The Conservative Resurgence 1980-1992: The Reagan and Bush Era Republican President Ronald Reagan s election marks a shift to the Right in domestic and foreign policy. SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 4 President Ronald Reagan A Conservative Movement Emerges Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush Social Concerns in the 1980s Foreign Policy End of the Cold War and a New World Order
A Conservative Movement Emerges The Conservative Movement Builds Conservative Issues Blamed Liberals/Democrats for what they saw as an economic, social, and moral decline of the nation Conservative Stance on issues include: 1. Anti-Abortion 7. Less Gov t Regulation 2. Anti-Gun Control 8. Represent Rural Interests 3. Less Gov t Spending 9. Pro-Business/Corporations 4. Smaller Gov t 10. Little/No Tax Increases 5. Slow or no Change 11. Less Entitlement Program (on programs such as Social 6. Increase Nat l Defense Security and Medicare)
The Conservative Movement Builds The New Right New Right collection of grass-roots groups promoting single issues Examples of Single issues: Abortion Much of the New Right was strongly against abortion Affirmative Action special consideration for women, minorities in employment and education. Conservatives said it was Reverse Discrimination, favoring one group over others The Conservative Coalition Business, religious, other groups form Conservative Coalition Conservative periodicals, think tanks discuss, develop policies Leading Conservative magazine The National Review William F. Buckley
The Conservative Movement Builds The Moral Majority The Christian Coalition Jerry Falwell s Moral Majority Christians for traditional morals 1970s religious revival uses TV, radio; strong among fundamentalists Televangelists emerge not all legitimate figures, such as Jim Baker who along with wife Tammy Faye embezzled millions away from what people thought was a religious charity.
Conservatives Win Political Power Reagan s Qualifications Reagan served 2 terms as governor of California Ronald Reagan wins 1980 Republican nomination George H. W. Bush was his Vice Presidential running mate The 1980 Presidential Election Reagan runs on conservative issues, weak economy, Iran crisis Called Great Communicator : can simplify issues, give clear answers Gets 51% popular vote, 44 states in electoral race, Senate majority
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush Presidents Reagan and Bush pursue a conservative agenda that includes tax cuts, budget cuts, and increased defense spending. Reagan says Government isn t the answer it s the Problem.
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush Reaganomics Takes Over Reagan s Economic Policies Reagan encourages private investment by cutting federal government Wants to decrease power and spending of the Federal Gov t Reaganomics: Was a mix between Lowering Taxes and Cutting Spending. The basic philosophy behind Reaganomics was to cut taxes on the wealthy and business owners so that businesses could expand, employ more people, and grow the economy. Trickle-down Economics: Opponents labeled his plan Voodoo-economics Featured budget cuts, tax cuts, increased defense spending.
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
Reaganomics Takes Over Budget Cuts Maintains entitlement programs that benefit middle class Cuts programs that benefit poor, urban population - Gap between rich and poor widens Tax Cuts Supply-side economics holds that lower taxes result in: - investment, less regulation, greater productivity, more supply, lower prices from competition. This will allow business to grow and hire more workers and as a result the entire economy will grow (GDP). Congress decreases taxes by 25% over 3 yrs Increased Defense Spending Defense Dept. budget almost doubles; offsets cuts in social programs Reagan asks scientists for Strategic Defense Initiative Star Wars - anti-missile defense system
Recession and Recovery July 1981 Nov. 1982, worst recession since Great Depression Early 1983 consumer spending fuels economic upturn: - more consumer confidence, decrease in inflation, unemployment 1987, market crashes, then recovers, continues up The National Debt Climbs Spending outstrips revenues; new 1982 taxes do not balance budget National debt almost double by end of Reagan s first term Reaganomics Takes Over
Reducing the Size of Government and Deregulating the Economy Reagan reduces government by deregulation less industry regulation. Reagan believes this will increase competition, results in lower prices. Supporter of Laissez-faire ideas. Cuts budget of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -Environmental groups oppose Reagan s policies Interior Dept. permits more oil drilling, lumbering, coal mining on Federal lands - sells millions of acres of public lands
