THE RESURGENCE OF CONSERVATISM

Chapter 39 1980-1992

ELECTION OF RONALD REAGAN

Championed the "common man" against big government

Sided with the New Right on social issues

Condemned federal intervention in local affairs and favoritism for minorities

ELECTION OF 1980

Many democrats down on Carter, "ABC" (anybody but Carter)

Had to fight against Sen Edward Kennedy for nomination

Reagan seized on Carter's fumbling performance in foreign policy issues

REAGAN REVOLUTION

Iranians released hostages on Reagan's Inauguration Day

Reagan assembled a conservative cabinet of the "best and the rightest"

Smaller government, less bureaucracy, and freer markets

PROPOSITION 13

California tax revolt in 1978

Slashed property taxes and forced cuts in government services

"Tax Quake" jolted other states and helped Reagan's election

BUDGET CUTS

Reagan proposed budget with 35 billion in cuts, mostly in food stamps/job training centers

Convinced group of southern conservative Democrats , nicknamed boll weevils, to abandon Democratic Party leadership and follow Reagan

SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS

Idea that you give the rich tax breaks and deregulation, business and hiring will grow

Stimulate new investment, boost productivity and economic growth

ECONOMY

The economy did not reason favored, slid into deepest recession since 1930's

Recovery began by 1983

For first time since WWII, income gaps widened between richest and poorest Americans

YUPPIES

Young Urban Professionals

Emerged in this time period

Showcased materialism and pursuit of wealth that came to symbolize 1980s

REAGAN RENEWS THE COLD WAR

Threatened the Soviet Union economically with a new arms race

Plan was to hope the Soviets would negotiate since their economy couldn't match the United States

STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI)

Popularly known as Star Wars

Battle stations in space that could fire lasers to vaporize intercontinental missiles

Fir strategy of threatening Soviets with expensive arms race, if not actually scientifically practical

TROUBLES ABROAD

Sent troops to Lebanon on peacekeeping mission; suicide bomber attack killed more than 200 marines

Sent military "advisers" to promote pro-American government in El Salvador

Provided secret aid to rebel contras in Nicaragua

1984 RE-ELECTION

Reagan defeated Democratic challenger and former Carter VP Walter Mondale 525-13

Mondale's nominee for VP was Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to appear on a major party presidential ticket

REAGAN'S 2ND TERM

Dominated by foreign policy issues

Contended with Mikhail Gorbachev, new chairman of the Soviet Communist Party

Gorbachev promised openness (glasnost) and some capitalistic economic features (perestroika)

INF TREATY

Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Banned these types of missiles in Europe

Joined together to end the Cold War

IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR

In 1985 U.S. Diplomats arranged arm sales to Iran

In return, Iranians helped obtain release of an American hostage

Iranians used $ to Nicaraguan Rebels that the U.S. We're fighting

SCANDALActions violated congressional ban on military aid to Nicaraguan rebels

Violated Reagan's vow to not negotiate with terrorists

Reagan claimed ignorance and investigation condemned administrations secrecy and deception

Cast a shadow on Reagan's foreign policy record

REAGAN'S ECONOMIC LEGACY

Eased regulations and tax reforms

Was not able to balance budget

Added $2 trillion to national debt; more than all his predecessors combined

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT

The Moral Majority

Founded by Jerry Falwell

Preached against sexual permissiveness, abortion, feminism, gay rights

Registered between 2-3 million voters

CONSERVATIVE COURTS

Reagan named three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, including the first woman

Webster v. Reproductive Health Services approved a Missouri law that imposed restrictions on abortions

GEORGE H.W. BUSH

Elected in 1988

Ran largely on Reagan's record and won easily 426-111

TIANANMEN SQUARE

Pro democracy uprising in China

Chinese government brutally crushed demonstrations with tanks and guns

Bush insisted on maintaining normal relations with China

BERLIN WALL

Communist regimes collapsed in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Romania

The Berlin Wall came down

Germany, divided since 1945, was reunited in October 1990

NEW WORLD ORDER

Demise of the Soviet Union wrote the definitive finish to the Cold War

Bush spoke of a "New World Order" where democracy would reign and diplomacy would exist over weaponry

PERSIAN GULF CRISIS

End of Cold War did not mean end of all wars

In August of 1990 Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, invaded the country of Kuwait

Iraq needed Kuwait's oil to pay its huge war bills

AMERICAN REACTION

The United Nations ordered Hussein to leave, he did not

Operation Desert Storm began and lasted for only four days

"Hundred-hour war"

Hussein agreed to cease fire, but remained in power

BUSH ON THE HOMEFRONT

Signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990

THE BUSH ECONOMY

Budget deficit reached $250 billion a year under bush

Responded with a budget in 1990 that included $133 billion in new taxes

"Read my lips, no new taxes"