events and policies and type them into the titles of each cell.
3. Describe the events and policies in the description box.
4. Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
5. Save and exit when you're done.