If America learned anything from the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, it was that it was ready for a break. The Iran Hostage Crisis finished the 1970s and Carter's administration on a dull note. To add insult to injury, the nation was still floundering through a severe economic downturn that had persisted throughout Carter's administration.

The American public was eager for a new type of leadership, and a return to simpler, more conservative ideals. Republicans found the perfect personality in Ronald Reagan, a B-list actor, starring in such movies as The Winning Team. (It will make you laugh; it will make you cry.)

Reagan turned in his acting career for the California governorship. Whoa, major déjà vu moment. Reagan promised to be the antidote to the "welfare state" mentality he believed had overtaken Washington since the FDR days. He wanted to slash social programs like Aid to Families with Dependent Children (this now-defunct program is what was commonly referred to as "welfare") and food stamps in order to balance America's budget.

Things didn't turn out that way at all, just in case you were wondering.

He garnered support because he was likable and patriotic, and he promised a "revolution of ideas" that would re-energize America's capitalist spirit, restore its national—and international—pride, and usher in a new era of prosperity. He was a good judge of the national mood and could easily assess what programs and policies had led to failure for his predecessor.

Compared to Carter's curtailment of free enterprise and his seeming ineptitude in handling the Iran Hostage Crisis, Reagan looked to be someone America could trust and who would get things done. To top it all off, Reagan espoused very conservative ideals, such as support for prayer in schools and a call to outlaw abortion. His platform caught the attention and support of religious groups who helped usher in an era of conservatism.

His election in 1980 was the beginning of a long and hotly debated legacy.

Reagan declared in his first inaugural address, "Government is the problem." This was merely the first and most famous of the many Reaganite assertions that have since become widely-shared American assumptions about how the world works:

1. Government is the problem.
2. The free market solves problems better than politicians can.
3. Lower taxes create economic growth.
4. Government aid to the poor perpetuates poverty.
5. Peace is only attainable through military strength.
6. America is always a force for good in the world, while its enemies are an "Evil Empire."

These are the core assumptions of the Reagan Revolution. These are the core assumptions that continue to shape our world. They also could make viable lyrics to a country song.

Whether you fall on the side of Reagan-lover or not, most historians agree that Reagan left a lasting impact on America. It's for you to decide whether that impact was a good one or not. You'll determine that by looking at the core element of the Reagan Era: Reaganomics. It's the most hotly-debated aspect of Reagan's legacy.

Some claim that Reaganomics saved America from crippling inflation and crushing unemployment, while others argue that it left us with an unwieldy national deficit and created a level of economic inequality that has actually been damaging to the economy of today. You'll make a determination of which party is right and why.

But whether you love Reagan or you hate him, you're living in the world that Ronald Reagan built.