Standard USHC-8: The student will demonstrate an understanding of social, economic and political issues in contemporary America. USHC-8.4 Analyze the causes and consequences of the resurgence of the conservative movement, including social and cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s, Supreme Court decisions on integration and abortion, the economic and social policies of the Reagan administration, and the role of the media. Created by Ms. Magyar!

Conservatives vs. Liberals MAIN IDEAS: 1. Conservatism and liberalism have been in conflict throughout the history of the U.S., especially in times of great social and cultural change and economic uncertainty. – Examples: 1920s and 1930s, then 1960s and 1970s 2. The main issue that split the Federalists and Democratic Republicans was the appropriate role and power of the national government, and this remains the major division between the parties today. 3. The basic differences between conservatives and liberals in the 1980s and today developed as a result of the varied responses to the Great Depression, the New Deal, the Civil Rights Movement and the Great Society.

Events that strengthened the Conservative Movement: Social upheaval and the counterculture of the 1960s Brown vs. Board of Education The Civil Rights Movement Anti-poverty programs and Affirmative Action plans

Events that strengthened the Conservative Movement: President Johnson’s Great Society The Women’s Rights Movement Roe vs. Wade 1973 Vietnam – Conservative “Hawks” (pro-war) vs. Liberal “Doves” (anti-war) The Sexual Revolution – Drug use, divorce rate, unmarried people living together

DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS VS.

Political Parties and the role of the National Government: Conservatives: Conservatives believe that a large federal government threatens individual liberties and that the majority of governing should be left to the states (states’ rights) Conservatives believe in personal responsibility and that the government should leave charity to the private sector Conservatives do not support extension of welfare because they believe that welfare programs make their recipients permanently dependent on government and are too costly

Political Parties and the role of the National Government: Liberals: Liberals believe that the federal government should take an active role in protecting the rights and welfare of the individual and of minority groups against local prejudices Liberals advocate government programs to aid those who are least able to care for themselves

RICHARD NIXON: A moderate Republican, he was elected under the campaign slogan “law and order” amid urban riots and anti-war protests Southern Strategy: Nixon’s political strategy to broaden his appeal to southern conservatives The Watergate Scandal, and Nixon’s pardon by President Ford (previously Nixon’s VP), led to the election of democrat Jimmy Carter

JIMMY CARTER: The Carter administration was negatively affected by economic problems exacerbated by spending in the Vietnam War and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East Double digit inflation, a energy crisis that eroded middle class prosperity, which undermined support for social welfare programs When the administration was unable to end the Iran hostage crisis the stage was set for change

RONALD REAGAN: Reagan’s patriotism and “can do” attitude appealed to American voters Television coverage of the return of the hostages on the day of Reagan’s inauguration added to his can-do image He launched the “Reagan Revolution”, cutting taxes for the wealthy to promote investment and the creation of jobs, while also cutting government spending The Reagan administration limited the enforcement of regulations on businesses and banks (laissez-faire) and environmental protections

Reagan also increased defense spending tremendously during the Cold War in order to bring an end to the tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union Conservatives credit Reagan with bringing about the dissolution of the Soviet Union and ending the Cold War – Liberals attribute the fall of the USSR to internal problems President Reagan successfully changed the vocabulary of politics so that conservative was now seen as synonymous with economic growth and traditional values and liberalism with wasteful spending and overweening government. – Liberals attempted to counter this interpretation, portraying themselves as the champions of the middle class and the role of government as protecting the middle class

Political Parties and the Economy: Conservatives: “Reaganomics”: the belief that if the wealthy have more money then prosperity will “trickle down” to the rest of society as the rich invest in building factories and hire workers (supply side) Conservatives advocate belt-tightening and balanced budget Anti-regulation (businesses, banks)

Political Parties and the Economy: Liberals: Liberals believe that the economic well being of the nation depends on the ability of all of the people to consume the goods produced because increased demand will prompt businesses to create more jobs and more people with jobs will spend more money (demand side) They believe the wealthy should pay taxes proportion to their ability to pay and that tax cuts should go to the lower and middle class Liberals hold that in economic hard times, the federal government should stimulate the economy through deficit spending Pro-regulation (businesses, banks) Liberals believe that “Reaganomics” and increased defense spending led to an increase in national debt

GLOBALIZATION: to extend to other or all parts of the globe; make worldwide Problems due to Globalization: Exodus of manufacturing jobs to places with lower labor costs New jobs created were most often in low- paying service industries resulting in lower tax revenues