PowerPoint Presentation

PERIOD 9: 1980 - PRESENTThe Conservative Resurgence and the Challenges of the 21st Century

Shifting politics1932 1980Dominated by liberalism, DemocratsDecline of faith in fed gov. ability to solve social/econ problemsUnregulated markets + growth of corporationsGrowth of religious fundamentalism rise of conservatismDemographic shift to Sunbelt + shift of Southern white vote to RepubsRise of conservatism64 = start of resurgenceBarry Goldwater campaign, 6460s/70s Nixon/Ford policiesWilliam F. Buckley, Jr. (writer)Milton Friedman80s = religious fundamentalists, PACs, economic & political conservatives riseFocus? Opposition to BIG government, New Deal liberalism, gun control, feminism, gay rights, welfare, affirmative action, sexual permissiveness, abortion, drug useAdvocate family/religious values, work ethic, natl security

Leading issuesLower taxes78 revolt led by CA (Prop 13 to lower property taxes)Argument promoted by Arthur Laffer: tax cuts increased gov. revenuePush for 30% reduction in federal taxes = basis for Reagan tax cutsReligious revivalMoral decay of 60s 70s televangelists (Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson)Jerry Falwell & Moral Majority finance of campaigns to unseat liberalsAGAINST secular humanismDESIRE prayer in school, creationism, right to life (response to Roe v. Wade, 73) Caths + fundamentalist Protestants

Elimination of racial preferences65 = start of affirmative action plan for underprivileged minorities, women= access to ED, jobs, promotions70s recessions, stagflation many blame troubles on affirm. action & reverse discriminationRegents of U Cal v. Bakke- 78De-regulation of Business70s = business interests mobilize to influence gov. to decrease regulation, lower taxes, weaken labor unionsDevelopment of think tanks to promote free enterpriseAmerican Enterprise Inst., Heritage FoundationLobby for pro-business legislation

The Reagan Revolution

Attacks against Dems for expanding gov., undermining US prestige abroadContext? Iranian hostage crisisPoint to misery index of 28= rate of inflation & unemploymentAre you better off now than you were four years ago?Presidential win + Republican control of Senate, majority hold on HouseIn house, increase in seats + support of southern Dems (boll weevils)1980 = end of half-century of Democratic dominance

Inauguration day = release of US hostages in IranEarly assassination attempt 2 mo. LaterStart of attack on taxes, reduction in gov. spending (welfare), build up of armed forces, conservative federal courtEarly activity similar to FDR First Hundred Days

Supply-Side Economics= REAGONOMICSTax cuts + reduction in federal spending increased investment by private sector increase production, jobs, prosperityBREAK FROM KENYESIAN APPROACHFavored by DemsSimilar to trickle down economics of 20s (Hoover)Tax Reduction & Spending cutsEconomic Recovery Act, 8125% decrease in personal income taxes over 3 yearsCuts to corp. income tax, capital gains tax, gift/income taxRelief to upper-income taxpayers$40 billion+ cut from domestic programsStudent loans, food stamps, mass transportationNO CUTS to Medicare, Social Security (strengthened)Offset by increase in military spending

Deregulation & Labor UnionsReduction of fed regulations start under CarterFocus on business, industryEase up on regulations on banks, mergers, takeovers by large corps, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONFederal lands opened for coal, timber productionOffshore waters opened for oil drillingAim? Help struggling auto industryReduce regulation on emissions, auto safetyTough against unionsOn strike? = violation of contractDecertification of unions (PATCO- air traffic controllers)Overall loss of manufacturing jobs from 60s + anit-union polices = decline in Union membership

Recession & recovery1982 = recessionWorse since 30sBank failures, unemployment to 11%Recession + FALL in oil prices reduction of inflation rate (down to 4%)Reagonomics stabilization & rebound of economy in 83 long period of recoveryAlso see widening of income gapUpper-income groups + yuppies = high standard of living from deregulationMiddle class stagnant or decline through late 90s

Social issuesAppointment of conservatives judges to SCSandra Day OConnor = first woman on courtAntonin Scalia, Anthony KennedyNew CJ = William Rehnquist scaling back on affirmative action in hiring, promotions, limits to Roe v. WadeStates OK to impose restrictions on abortions, minors must notify parents before having abortion

Election of 1984

Public confidence in Reagan after return to prosperityFirsts for DemocratsJesse Jackson run for President via National Rainbow Coalition (minorities)Dems choose Walter Mondale (Carter VP) + Geraldine Ferraro (NY Rep) = first woman bid for VP on major party ticketIts Morning Again in AmericaOnly groups favoring Dems = African Americans, those under $12,500/year income

