1. Conservativism
Chapter 22

2. The New Conservatism Liberals Conservatives Less government regulation
Supported greater government regulation
Government should play an active role in social programs for the poor
Higher taxes on the wealthy
Greater freedom for social behaviors
Free speech/right to privacy
Opposed to government support of religion
Less government regulation
Sticking to separation of powers in federal government and state governments
Free enterprise encouraged because it will lead to greater wealthy for all
Stressed religion and morality in society

3. Conservatism Revives After WWII, Conservatism makes a come back
Two major reasons—both related to Cold War
1. Economic—The struggle against communism caused debate about the role of the government in the economy. Liberal (New Deal) ideas were leading the U.S. toward our own communism.
2. Religious—The struggle against communism was a struggle of good vs. evil.

4. Conservatives Organize
Religious Right
Americans upset over Roe v. Wade (Abortion case), the feminist movement, lack of respect for authority, breakdown of American values and morals.

5. Conservatives Organize
Moral Majority
Created by Jerry Falwell that backed conservative political candidates and issues.
From these groups a new coalitions was formed. They wanted a return to what they saw as a better time domestically and internationally.

6. Election of 1980
Reagan’s campaign appealed to Americans who were frustrated with the economy and worried that the U.S. had become weak internationally.
Reagan will win the election with 489 electoral votes (out of 537).

7. Domestic Policies--Reaganomics
First priority of Reagan was the economy (had to stop the raging stagflation)
A. Reaganomics: a combination of keeping interest rates high (to fight inflation) and cutting taxes
Supply-side economics: cut taxes = people have more money to spend; corporations have more money to spend = hire more workers.

8. Domestic Policies--Reaganomics
B. Cutting Programs
In order to balance the budget, Reagan proposed and passed cuts in social programs (not as many as he would have liked).

9. Domestic Policies--Reaganomics
C. Deregulation
Reagan believed that government regulation caused economic problems so he worked to deregulate government control

10. Domestic Policies--Reaganomics
Did it work?
YES—The economy expanded, median income of families rose, new businesses were started, and unemployment declined.

11. Domestic Policies Wins reelection in 1984
Appoints first woman to the Supreme Court
Sandra Day O’Connor

12. Foreign Policies—Military Buildup
1. Peace through strength
Rather than contain communism or practice détente, Reagan challenged Communism as an “evil empire”
Figured a strong show of military might would cause the Soviet economy to crash

13. Foreign Policies—Military Buildup
2. Reagan Doctrine—Support rebel groups who were fighting to overthrow Communist or pro-Soviet governments.
A. Aid to Afghan rebels
B. Sandinistas vs. Contras—U.S. supported the anti-communist Contras until Congress cut spending.

14. Foreign Policies—Military Buildup
Iran-Contra Scandal
Members of Reagan’s administration sold weapons to Iran (considered an enemy and sponsor of terror) in exchange for the release of American hostages being held in the Middle East. The profits from those sales went to the Contras.

15. Foreign Policies—Military Buildup
Iran-Contra Scandal
Reagan had approved the sale of weapons to Iran, but the congressional investigation concluded that he had no direct knowledge about the diversion of money to the Contras.

16. Foreign Policies—Military Buildup
3. Arms Control
U.S. places nuclear missiles in Western Europe to counter those in East Europe
Many protested –pushed for a “nuclear freeze” (halt to deployment of new nuclear missiles).
START (strategic arms reduction talks)conference proposed but Soviets walked out of the talks.

17. Foreign Policies—Military Buildup
Star Wars
Strategic Defense Initiative
A new defensive system to destroy enemy missiles and make nuclear weapons “obsolete”
MAD—(Mutually Assured Destruction) Reagan disagreed with this method because it depended on the threat to kill massive numbers of people.

18. Foreign Policies—Military Build-up
Space Shuttle program launched—1981
First major Space Shuttle crisis 1986 (Challenger explodes).

19. Relations Improve New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev
Believed the Soviet Union HAD to reform its economic system or it would soon collapse
Agreed to a series of meetings with Reagan

20. Life in the 1980s 1. Booming Economy
Economy boomed and provided wealth for upper and middle class

21. Life in the 1980s Retail Revolution
Discount retailing—discount retailers selling large quantities of goods at very low prices.
Wal-mart (Sam Walton—distribution centers and was one of the first retailers to use a computer database to track inventory and sales)
Home Depot, Target, Best Buy

22. Life in the 1980s Revolution in Media
Ted Turner launches WTBS (The Superstation) that sold low-cost sports and entertainment programs via satellite to cable companies throughout the nation (prior to this, people were limited to three channels, local stations and public TV)

23. Life in the 1980s Revolution in Media 1981 (MTV is launched)
Rap music begins in the South Bronx

24. Life in the 1980s Walkman CDS
Video games (Pong, Pac-Man and Space invaders)

25. New Social Activism 1. Social problems addressed--Drugs
Fighting drugs in schools.
Searches and drug testing in school (both upheld in Court).

26. New Social Activism 2. Social Problems addressed—Drinking
Efforts to stop drunk driving
Raising the drinking age to 21

27. New Social Activism 3. AIDS crisis
1981—researches id a disease they named AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is spread through bodily fluids.

28. AIDS Crisis
In the U.S., aids was first discovered among homosexual men.
It was spread through
1. Intercourse
2. Sharing needles with infected drug users
3. Blood transfusions