The Conservative Tide Chapter 33

I.A conservative movement emerges A.Public action versus private interest—the pendulum of political opinion B.High taxes for entitlement programs and the government’s civil rights policies had many Americans frustrated 1.Particularly busing drove many Democrats to the Republican Party 2.The New Right emerged as an alliance of conservative special interest groups fought against government regulation

C. The conservative coalition 1. An alliance of intellectuals, business leaders, struggling middle-class voters, disenchanted Democrats, and fundamentalist Christian groups 2. They shared an opposition to big government, entitlements, busing and affirmative action, and a belief in a return to traditional moral values

D. A success strategy 1. One of the most active segments of the conservative coalition was a confederation of religious groups 2. Many of these conservative voters called themselves the Moral Majority

E. Conservatives win political power 1. In Ronald Reagan, the conservative movement found its candidate 2. Reagan ran on a platform of: a. shrinking the federal govt. b. promoting traditional morality and values c. stimulating business by reducing govt. regulation and lowering taxes d. strengthening the national defense

1980 election

II. Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush A. “Reaganomics” to stimulate business 1. Cutting government programs for limited groups 2. Reducing Taxes to encourage private investment 3. Supply-side economics—low taxes would mean more saving, working, and investing which would mean more jobs 4. More jobs would mean more taxpayers which would cause tax revenues to increase

5. A period of economic growth 6. Government revenues did not increase 7. The government borrowed to make up the difference 8. The national debt climbs $900 billion in 1980 to $4 trillion in 1992

B. Increased military spending

C. Judicial power shifts to the right 1. Reagan and Bush appointed conservative justices to the Supreme Court 2. This helped Reagan achieve his goal of promoting traditional values and morality

D. Reducing the size and power of the federal government through deregulation 1. Savings and Loan deregulation and scandal 2. The environment—EPA budget was cut and the Reagan administration opposed government intervention to preserve the environment

E. Conservative victories in 84 and The conservative coalition a. Business people b. Southern voters c. Western States d. Reagan democrats

III. American Society in a Conservative Age A. Health, Education, and Cities in Crisis 1. Health Issues—AIDS 2. Abortion—pro-life versus pro-choice 3. Drug Abuse—cocaine, crack, and the war on drugs

4. Education—1983 A Nation at Risk a. school choice b. longer day and year c. merit pay

5. The Urban Crisis a. high unemployment b. crumbling infrastructure c. inadequate funds for sanitation and health d. deteriorating schools e. growing social problems

B. The Equal Rights Struggle 1. Women’s Rights a. The ERA failed b the Democrats chose Geraldine Ferraro as their vice-presidential candidate

2. Economic and Social Gains a. maternity leave b. increased pay equity c. increase in the divorce rate

C. The Fight for Rights Continues 1. African Americans a. political gains b. Jesse Jackson ran for president in 1984 and 1988 c. affirmative action

2. Latinos—fasting growing minority group 3. Native Americans—gambling restrictions eased 4. Asian Americans—second fastest minority group 5. Gays and Lesbians—increased legal protection