1. IMPACT ON FEDERALISM, THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN OUR LIVES, AND STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS SINCE 1988. Reagan Revolution

2. Two Sides to Politics ● Liberalism ○ Had been the primary idea in 1960s politics. ○ Believe the government should: protect the people from large corporations and wealthy elites. Help disadvantaged Americans. Not interfere with social behavior. Put higher taxes on the wealthy to redistribute wealth. ● Conservatism ○ Regained support in the 1970s ○ Ronald Reagan was a strong conservative who was elected president in the 1980. ○ Read the next slides to understand conservative beliefs.

3. For Some Humor

4. Conservative Republicans ● Advocate (support) for: ○ Tax cuts to increase income and spending for consumers and businesses. ○ Move to more state responsibility Which historical democratic republican would support this as well? Thomas Jefferson

5. Conservative Republicans ○ Appointment of judges who practice “judicial restraint” – courts should only strike down laws if they are clearly unconstitutional. ○ Reduction in number of government funded programs and regulations. ○ Strengthening of our military branches.

6. For Some More Humor

7. Ronald Reagan ● Former actor ● Governor of California ● 40 th President of the United States ● Conservative Republican

8. Reaganomics ● “Trickle-down economics” ● Keep interest rates high but give large tax cuts. ○ This puts more money in the hands of businesses and investors who will create more consumer goods and jobs which will help stimulate the economy.

9. Reagan and the Soviet Union ● Reagan challenged the new leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to make changes. ● Gorbachev saw that the Soviet Union was not keeping up with the U.S. ● Reagan went to West Berlin and declared, “Mr. Gorbachev…tear down this wall!”

10. “Star Wars” ● The Strategic Defense Initiative ● Reagan’s plan to intercept and destroy enemy missiles. ● Called the Soviet Union “The Evil Empire”

11. “Reagan Revolution” Going Beyond ● Reagan Presidency continued to shape politics for years to come. ○ 1989 election of his Vice- President George H.W. Bush ○ 1992 election of centrist Democrat William J. Clinton ○ 2000 election of his son George W. Bush ○ Republicans dominate Congress in 1990’s