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TSWU: – What does it mean to be conservative or
liberal? What were the conservative and liberal perspectives on Ronald Reagan’s policies?
Ronald Reagan
The Rise of the Modern
Conservative Movement
Ronald Reagan
• Born in Illinois, 1911• Active in college.• Lifeguard, Radio Announcer• Went to California to launch
an acting career during the Great Depression
• Became increasingly conservative in face of radical socialists and communists in the movie industry
• Switched from Democratic to Republican Party in the late 50s/early 60s
The 1980
Election
The Last Days of the Campaign• Up until October 28, 1980 Carter
lead in all major nation-wide polls• The incumbent usually wins re-
election…– Why?– Give examples.
• The two candidates square off in a televised debate…– “Ask yourself this question… ‘Am I
better off now, than I was four years ago?’ If the answer is ‘No’, then vote Republican on November 2.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loBe0WXtts8
The 1980 “Revolution”Reagan’s First Days in Office
• Reagan’s early success based off of Carter’s perceived simple mishandling of major challenges
• Combined with Reagan’s ability to communicate as “The Great Communicator”
• Centered around a
few simple well-articulated ideas
The New Conservative&The New “Right”
• The NEW RIGHT – Conservative Evangelical Christians– Called Moral Majority
• To restore Christian Values in America– Southern Democrats
• Its Central Ideas Were:– Reduction of Social Programs– Reduction in Size and Scope of government– Patriotic focus– “Reagan Democrats”– Favored return of US military prominence
“Government is not the answer to our problems, GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM!”
Supply-Side Economics a.k.a“Reaganomics”
• Cut taxes to put more money into the hands of businesses
• Cut taxes on the wealthiest Americans
• Lower taxes = more investment in the “supply side” of the economy
• Would:– promote and create new jobs– encourage capital investment,
and – lead to stimulated industrial
growth
Cutting Government Regulation - “Deregulation”
• Energy, Transportation and Banking Industries
• Challenged Air Traffic Controllers in 1981 - Fired those who refused to go back to work after a strike.
New Federalism (Reagan-style)
• Limiting government– Eliminated public service
jobs,– reduced unemployment
compensation, – lowered welfare benefits,– raised fees for Medicare
patients • Federal domestic spending
still grew for a couple of years
Reagan: Economic Recession, and Recovery
• 1981-1982 Recession• Inflation slowed, consumer spending
increased• Stock market grew• Federal deficit grew even as domestic
spending decreased• National debt = $909 billion in 1980 ---
$3.2 trillion in 1990
Reagan’s Military Buildup
“Peace Through Strength”
• Sharp increase in military spending
• New weapons and new technology
• The only way to defeat the USSR was to have more weapons than they did
• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) = better known as “Star Wars”
Election of 1984
Patriotic Renewal
• 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles• Communist-bloc countries
boycotted• 1986 - 100th anniversary of
Statue of Liberty• 1987 - 200th anniversary of
the Constitution
• “It’s Morning in America, Again”• 59% of popular vote• Second largest electoral victory
in history
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fyI671ePfE
Soviet Relations
• Reagan succeeded in breaking down barriers between the U.S. and the Soviet Union
• Policies helped bring an end to tensions in the cold war.
• “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtYdjbpBk6A
Called Soviet Union the “evil empire”
Brandenburg Speech
Other issues 1984-1988
• AIDS Awareness• Women’s Movement stalled
(ERA failed in 1982)• Supreme Court
conservatives– Sandra Day O’Connor– Anthony Kennedy– Antonin Scalia– Chief Justice William
Rehnquist
More issues: 1984-1988• Farm Crisis - foreclosures• Manufacturing shift - from
metal and textiles (overseas = outsourcing due to labor costs)
• Service sectors continued to grow
• Wealthiest Americans flourished in the 1980s
• Jan 28, 1986 - Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after take off
Scandal
• S & L Crisis• Savings and Loan institutions deregulated and some
corrupt individuals used this to make huge personal fortunes
• S & L’s collapsed in late 1980s• $2.6 billion in savings lost
• Iran Contra Scandal• Selling arms (to Iran) for the release of hostages to
support Nicaraguan Contras• Covered up• Reagan admitted covering up• No long term impact• “Teflon” president.
ReaganConservative Hero, or Undercover Liberal?
This is a two day activity;
Day 1: 1) Go to the following website http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/other/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/
2) Create a matrix choosing 5 of the 9 items:Gun Control Death Penalty WelfareImmigration Taxes War on TerrorHealthcare Gay Marriage Education
3) Decide if you are CONSERVATIVE or LIBERAL!
Topic Conservative
Liberal
ReaganConservative Hero, or Undercover Liberal?
Day 2
1) Create a “HERO” OR “WANTED” poster criticizing OR celebrating Reagan’s term in office.
2) Using the powerpoint, two-faced handout, and examples, make your own posters
3) This is due at the end of class today!