Question

Study the graph of average US income growth in the 1980s.

Based on the graph, which statement best explains why many Americans opposed President Reagan’s economic policies?

The increase in income was not enough to help many families.
The increase in income was paid for by government borrowing.
The increase in income went mostly to the wealthiest Americans.
The increase in income caused more Americans to pay higher taxes.

Answer 1

The increase in income went mostly to the wealthiest Americans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the graph of average US income growth in the 1980s, the statement that best explains why many Americans opposed President Reagan’s economic policies is:

The increase in income went mostly to the wealthiest Americans.

The graph shows that while average US income did increase during the 1980s, the growth was much larger for the wealthiest Americans than for the rest of the population. This can be seen by the steep increase in income for the top 5% and top 1% of earners, compared to the more gradual increase for the rest of the population.

This uneven distribution of income growth was a key factor in why many Americans opposed President Reagan’s economic policies, as they felt that the policies favored the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. This led to concerns about income inequality and social justice, which have continued to be important issues in American politics.