Judicial Power Shifts to the Right Supreme Court Appointments Reagan appoints Sandra Day O Connor first woman justice to the Supreme Court; While the ERA did not pass in the 80 s, her appointment to the Court showed progress in the fight for equality for women Other Reagan, Bush appointments make Court more conservative Clarence Thomas confirmed after sexual harassment hearings Court places restrictions on civil rights, abortion Court led by Chief Justice William Rehnquist
The Reagan Doctrine Support any nation that resists Communism with economic aid, military aid, and even soldiers if necessary Reagan vs. Communism Berlin Speech: Reagan challenged communist rule over Eastern Europe, saying Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall. Reagan saw the Soviet Union as representing evil in the world ( the Evil Empire ) The U.S. was much more willing to confront the Soviets during the 1980 s going beyond what other Presidents had done to Contain the USSR. Example aggressive support of Afghan rebels fighting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
The Foreign Policy of Presidents The Struggle Against the USSR Truman Containment Ex. Berlin Airlift Ex. Marshall Plan Ex. Truman Doctrine Eisenhower Brinksmanship Ex. Nuclear Arms Race and MAD JFK/LBJ Flexible Response Ex. Special Forces (Green Berets) Nixon/Ford/Carter Detente Ex. Nixon visits China Reagan Reagan Doctrine Ex. Invasion of Grenada
Conservative Victories in 1984 and 1988 The Reagan Coalition Reagan forges large coalition of diverse groups - businesspeople, Southerners, Westerners, Reagan Democrats The 1984 Presidential Election Democrat Walter Mondale chooses Geraldine Ferraro as running mate - first woman on major party s presidential ticket Reagan, Bush win by landslide
Conservative Victories in 1984 and 1988 The 1988 Presidential Election Most Americans economically comfortable - attribute comfort to Reagan, Bush Republican candidate George Bush stresses conservatism - promises Read My Lips, No New Taxes Would later go back on this pledge and raise taxes Gets 53% popular vote, 426 electoral votes - electoral victory seen as conservative mandate Continues many Reagan policies
Social Problems/Issues of the 1980s Beneath the surge of prosperity that marks the Conservative Era of the 1980 s were serious social problems.
Social Concerns in the 1980s Health, Education, and Cities in Crisis Health Issues AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) caused by virus - destroys immune system, makes body prone to infections, cancer 1980s, epidemic grows; increasing concern over prevention, cure Abortion 1980s, battle over abortion intensifies - opponents are pro-life; supporters are pro-choice 1989, Supreme Court rules states may place some restrictions on abortion Materialism The Yuppies of the 1980 s cause many to question Materialism as the gap between rich and poor grows. Yuppies Young Urban Professionals who emphasized Materialism and greed (very characteristics of the 80 s).
Health, Education, and Cities in Crisis Drug Abuse Reagan administration prosecutes drug users, dealers The War on Drugs First Lady Nancy Reagan has Just Say No! to drugs campaign Education 1983 commission: U.S. students lag behind students in other nations Bush initiative calls for using public money for school choice The Urban Crisis Cities deteriorate as wealthier families move to suburbs; businesses follow; 1992 Race Riots in LA after officers taped hitting and kicking Rodney King were acquitted
The Equal Rights Struggle Political Losses and Gains The Equal Rights Amendment battle ERA not ratified by 1982; Reagan names 2 women to cabinet in 1983 1992, increased number of women elected to Congress Inequality Women earn less than men; 31% female heads of household poor Pay equity pay reflects education, physical effort, responsibility Women seek pay equity, family benefits; some employers comply Reagan cuts budget for daycare, similar programs
The Fight for Rights Continues African Americans Victories and Defeats By mid-1980s, many cities have African- American mayors Numerous communities elect blacks to local, state office, Congress L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia is first African-American governor Reverend Jesse Jackson runs for Democratic presidential nomination Middle-class blacks hold professional, managerial positions Supreme Court limits Affirmative Action
Foreign Policy - End of the Cold War and a New World Order The end of the Cold War, marked by the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, leads to a redirection of many U.S. goals and policies.
