1. The Conservative Resurgence
Ch. 23

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

9. 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

11. 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

12. 1989- George H.W. Bush becomes president

13. 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

14. 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

16. 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

17. 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