The Modern Era

1. The Modern Era Daily Agenda: 1. Word of the Day 2. Reagan

2. Word of the Day Specious SPEE shuh s] pleasing to the eye but deceptive Rather than admitting he overslept, Joe gave his teacher a specious reason for being late.

3. What is the difference between a conservative and a liberal? • Liberals: • Government should regulate economy and help the disadvantaged in society through welfare programs and higher taxes on the wealthy. • Government should NOT regulate social behavior. • Strongly support free speech and privacy rights, and believe government and religion should not mix. • Conservatives: • Government regulation of the economy should be limited, as it makes the economy less efficient-strong supporters of free enterprise, so oppose high taxes at all income levels and prefer fewer welfare programs. • Government should regulate social behavior in some instances, and believe religious faith is important to maintain moral society

4. * Why did conservatism revive? • Liberal ideologies dominated politics for much of the 20th century, however, a shift to conservatism began with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980-why? • Cold War! • Liberal ideas about the economy were too close to communism. • Communist countries rejected religion, so religious Americans viewed strong faith as a way to defeat communism. • Recession in 1970s • Led many to resent high taxes that were used to pay for New Deal and Great Society programs. • Many believed events such as Iran Hostage Crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan made the U.S. look weak on the international stage-wanted tougher military.

5. The Moral Majority * • Culture of the 1960s and 1970s worried traditional, religious Americans. • Student protests and hippies • Roe v. Wade • Supreme Court decisions limiting prayer in school • Feminist movement and push for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) • Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the conservative Eagle Forum, pushed back against the feminist movement with her outspoken criticisms of the ERA • Evangelicals, led by ministers like Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell, used the media to inspire a huge following. • This “Moral Majority” helped register voters and encouraged them to vote for conservative candidates.

6. The Conservative Resurgence * · Conservatives of the 1980’s felt that “big government” was a problem and that the government should limit costly social programs and not interfere too much with business practices.

7. Election of 1980 • Carter faced a nation in crisis in 1980-high unemployment, inflation, energy costs, and hostages in Iran. • Carter, a liberal, believed government could solve these problems. • His Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, believed in conservative economic principles. • Campaign promises: • Lower taxes • Increased defense spending • Constitutional ban on abortion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRI6iSrS1kc

8. 1980

10. Ronald Reagan led the conservative revolution, serving as President from 1980 – 1988. • Talking Points: • Vietnam was a “Noble Cause” • Cold War must be won • American Power to be renewed • Patriotism • Traditionalism • State’s Rights • “Individualism” • Government is too big-BAD!

11. Reagan’s Biography http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqNDWEwP92o • Hollywood actor-late 1930s-1950s (this would serve him VERY WELL in politics!) • President of Screen Actors Guild-embroiled in controversy of communism in Hollywood, and views shifted from liberal to conservative. • Elected governor of California in 1966. • Won Republican nomination for president in 1980, with George H.W. Bush as his running mate.

12. Reagan’s Economic Plan: Reaganomics or “trickle-down economics” • Large tax cuts to to stimulate the economy (supply-side economics) • Higher interest rates to decrease the amount of money in circulation and get inflation under control • Spending cuts to costly social programs • Deregulation of energy, safety standards, and environmental regulations *

14. The Reagan Revolution · While the economy grew, the country suffered from a record budget deficit. (Example: $240 billion deficit in 1986) · The budget deficit was caused by a large increase in military spending (largest peacetime military buildup), along with massive tax cuts, which made it impossible to create a balanced budget.

15. The “Evil Empire” and Peace Through Strength * • Reagan rejected the old policies of containment and détente-called the Soviet Union the “Evil Empire.” • Believed the only way to win the Cold War was for the Soviet Union to collapse. • Peace Through Strength: Reagan’s Cold War policy • Through massive military buildup ($1.5 trillion in 5 years), U.S. would force the Soviet Union to compete, forcing them to either reform their economic system or face collapse.