Foreign Policy - End of the Cold War and a New World Order Central American and Caribbean Policy Nicaragua Sandinistas leftist/socialist group, takes over Nicaragua; Reagan labels the gov t as communist; helps the Contras opposition forces who fight guerrilla war against Nicaraguan Gov t; 1990, Contra supporter Violeta de Chamorro elected president Grenada 1983 Reagan sends troops; pro-cuba government replaced with pro-u.s. Panama Bush sends troops to arrest dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega Noriega convicted of drug trafficking in U.S., sentenced to 40 years
Foreign Policy - End of the Cold War and a New World Order Events in the Middle East The P.L.O. and Crisis in Lebanon The 1982 Israeli Invasion of Lebanon leads the U.S. involvement. U.S., France, and Britain send peacekeepers to oversee the end of the fighting, the withdraw of the Palestine Liberation Organization (P.L.O.) from Beirut, and to prevent Civil War from erupting. Background of the P.L.O. A political movement and guerrilla fighters dedicated to fighting Israel. The Marine Barracks Bombing 241 Marines were killed by a terrorist car bomb while serving as peacekeepers between the Palestinians and Israeli Army. The attack was carried out by the groups Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah. TWA High-jacking Islamic Fundamentalist terrorist took control of a jet carrying over 100 Americans, holding them hostage. Eventually the drama ended with the U.S. negotiating a deal for their release.
Foreign Policy - End of the Cold War and a New World Order Controversy and Scandal The Iran-Contra Scandal 1983, terrorists loyal to Iran take Americans hostages in Lebanon Reagan says no negotiating with terrorists; sells arms through Israel to Iran for hostages and for money to fund anti-communist Contra guerrilla forces Staff divert some profits to Contras; despite Congressional law forbidding this; 1987, Congressional committees hold Who was TV hearings concerning the issue Oliver North? 1988 - several officials indicted; In 1992 - Bush pardons Reagan officials Reagan becomes known as the Teflon President, because none of the scandals seemed to be directly connected to him
Foreign Policy - End of the Cold War and a New World Order The Cold War Ends Gorbachev Initiates Reform Mikhail Gorbachev general secretary of Soviet Communist Party Soviet economy stressed; Reagan s defense spending adds pressure Gorbachev adopts Glasnost or Openness allows criticism, some freedom of press Plans perestroika some private enterprise, moves to modernize economic system Wants better relations with U.S. to cut U.S.S.R. military spending - arms-control INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty)
The Cold War Ends The Collapse of Communist Regimes Gorbachev reduces Soviet control of Eastern Europe, urges democracy 1989, Berlin Wall torn down; in 1990, the two German nations were re-united Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania all go democratic Ethnic civil war breaks out in Yugoslavia The Soviet Union Dissolves 1991 - Soviet Republics declare independence from central gov t; Rise of Boris Yeltsin as President of Russia 1991 Hard-line Communist Coup attempt; Gorbachev realizes the USSR is breaking down he dissolves the country in Dec. 1991 Commonwealth of Independent States forms; 1993 START II signed
The Cold War Ends Communism Continues in China 1980s, China loosens business restrictions, stops price controls Students demand free speech, voice in government 1989, demonstrations in Beijing s Tiananmen Square, other cities Premier Li Peng orders military to crush protesters - unarmed students killed Why did revolutions succeed in Eastern Europe and the USSR but not in China?
The Gulf War 1990-1991 Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88 leaves Iraq with great war debt and disappointment at winning a military victory 1990, invades Kuwait to take its oil, threatens U.S. oil supply and Saudi Arabian oil fields; Operation Desert Shield protects the Saudi oil fields while Pres. Bush, Secretary of State James Baker, organize international coalition to expel Iraq from Kuwait. Goal was to remove Hussein from Iraq not take him out of power completely. 1991, Operation Desert Storm liberates Kuwait from Iraq Victory parades greet returning soldiers Under 400 coalition casualties; 60,000-100,000 Iraqi deaths;
The Gulf War 1990-1991
Bush s Domestic Policies Bush hurt by rising deficit, recession of 1990 1992 Forced to raise taxes despite campaign promise of Read My Lips, No New Taxes 1992, approval rating drops to 49%, despite popularity after gulf War win. Election of 1992 Clinton vs. Bush vs. Ross Perot Role of a Third Party in Presidential races often acts as a Spoiler and takes away votes from the party that the third-party voters would typically vote for.. The result - Clinton wins.
Everything 80 s
People, Ideas, and Events of the 1980 s
People, Ideas, and Events of the 1980 s
People, Ideas, and Events of the 1980 s