Budget & Trade Deficits Tax cuts + increase in military spending deficits over $200 billion/yearOver 8 years, deficit tripled from $900 b. to $2.7 t.Aim of tax cuts to stimulate investmentsoops! Only increase consumptionForeign-made luxury, consumer goods trade deficit foreign ownership of US real estate, industry1985 = US as debtor nationFirst time since WWI era Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget Act= spending cuts across the board deficit reduction of $66 billion from 86 to 88Impact of reaganomicsReduction on restrictions to free-market economyMoney back into hands of investors, American peopleGrowth of New Deal-Great Society welfare state containedBUTLarge federal deficits Lead to future political debates on spending, economyNot feasible for Dems or Repubs to propose new social programs (universal health care)Debate focus on which gov. programs to cut and by how much versus what new programs to installTHE COLD WAR UNDER REAGAN

Reagans viewDetermined to restore military might/superpower prestige to US Renewal of competition w/ Soviet Union, the evil empirePrepared to use military forceFocus on defense, aid to anti-communist forces in Latin AmericaSecond term more flexible w/ changes in Soviet Union, E. Europe

Military build upBuild up of new weapons systemsB-1 bomber, MX missile, stealth programsExpansion of US Navy450 to 600 shipsSpending on Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)= STAR WARSPlan to build high-tech laser system, particle beams to destroy enemy missilesSeen as too costly, would escalation of arms race

Cold War in Central AmericaReagan admin. support of friendly right-wing dictatorsTo keep out communismNicaragua- 1979Marxist mvmt = Sandinistas overthrow dictator US aid to contras to dislodge SandinistasCIA training1985- Dems opposed to policies pass BOLAND AMENDMENT to stop aid to contrasVietnam redux?El SalvadorSupport to Salvadoran gov. vs. leftist guerrillasUS protests of killings of 40k+ civilians by right-wing death squads connected to El Salvador army

GrenadaOctober 1983- Reagan OK Marine invasion to prevent Communist military base from being established success of pro-US government in Grenada= military triumphHigh support from publicOperation just after terrorist attack on US embassy @ Beirut

Iran-contra affair= military failure, scandalSince 80- Iran & Iraq at warReagan aides form secret plan to sell US antitank/antiaircraft missiles to Iranian gov.Gov. aided in freeing Americans held hostage by radical Arab group1986- plan evolves to use profits from arms deal w/ Iran to fund contras in Nicaragua= illegal diversion of funds (Boland Amend. , Congressional budget authority)Reagan denied knowledge of plan public view of Reagan as uninformed, hands-off, easily manipulated by advisers

Lebanon, Israel, & plo1982- Israelis invade S. Lebanon to stop Palestinian Liberation Organization terroristsAttempting to raid Israel (Yasser Arafat)US approved invasion by IsraelisUS send peacekeeping forces into Leb. To contain fighting w/in the nation1983- terrorist attacks Arab suicide squad bomb US embassy in Beirut (63 dead)Bomb-filled truck driven into US Marines barracks (241 dead)1984- US forces pulled out of LebanonLittle to show but loss of US lives

Palestinian-Israeli ConflictSOS George Schultz push for peaceSet up homeland for PLO IN West BankIsrael had occupied area since 1967 war1988- agreements reachedWest BankPLO Recognition of Israels right to existRenounce terrorismMadrid C.- 91Oslo Acc.-93

Improving relations with the soviet unionEarly 80s = intensified Cold WarArms build-up by Reagan, Soviet deployment of missiles into NATO nations1982- STARTStrategic Arms Reduction Talksfail1985- Mikhail Gorbachev = new Soviet leaderReform of domestic policies =1. GLASNOST- openness (end political repression, great political freedom)2. PERESTROIKA- restructuring economy w/ some free-market practicesTo achieve, had to end arms race, deal w/ bad Soviet economy1987- Pres. Reagan challenge Gorb. To follow through w/ reforms Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

Tensions easeINF AgreementRemove & destroy intermediate-range missiles1988- Gorb. start to pull Soviet troops out of AfghanistanAlso, assist US in pressuring Iran & Iraq to end war

Assessment of reaganWho moved US-Soviets closer to the end of the Cold War?Reagan & military buildup? force Soviet Union to concede defeat, abandon goalsGorbachev? Abandon Cold War to focus on troubles @ home (economy, political system)George Kennan? Containment polcies