17. Other Policies * • Nominated Sandra Day O’Conner, the first woman to the Supreme Court. • Reagan Doctrine: U.S. should support guerilla groups trying to overthrow Communist governments. • Sent aid to Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviets • Armed contras who were trying to overthrow the government in Nicaragua (Congress later prohibited aid)

18. Iran-Contra scandal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DGDz5s6u6E * • Became public in 1986 that people in Reagan administration were supporting contras in Nicaragua. • Weapons were being sold to Iran in exchange for release of American hostages being held in the Middle East. • Profits from these sales were sent to the contras in Nicaragua. • Colonel Oliver North testified that he and others attempted to cover up their actions. • Reagan admitted knowing about the sales to Iran, but did not admit to knowledge about the contras.

20. Cold War Winding Down · Pres. Reagan increased military spending and pursued the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), known as Star Wars, that could shoot down missiles from space.

21. Daily Agenda: 1. Word of the Day 2. Gorbachev 3. The Cold War Ends

22. Word of the Day puerile PYOO eril childishly foolish; immature or trivial Towards the end of the school year, the seniors started to participate in very puerile activities.

23. A New Soviet Leader • Mikhail Gorbachev assumed leadership of the USSR in 1985. • The Soviet Union was facing economic crisis: • Communist didn’t offer incentives for hard work-the USSR had low industrial & agricultural production. • The USSR spent 50% of its budget on the military, was fighting an expensive war in Afghanistan, & maintained troops and tanks in Eastern Europe. • Soviet leaders had to compete with SDI, which would lead to economic collapse.

24. Assume the role of Gorbachev & assess the USSR’s problems • Brainstorm three reforms the USSR could adopt to solve these problems • Keep in mind: You want to save Soviet communism, not destroy it

25. Gorbachev began three major reforms to save the communist system in the Soviet Union Gorbachev introduced glasnost (“openness”) to encourage freedom of speech & to allow expression of new ideas Perestroika relaxed some gov’t controls over farms and factories to make production more efficient & it allowed citizens to open small businesses Democratization allowed citizens to vote for Communist politicians (but Communists only)

26. In addition to his economic reforms, Gorbachev changed Soviet foreign policy Reagan’s SDI plan forced Gorbachev to admit that the USSR could not keep up with the arms race Gorbachev withdrew Soviet tank divisions from the communist nations in Eastern Europe In 1989, Gorbachev ended the 9 year war in Afghanistan

27. In 1987, Reagan & Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty, calling for the decrease of nuclear weapons. Reagan was able to work with Gorbachev to reduce Cold War tensions

28. Rather than saving the communist system in the USSR & Eastern Europe, Gorbachev’s reforms helped bring an end to communism

29. In 1989, a surge of democratic revolution swept through the Eastern European communist satellites Eastern European nations broke from Soviet control & created democracies Gorbachev did not use the Soviet military to stop these revolutions

30. * • In 1987, Reagan challenged Gorbachev at a speech at the Berlin Wall, in which he declared “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” • The Berlin Wall was opened up in Nov. 1989, and Germany reunited under democracy.

31. Ethnic nationalism & desire for democracy led to the break-up of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991 In 1990, the Soviet states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union In 1991, the Soviet Union broke apart & 15 new nations were formed The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War

32. Post-Soviet states in alphabetical order: 1. Armenia; 2. Azerbaijan; 3. Belarus; 4. Estonia; 5. Georgia; 6. Kazakhstan; 7. Kyrgyzstan; 8. Latvia; 9. Lithuania; 10. Moldova; 11. Russia; 12. Tajikistan; 13. Turkmenistan; 14. Ukraine; 15. Uzbekistan

37. Reagan was viewed by many to be the one who saved the world from communism while others thought that many political leaders were becoming too powerful and worried what might happen with that power http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9lv_WqK6k

38. Daily Agenda: Society and Culture 1. Wealth in the 1980’s 2. Media and Music 3. Technology 4. New Space Age 5. Problems 6. Activism

39. Society and Culture in the 1980s

40. Activism • The environmental movement, which started in the 70s, continued to gain momentum in the 80s. • Singers began to write songs and hold benefit concerts for various social issues. • Ex. Band Aid and Live Aid for Ethiopia famine