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The Resurgence of Conservatism

The Resurgence of Conservatism. AP USH Chapter 40. What was the “New Right”?. “Old Right” - South and West – suspicious of federal power Response to 1960s Cultural concerns – Abortion Pornography Homosexuality Feminism Affirmative action. Goals of the Conservative Movement.

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The Resurgence of Conservatism

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  1. The Resurgence of Conservatism AP USH Chapter 40

  2. What was the “New Right”? • “Old Right” - South and West – suspicious of federal power • Response to 1960s • Cultural concerns – • Abortion • Pornography • Homosexuality • Feminism • Affirmative action

  3. Goals of the Conservative Movement • Shrink the size of the Federal Government and reduce spending • Promote family values and patrioticideas • Stimulate business by reducing government regulations and lowering taxes • Strengthen the national defense

  4. Ronald Reagan • Pres. Screen Actors Guild/ Friendly Witness (HUAC) • Elected CA Governor 1966 • Election of 1980 elected Pres • Attempted Assassination 1981 – John Hinckley Jr. • Re-Elected in 1984 in a landslide/ VP George HW Bush

  5. What is meant by “neo-conservativism”? • Reacting against the excesses of 1960s liberalism • Championed a free market capitalism – liberated from government restraints • Passionately anti-Soviet – “The Evil Empire” • Against welfare programs and affirmative action • Reassertion of traditional values of individualism and family values

  6. How/Why did Reagan win the election of 1980? • Carter • couldn’t control double digit inflation • Double digit inflation • Frustration over Iranian Hostage Crisis • Appears inept • Reagan • Great campaigner • Attacked Big Government, inflation, and high interest rates

  7. Carter’s farewell… • Stressed effort to scale down arms race • Promote human rights • Protect environment • Preserved 100 million acres of Alaska land for national parks, forests, and wildlife

  8. What is meant by the “Reagan Revolution”? • Leaner federal government • Dismantle welfare state • Reverse political evolution of 1st half of century • Conservative cabinet • Reduce budget • Attacked “Tax and Spend” Democratic programs • Reduce entitlement programs • California tax revolt – Proposition 13…

  9. Reagan’s economic philosophy? • Supply-side economics… • Deep tax cuts • 25% over 3 years • Lowered individual tax rates • Reduced federal estate taxes • Tax free savings plans • Thought budgetary discipline and tax reduction would stimulate new investment and boost productivity  foster economic growth

  10. 1982… • 11% unemployment • Business and bank failures • Poor performance in the U.S. automobile industry

  11. Why did the US economy experience an up-turn in the 1980s? • Massive military expenditures • $2 trillion

  12. What were the consequences of Reagonomics? • Plunged the government into debt • Doubled the deficit • 1982 – the deficit was $100 billion – then became $200 billion • Borrowing kept interest rates high  elevated value of the dollar  hurt exports (more expensive) • Trade deficit was $152 billion in 1987 • US became world’s heaviest borrower

  13. What was Reagan’s position on the Cold War and the Soviet Union during his 1st term? • Negotiate with the SU from a position of overwhelming strength • SU – Evil Empire • Expand US capabilities • Overwhelm SU • SDI • Strategic Defense Initiative – “Star Wars” • High tech missile defense system • Stations fire laser beams to vaporize intercontinental missiles • Most scientists considered it impossible goal

  14. Star Wars

  15. What was the nature of U.S. involvement in Lebanon? • Israel • building new settlements in West Bank (occupied territory) • Invaded Lebanon 1982 to suppress guerrilla bases of Palestinians • Reagan sent US troops as part of an international peace keeping force • Suicide bomber crashed into Marine barracks Oct. 1983 – killed more than 200 Marines

  16. How did Central America become a concern for US foreign policy? • Granada • US invaded 1983 because a military coup had killed the prime minister and installed a pro-Marxist government • El Salvador • Reagan sent military advisors to prop up a pro- American government • Nicaragua • Leftist revolution (Sandinistas) • Reagan sent covert aid to help the Contras (rebels) opposing the anti-Am. Government (Sandinistas)

  17. What were the events of the 1984 election? • Good economy (defense spending) • Democrats: Walter Mondale for Pres. and Geraldine Ferrarro for Vice Pres. • Reagan won by a landslide

  18. 1984 Election Results

  19. How and Why did the US relationship with the SU change? • Gorbachev – new leader of the SU • Glasnost (openness) • Perestroika – restructured economy (free market practices) • Shrank military • End to Cold War – met with Reagan 4 times • 1987 Treaty banned INF from Europe • Reagan praised Gorbachev

  20. Iran – Contra Improgio? • 2 problems • Continued captivity of US hostages in Lebanon • US military aid to the Contras – attempting to overthrow the Sandinistas in Nicaragua • 1985 Democrats in Congress wanted to stop US aid – passed the Boland Amendment- prohibiting further aid to the Contras

  21. Iran – Contra Scandal • 1985 American hostages were held in Lebanon by Muslim terrorists • Terry Anderson – held from March, 1985 to Dec., 1991

  22. Iran - Contra • To gain their freedom, Reagan arranged the sale of weapons to Iran believing Iran could help obtain their release • The money was used to finance anti-communists (Contra) operations in Nicaragua • Violated U.S. law – using government funds to subsidize the Contras

  23. Iran - Contra • Also violated U.S. policy of not negotiating with terrorists • Deal became public • Democrats in Congress outraged • Reagan denied exchanging arms for hostages and denied knowledge of covert finding of the Contras • Special prosecutor was appointed to investigate

  24. Iran – Contra Hearings • Oliver North testifying • Public hearings in Congress • Many viewed this as a political dispute – no significant support for impeaching Reagan

  25. What were Reagan’s economic goals? • Wanted to invigorate economy • Roll back government regulation • Lower taxes • Balance the budget

  26. The reality? • Balanced budget way out of reach • Reduced taxes + military expenditures led to $200 billion annual deficits • Added nearly $2 trillion to national debt • Future generations would need to pay – lower standard of living or work harder than parents • Reversed trend toward more equitable distribution of income

  27. Culturally, who was the 1980s a response to the 1960s? • Religion – coalition of conservative evangelical ministers  Moral Majority • Religion became an instrument of electoral politics • Opposed • Sexual permissiveness • Abortion • Feminism • Gay rights

  28. The Moral Majority • Televangelist Preachers

  29. How did Reagan shape the Supreme Court? • Principal instrument in cultural wars demanded by religious right • Appointed 3 conservative justices • Sandra Day O’Connor – 1st woman

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