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

Shrink the size of the Federal Government and reduce spending

Promote family values and patriotic ideas

Stimulate business by reducing government regulations and lowering taxes

Strengthen the national defense

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

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

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

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

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…

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

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

automobile industry

Why did the US economy experience an up-turn in the 1980s?

Massive military expenditures

$2 trillion

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

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

Star Wars

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

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)

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

1984 Election Results

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

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

Iran – Contra Scandal 1985 American

hostages were held in Lebanon by Muslim terrorists

Terry Anderson – held from March, 1985 to Dec., 1991

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

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

Iran – Contra Hearings Oliver North testifying Public hearings in Congress Many viewed this as a political dispute –

no significant support for impeaching Reagan

What were Reagan’s economic goals?

Wanted to invigorate economy Roll back government regulation Lower taxes Balance the budget

The reality? Balanced budget way out of reach

Reduced taxes + military expenditures led to $200 billion annual deficits

Added nearly $2 trillion to national debtFuture generations would need to pay –

lower standard of living or work harder than parents

Reversed trend toward more equitable distribution of income

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

The Moral Majority Televangelist Preachers

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