Which of the following had an effect on the political climate prior to the 1980 presidential election?

A) Americans were being held hostage by terrorists in Iran.
B) Government involvement had led to economic growth.
C) Carter’s foreign policy skills had eased the gas crisis.
D) The United States and Soviet Union had signed the INF Treaty.

The correct answer is A. The situation of the Americans that were being held hostage by terrorists in Iran had an effect on the political climate prior to the 1980 presidential election.

Explanation:

In the presidential election of 1980 the American people elected as president the Republican Ronald Reagan before the Democrat Jimmy Carter, at that time head of state.

The elections were marked by the slow recovery of the economic crisis of the mid-70s, whose main effects were a significant rise in inflation and unemployment. At the international level the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the fiasco of the Marielitos and the crisis of the Iranian hostages also hit Carter hard, especially after the failure of the Eagle Claw Mission to rescue the kidnapped Americans in Tehran. All this benefited Reagan, whose optimism managed to defeat Carter.