The Conservative Resurgence Ch. 23

Ideas of Liberalism Democrats Believed… Federal gov should play a large role in improving American lives Social programs should help poor, elderly, unemployed Rights should protect minorities and women Greater gov regulation of industry Cooperate with international organizations

Ideas of Conservatives Republicans Large central gov endangered economic growth and individual choice Criticized the liberal solution of “throwing money” at social problems Wanted to reduce taxes and limit gov regulation of industry Didn’t want to abandon traditional values Questioned the détente and SALT II treaty

Liberalism Loses its Appeal Counterculture alienated many Americans Watergate, oil crises, and the Iran Hostage crisis weakened the public’s faith in the federal gov Industries declined and the economy stagnated

The New Right New Right- the name for the resurgent conservative movement Disliked… Unfunded mandates-required programs but not paid for by the gov Welfare programs- rewarded lack of effort Affirmative action Supported Moral Majority- political organization working to fulfill religious goals

Reagan Wins the Presidency Wins 1970 election Supply-side economics (Reaganomics) If taxes are reduced, people will work more and have more money to spend causing the economy to grow Economic Recovery Act of 1981 reduced taxes by 25% over 3 years Deregulation Removal of government control over industry Airline, telecommunications, banking Despite policies recession hit and unemployment grew

Tear Down This Wall June 12, 1987 Brandenburg Gate, West Berlin Reagan’s speech acknowledged the new Soviet leader Gorbachev’s efforts at reform in the Soviet Union But not satisfied Challenged Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall and show a real commitment at reform Formally torn down in 1990

Iran-Contra Scandal 1985 US sold weapons to Iran in exchange for Iran’s promise to pressure terrorist groups in Lebanon to release some American hostages Didn’t work Contradicted the US policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists Money from the sales was used to fund the Contras in Nicaragua Sending funds to the Contras was banned 2 years earlier News of the sandal came out in 1986 Reagan accepted responsibility Several administration officials and top aid, Oliver North, were convicted, but many convictions were later overturned

The End of the Cold War Reagan supported a massive US military buildup Reagan wanted to weaken the Soviet Union by supporting anticommunist rebellions US funded and trained anti-Soviet rebels in Afghanistan 1988- Soviet forces began to withdraw from Afghanistan US feared the Sandinista gov in Nicaragua provided the Soviets with a “safe house” US backed the Contras, anticommunist counterrevolutionaries

1989- George H.W. Bush becomes president

Fall of Communism Fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of communism in Europe 1991- communist party lost power Soviet Union separated into 15 independent republics

The Persian Gulf War Causes…. Aug. 1990- Iraq invaded Kuwait Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s leader, wanted to take over Kuwait’s oil deposits and would control 20% of oil produced in the world US didn’t want Hussein to seek to gain control of Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves Pres. Bush worked to build an international coalition and backed a UN resolution demanding Iraqi troops withdraw

Operation Desert Storm 700,000 American, British, French, Egyptian, and Saudi Arabian troops assembled in Saudi Arabia Bush hoped military presence would convince Hussein to withdraw Bush received authority from Congress to use force if necessary Operation Desert Storm American-led attack on Iraqi forces Jan. 1991

Operation Desert Storm cont’d General Colin Powell developed and executed a strategy 5 weeks of aerial bombardment on Iraqi forces Iraq launched missiles on coalition forces and Israel (did little damage) Coalition troops stormed into Kuwait Iraqi troops fled and surrendered War ended 5 days later when Iraq agreed to a cease-fire Hussein and his regime survived the war