Conservative Revolution

Transcription

1 Reagan s America

2 Conservative Revolution AZ Sen. Barry Goldwater often referred to as Mr. Conservative his 1964 campaign had marked the beginning of a resurgence of conservatism by 1980 a potent new conservative coalition had formed made up of: econ & pol conservatives, religious fundamentalists, and PACs opposed: big govt, New Deal liberalism, gun control, feminism, gay rights, welfare, affirmative action, sexual permissiveness, abortion, and drug use various activists had established a conservative agenda for the nation supported such diverse causes as lower taxes and improved morals Cali voters had led revolt against high taxes by passing Proposition 13 in 1978 moral decay was a weekly theme of televangelists like Pat Robinson Jerry Falwell made religion a powerful pol tool by founding Moral Majority

3 Reagan and the 1980 Election Reps chose former Cali Gov Ronald Reagan to run in 1980 election the conservative right had gained popularity throughout the nation many Americans looked to rekindle traditional family and Christian values growing conservative mood helped Reagan defeat carter in 1980 the Reagan Revolution ushered in new era of conservative policies promised: lower taxes, smaller govt, stronger military, & a more consrv. Court reconfigured Supreme Court appointed Sandra Day O Connor (first female)

4 Reaganomics president s economic policies became known as Reaganomics favored supply-side economic [M] model over Keynesian demand-side theory also involved trickle-down concept of tax cuts for the wealthy less govt spending, lower income taxes, reduced govt regulations/restrictions Reagan pushed for tax cuts and increased defense spending combination caused major decrease in many fed funded social programs Reagan s presidency put less emphasis on issues like civil rights and the enviro Reagan sought to eliminate fed deficit by decreasing size of fed govt but tax cuts and military spending actually tripled the national debt under RR

5 Reagan and Foreign Policy Reagan strengthened military and labeled USSR as the evil empire presidency instrumental in hastening downfall of the Soviet Union sent troops to Grenada / supported overthrow of Sandinistas in Nicaragua minor setback at home after 1986 revelation of Iran-Contra Affair pushed for funding of SDI program nicknamed Star Wars scare tactic that put pressure on USSR and its crumbling economy Mikhail Gorbachev became new Soviet leader in 1985 initiated 2 reforms called glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) worked with Reagan to ease tensions signed START I with Bush in 1991

6 USSR Collapse and George H. Bush 1988 election occurred with the end of the Cold War in sight V.P. Bush easily defeated Dem Michael Dukakis Read my lips, no new taxes. communism faced upheaval in regions across the entire world Tiananmen Square massacre and Berlin Wall torn down in 1989 USSR released grip on Eastern Europe several nations declared independence Gorbachev forced from power as USSR collapsed on Dec 25, 1991 new Russian president Boris Yeltsin and Bush agreed to START II in 1992 end of Cold War raised questions about size and future role of U.S. military

7 Bush and America s New Role Bush was faced with the task of shaping new U.S. foreign policy called for a new world order based on peace and democracy ordered invasion of Panama to remove autocratic General Noriega in 1989 First [Persian] Gulf War started after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 UN coalition launched Operation Desert Storm to liberated Kuwait coalition successfully liberated Kuwait but Saddam Hussein remained in power

8 Demographic Changes 1965 Immigration Act led to recent wave of new new immigrants Latinos became largest immigrant group followed by Asians both illegal and legal immigration have strained fed and state govts cultural pluralism has become dominate theme in U.S. society by 1990 minority groups made up 25% of the total population problems caused by aging baby boomers and longer life expectancy this graying of America has severely strained Social Security system

9 The post-industrial & Information Age a technological boom has occurred since the 1950s the cpu revolution occurred after the invention of the microchip computers, cell phones, and the internet globalization instant communication brought the world into the Age of Information but having access to all this info has raised concerns about people s privacy unequal distribution of wealth and growing gap between rich & poor nations environment awareness has increased in recent decades many blame the burning of fossil fuels for causing the Greenhouse Effect