Chapter 33: The Conservative TideSection 33.1- A Conservative Movement Emerges

Section 33.2- Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush

Section 33.3- American Society in a Conservative Age

Section 33.4- Changes in America’s Foreign Policy

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”-Ronald Reagan, 1st Inaugural address

33. 1-A Conservative Movement Emerges • Lesson Objective:– To understand the conservative movement from 1964 to

1980 and how it led to the elections of presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush

Essential Question:How did the conservative movement coalesce and propel Republicans and Ronald Reagan into power in 1980??

Key Terms

• Ronald Reagan• Entitlement Programs• New Right• Reverse Discrimination• Conservative Coalition• Moral Majority• George Bush

The Distinction• Liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity

and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.

• Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.

The Movement Builds

• 1980 had perfect storm of conditions for a conservative emergence– Jimmy Carter was very unpopular– Inflation neared 15%– 1/3 of households were receiving government assistance

through – Entitlement programs– Taxes were high

• Many feared that they would not be able to provide for their children or themselves

Conservative Backlash

• During the 1970s – Formation of the New Right

• Define

• Conservative special interest groups began pushing back against cultural, social, and moral issues– School bussing– Gun control– Prayer in public schools– Abortion– ERA– Affirmative Action or Reverse Discrimination

• Define

The Conservative Coalition• Made up of:– Intellectuals, business leaders, middle-class voters,

disenchanted democrats, and fundamentalist Christians• Brought together by what?– Opposition to• “big government” and entitlements• Return to traditional social and moral values

• Advanced policies through publications such as the Wall Street Journal and “think-tanks” such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute

William F. Buckley Jr.

The Moral Majority• Made up of various fundamentalist and evangelical

Christian groups– Guided by televangelists- Jerry Falwell and Pat Robinson – Literal interpretation of the Bible and absolute right and

wrong– Wanted to bring back traditional American values

• “Our nation’s internal problems are the direct result of her spiritual condition…Right living must be reestablished as an American way of life…Now is the time to begin calling America back to God, back to the bible, back to morality.”– Jerry Falwell

Jerry Falwell

The Moral Majority

The New Right The Moral Majority

Conservatives Win Political Power

• Conservatives generally aligned themselves with the republican party through three main issues:– Economics- shrinking government spending/ power and

reducing regulation and taxes for businesses– Moral/ Social- advocates for a return to traditional moral

values– Defense- advocates for a strong national defense

• In 1980 conservatives got their chance to win political power

Ronald Reagan

• Former actor and spokesman for General Electric• Was originally a Democrat- “I didn’t leave the

Democratic party; it left me.”• First gained political notoriety for giving speech at

1964 Republican Convention nominating Barry Goldwater

• Governor of California from 1966-1974• Loses Republican nomination to Gerald Ford in 1976– Wins Republican nomination in 1980 over George H.W.

Bush- picks him for his Vice President

George H.W. Bush

Election of 1980• Reagan vs Carter– How did the conditions in 1980 help Republicans?

• Aging and shifting population helps Republicans– Move to the sunbelt

• Reagan with background in acting is dubbed “The Great Communicator” – Funny and affable- Carter in comparison was tense and

uncomfortable• “A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A

depression is when you lose your job. A recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.”

• Reagan wins 51% of popular vote, but support is spread out over the country and wins 489 electoral votes

Quiz 33.1

1. __________ was made up of conservative special interest groups.

2. __________ was Ronald Reagans Vice President.3. __________ was a coalition of fundamentalist

Christians who helped elect Ronald Reagan.4. Ronald Reagan defeated ________ in the election

of 1980.5. Ronald Reagan made a name for himself in what

industry?

Social Economic Foreign Policy