C H. 3 3 , S E C . 1 & 2

REAGAN & NEW CONSERVATISM

IN GENERAL TERMS…HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?FEATURE=PLAYER_EMBEDDED&V=3H8O7V-WXWQ

Liberalism

• Gov’t regulates economy against power of wealthy• Gov’t provides social

programs• Tax burden to the

wealthy• Transfer of wealth =

equality• No gov’t regulation of

social behavior• No gov’t support of

religion

Conservatism

• Gov’t regulates economy = less efficiency • Oppose social programs

that transfer wealth• Taxes minimized• Gov’t regulation of social

behavior in some cases• Religion helps society• Communities &

individuals should help those in need, not the gov’t

THE SHIFT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

• PreWWII – New Deal – Social Programs $$$$• Cold War – Commies are atheists – religion vs.

commies• Sunbelt – population shift W and S – no gov’t

meddling• Rustbelt – NE – need gov’t help – social programs• Late ‘70’s resent taxes to pay for social programs• Conservatives call for tax cuts• “Religious” Right – America losing its moral values• Rise of “televangelists”

• Scandals & distrust of gov’t leads to desire for stability & the “good ‘ole times”

• Born in Dixon, IL • Sports broadcaster• 1937 Hollywood• 1947 shifting towards

conservatism• 1966 elected governor of CA

ARE YOU BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?

• 1980 Reagan elected & 1st Republican Senate (1954)• “In this present crisis, government is not the solution

to our problem. Government IS the problem.”

• “Honey, I forgot to Duck…”• March 30, 1981• John Hinckley shoots the President• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Jid5uRFo4

REAGANOMICS

• The Economy• Cut Taxes / Keep Interests Rate high / Reduce

social programs• Budget deficit – spend more than you bring in –

OK by Reagan• Cut taxes, increase military spending

• Deregulation• Remove government price controls• Prices dropped !!!

• Economy recovers by 1984• Appointments to the Supreme Court• Conservatives & 1st woman (Sandra Day O’Conner)

THE REAGAN DOCTRINESUPPORT ANTI-COMMUNISTS

• Peace through Strength• Force the USSR to collapse to keep up $$$$$• Support Afghan rebels vs USSR• Invades Grenada

• Support the “Contras” in Nicaragua• Sell weapons to Iran, siphon some $ to the Contras • Reagan’s “Watergate” – BUT he recovers

RISE OF TERRORISM• 1982 Lebanon• Reagan deploys US Marines to

Lebanon• Peacekeepers• Caught between warring factions –

religious factions

• 1983 Terrorist attack on US troops

241 Americans killedReagan pulls Marines out

? Emboldens our enemies?

WINNING THE COLD WAR

• Star Wars – Strategic Defense Initiative• Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”

• The USSR reduces military

spending and begins political/economic reforms

• Communism in USSR & Eastern Europe collapses

• The Great Communicator leaves office 1988

THE REAGAN LEGACY

• "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

• Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same

We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.

“We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.”

“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver 5 minutes longer.”