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The Conservative Resurgence

The Conservative Resurgence. Focus Question. What are some of the key issues in the 2012 presidential race?. Roots laid during the New Deal. Conservative critics of the New Deal Power concentrated into central government “Dictatorial” policies of FDR Violated ideas of laissez-faire

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The Conservative Resurgence

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  1. The Conservative Resurgence

  2. Focus Question • What are some of the key issues in the 2012 presidential race?

  3. Roots laid during the New Deal • Conservative critics of the New Deal • Power concentrated into central government • “Dictatorial” policies of FDR • Violated ideas of laissez-faire • Did not see much traction during the Depression

  4. American Isolationists • Felt U.S. had to remain outside world affairs • Dismayed by U.S. saber-rattling prior to World War II • Opposed to United Nations • Stressed America First ideology

  5. Anti-Communists • Cold Warriors • Opposed to communism in any form • Saw a need to remove Communists from positions of trust • Sponsored numerous anti-communist groups

  6. Failed to Make Headway • High Point of New Deal Coalition • Most Americans accepted the premises • Republicans bought along • Conservatives in the wilderness

  7. Tentative Beginnings • Election of 1964 • Nomination of Barry Goldwater • Arch-conservative Republican • Defeated the moderate Rockefeller • Defeated badly by Johnson

  8. Tentative Beginnings • Election of 1964 • Nomination of Barry Goldwater • Arch-conservative Republican • Defeated the moderate Rockefeller • Defeated badly by Johnson

  9. Signs of Hope • Cracks in the New Deal coalition • Southern whites dismayed by Civil Rights • Tensions of the 1960s frightening moderates • Lack of progress in Vietnam • able to gain a victory with Nixon in 1968

  10. Election of 1980 • Watershed for the Conservative Movement • Democratic President Jimmy Carter weak • High unemployment • High inflation • U.S. struggles against Iran • Republican Ronald Reagan positive, charismatic • Able to attract blue-collar Democrats • Solidified GOP gains in the South

  11. Age of Reagan • Promoted “Morning in America” • Set a pro-business agenda • Slashed tax rate dramatically • Promoted deregulation • Broke the Air Traffic Controllers Union

  12. New Federalism • Promised a smaller government • Shifted programs to the states • Attempt to cut domestic spending • Reduce tax burden • Created a new national trend

  13. Reagan Doctrine • Set a new tone in the Cold War • Challenge Communism (Roll-back) • Sponsored massive military build-up • Sponsored insurgents in Latin America • Promoted negotiations with Gorbachev

  14. Reagan Revolution • Reagan as the “patron saint” of conservatives • Pushed de-regulation • Expanded under Clinton • Grew by leaps under George W. Bush • Legacy of “low taxes” • Promotion of character

  15. However, • Deregulation led to scandals • Savings and Loan collapse • Junk Bonds • Pentagon Spending • Tax burden largely unchanged • 1981: 19.4% national income in federal taxes • 1989: 19.3% national income in federal taxes

  16. Income Redistribution • Marginal tax rates slashed for the wealthy • “Trickle-Down effect” • Wealth shifted toward the top • Top 1% saw share of wealth rise from 22 to 39% • Bottom 20% saw wealth drop 7% • Middle-class began to shrink

  17. Budget Deficits • Budget Deficit tripled from 1980 to 1989 • Saw an increase in taxes and fees • Never submitted a balanced budget • People did not seem to notice • Belief that prosperity was enjoyed by all • Stagflation ended • Reaganism offered promises of material abundance

  18. Reagan Legacy • Cemented alliance between social conservatives and economic conservatives • Consolidated “Solid South” • Republican Party far more conservative • Pursued policies that future administrations might make changes Reagan couldn’t • Promoted conservative judiciary (politicized judicial selection)

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