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Key terms quiz Guided Notes: Conservative

Resurgence

For your calendar: Conservative resurgence notes

Reagan Video Review

Reagan & George H.W. Bush Presidency

Conservative Resurgence

1980-1992

Reagan Presidency 1981-1989 The 1980s witnessed a resurgence of conservatism- the

philosophy uncovered by Barry Goldwater

Reagan believed that the federal government had become too

powerful and intrusive, beginning with the New Deal

In order to counter the power in the federal government, Reagan

worked to combat unions, reduce taxes, cut government

spending, and reducing the amount of govt regulations, while also

favoring a strong military establishment.

New Right & Conservative Views New Right: Conservative groups who supported Reagan during

elections- including the following:

National Rifle Association: begun to promote rifle shooting

skills – 1980 election marked the 1st time in its history it involved

itself with politics.

The Moral Majority: Fundamentalist, Conservative Christians

Heritage Foundation: Promote conservative policies– free

enterprise, limited govt, individual freedom, values, & a strong

national defense

Other Social & Political Conservative Activists

Billy Graham - born in 1918, is a leading religious revivalist as well as a spiritual and

moral advisor to many U. S. Presidents. As a prominent Christian leader, he spoke out against

communism during the Cold War era, claiming that it was the ultimate fight between good and evil.

Phyllis Shlafely - an attorney born in 1924, was an outspoken opponent of what she

considered the radical feminist movement. She actively campaigned against the Equal Rights

Amendment and founded her own pro-family movement.

Sandra Day O’Connor - born in El Paso, Texas, in 1930, has the distinction of

being the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. She was appointed by

President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

REAGANOMICS 1980, still facing stagflation (high unemployment, high prices)

Reagan tried to solve problem with “supply side economics”

Supply side economics: reducing taxes & business regulations

hoping to make it easier to produce goods. They reasoned the larger

supply of goods would drive down prices & stop inflation.

REAGANOMICS

By 1983, the economy began to come out of recession.

Reagan’s tax cuts, deregulation, and military spending

encouraged greater business activity, while new supplies of

oil from Alaska & the North Sea stabilized oil prices.

Negative Side of Reaganomics

Federal deficit (amount of money govt spends beyond what it

collects in taxes) increased greatly, and national debt more

than doubled.

Also, America bought more goods and services than they sold

overseas, creating a trade imbalance which led to loss of

millions of jobs and drop in income

Rust Belt to Sun Belt Movement of people from northern to southern states caused shifts

in economic and political power

New technological innovations such as air conditioning and

hydroelectric power made it possible to keep homes, offices, and

factories cool in the summer which encouraged people to move to

the South & West.

As a result, the West & South became known as the Sun Belt

Rust Belt to Sun Belt Sunbelt states also saw their economies grow quickly with the

influx of people and businesses. In contrast, the Northeast and the

Midwest suffered economically.

Parts of these regions became known as the Rust Belt because of

the rusting factories that declining industries left behind.

Many large factories and industries struggled to survive with the

stagflation of the 1970s. Many laid-off workers migrated to the

Sunbelt as well to find work.

Effects of Sunbelt

Sunbelt states saw their political influence grow along with

populations.

Seats in House of Representatives are reapportioned to reflect

population changes.

Since the 1970s, Sunbelt states have gained more than 35

Electoral College votes at the expense of the Rust Belt states.

Between 1964 and 2004, every successful candidate for President

came from a Sunbelt State.

REAGAN DOCTRINE U.S. would not simply confine itself to the containment of

Communism, it would also attempt to “roll-back” Communism by

aiding anti-Communist “freedom fighters” in Afghanistan, Angola,

Nicaragua, & Cambodia

Peace Through Strength: the best way to prevent war was to

make America’s enemies think that the U.S. had both the means

and the will to stop aggression. To carry this out, Reagan sharply

increased military spending.

REAGAN DOCTRINE Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): “Star Wars”

researching an anti-ballistic defense system, using

lasers to shoot down missiles in order to prevent a

nuclear attack

Reagan Doctrine Reagan’s 2nd term witnessed the triumph of democracy in many

parts of the world including the Philippines & Latin America, in

which dictatorships and military governments were replaced by

democratically elected civilian governments.

Threat of Terrorism Terrorism: use of bombing, assassination, kidnapping, or

other acts of terror to ensure a political group’s voice is heard

In 1982, an Israeli force invaded Lebanon, setting a civil war

between Christians & Palestinian refugees.

Lebanon requests help from the US. In 1983, a suicide bomber

attacked American & French barracks in Beirut, capital of Lebanon

Threat of Terrorism 241 US Marines & 58 French were killed

Reagan removes all forces from Lebanon

Reagan announced that he would not negotiate with terrorists,

and even bombed 2 cities in Libya in 1986 when he thought its

leader, Muammar Gaddafi, had supported terrorist activities

Iran Contra Affair

In 1986, officials in Reagan Administration acted against the policy

of refusing to negotiate with terrorists by secretly selling arms to

Iran as part of a deal in exchange for the release of American

hostages in Lebanon.

Profits from sales of arms to Iran were then diverted to support

the anti-Communist “Contra” rebels fighting the Communist govt

in Nicaragua.

This was done even after Congress had prohibited any US aid to

the Contras.

Effects of Iran Contra Affair When exposed to the public, it shocked the nation. Several

officials were convicted of lying to Congress & sent to prison

Iran Contra Affair greatly tarnished America’s credibility in the

world, and once again the US citizens question their trust in their

government

Reagan & the Cold War

The final years of Reagan’s administration, saw the beginnings of

the end of the Cold War

Mikhail Gorbachev (head of Soviet Communist Party in 1985)

introduces reforms in the Soviet Union, and agreed to meet with

Reagan.

Gorbachev & Reagan sign an agreement dismantling thousands of

nuclear missiles.

George H.W. Bush Presidency 1989-1993

Bush served as Vice President for 2 terms under Reagan.

Bush promised to continue Reagan’s policies, but with greater

emphasis on homelessness, poverty, improving education, and

fighting drug use.

Bush’s greatest domestic challenge: reduce the budget deficit.

Easing tensions in Soviet Union allowed for cuts in military

spending, and Bush increased income taxes on the wealthy in

1990.

George H.W. Bush Presidency 1989-1993

Bush made several appointments to the Supreme Court, leading to

a conservative majority.

The Supreme Court toughened rules for criminal defendants,

reduced the scope of abortion rights, and many other changes

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Prohibits

discrimination against people with disabilities in employment &

public accommodations.

Bush’s Foreign Policy

End of Cold War: 1989-1991,

Eastern Europe moved from

Communism to democracy, the

Berlin Wall was torn down, and

Germany was reunited. In 1991,

the Cold War ends. The Soviet

Union dissolved and was

replaced by the Commonwealth

of Independent States. Bush

recognizes Russia & new

republics and offered them

economic assistance.

Bush’s Foreign Policy The Gulf War: 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded

Kuwait, capturing its vast oil wealth & extending Iraq’s border.

Hussein refused UN requests to withdraw. UN forces landed an

attack against Iraq. Invasion succeeded in only a few days, Hussein

agreed to remove all Iraqi troops from Kuwait & pay Kuwait for

damages.