1. The Conservative Resurgence 1980—1993 PART 1 OF 2
Chapter 36—
The Conservative Resurgence
1980—1993
PART 1 OF 2

2. SSUSH24— The student will analyze the impact of social change movements and organizations of the 1960s.
f. Describe the rise of the Conservative Movement as seen in the presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater (1964) and election of Richard Nixon (1968).

3. SSUSH25— The student will describe the changes in national politics since 1968.
a. Describe President Richard M. Nixon’s opening of China, his resignation due to the Watergate Scandal, changing attitudes toward government, and the presidency of Gerald R. Ford.
b. Explain the impact of the Supreme Court’s decisions on the ideas about civil liberties and civil rights.
Explain the Carter Administration’s efforts in the Middle East.
Describe domestic and international events of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

4. SSUSH25— The student will describe the changes in national politics since 1968.
e. Explain the relationship between Congress and President Bill Clinton.
f. Analyze the 2000 Presidential Election and its outcome, emphasizing the role of the Electoral College.
g. Analyze the response of President George W. Bush to the attacks on September 11, 2001 and the war against terrorism.

5. The Conservative Resurgence (1980—1993)
Early Demands for Equality
Chapter 32
The Conservative Resurgence (1980—1993)
Main Idea:
This chapter analyzes the political divisions between liberals and conservatives, describes the growth of the conservative movement, examines the domestic and foreign policies of the Reagan Administration, and explains the causes and effects of the end of the Cold War.

6. Issues Discussed in this Chapter
America in the World
Government’s Role in the Economy
Sectionalism & National Politics

7. Liberalism v. Conservatism
By the 1970s, the two dominant national political parties (Democratic and Republican) adopted different political ideologies or views.
Democrats were labeled as liberals (those who generally favored government intervention to help the poor).
Republicans were labeled as conservatives (those who generally favored allowing the free market, private organizations, and individuals to help the poor).

8. Liberal Ideology
By 1970, liberals tended to believe that the federal government should play a significant role in improving the lives of all Americans.
In addition, they valued social programs that helped the poor, unemployed, elderly, and women.
They also sponsored laws that protected the civil rights of minorities and women.
Liberals supported greater regulation of industry and cooperating with foreign nations.

9. Conservative Ideology
By 1970, conservatives in general believed that a large federal government threatened individual liberty and sought to reduce taxes and deregulation (reduce regulation by the government on business and industry).
Traditional conservatives tended to want to put the breaks on the new freedoms of the counterculture.
A strong anti-communist wing of the movement favored a strong national defense system to counter the spread of Soviet-style communism worldwide.

10. The New Right
During the 1960s and 1970s, many Republicans became increasingly critical of liberal policies of the Democratic Party.
As their message grew, so did the New Right (the resurgent conservative movement which grew in the 1970s and was a coalition of several groups with varying ideas and goals)./

11. Rise of Conservatism
Led by Senator Barry Goldwater, the Republican Party and Conservatism rose in popularity by 1980.
The Vietnam War, urban riots, the counterculture, Watergate, the oil crisis, and Iran Hostage Crisis increased fears of further chaos in the world.

12. Criticizing Liberal Programs
Conservatives blamed liberal programs for the stagflation and other problems in the 1970s.
Conservatives believed that the government taxed too much and spent money on programs that were not working.
Conservatives attacked unfunded mandates (Federal programs required by law, but not paid for by the federal government).
Conservatives also attacked federal welfare programs and LBJ’s “Great Society” which they believed destroyed families and created perpetual poverty.

13. The Moral Majority
Moral Majority— Political organization founded by the Reverend Jerry Falwell in 1979 which attempted to fulfill religious goals.
The organization boosted Republican chances of winning the presidency in 1980 as well as other major political races nationwide.
Falwell also attacked recent Supreme Court cases such as Roe v. Wade (1973) which legalized abortion and Engel v. Vitale (1963) which prohibited religious teaching in public schools.

14. Presidential Election of 1980
In the Presidential Election of 1980, the Democratic Party chose the incumbent president Jimmy Carter despite opposition from Ted Kennedy (brother of JFK).
The Republican Party nominated former California governor and former actor, Ronald Reagan.
More charismatic and polished than Barry Goldwater, Reagan ran on opposition to big government, support for a strong military, and faith in traditional values.
His strong optimism convince Americans that he would usher in patriotism and prosperity.

15. “The Conservative Resurgence” (p. 3)
1. What spurred the rise of conservatism in the late 1970s and early 1980s?
Conservatives most valued the ideals of individualism, patriotism, and self-determination.
The social and economic declines of the 1970s showed the failure of the liberal response to these problems and spurred the rise of conservatism.

16. Presidential Election of 1980

17. Ronald Reagan 40th President 1981 – 1989 Party: Republican
Home State: California
Vice President:
George H.W. Bush

18. Ronald Reagan Domestic
On the night of his inauguration, Iran released 52 Americans hostages.
Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981, but survived the assassination attempt.
Vigorously pursued tax and budget cuts, an economic policy that came to be known as “Reaganomics.”
Reagan pushed for the build-up of the military and spent billions on nation defense providing thousands of new jobs in the defense industry.
Reagan was a successful movie and television actor before starting his political career.

19. Ronald Reagan
Foreign
Ordered an invasion of Grenada in 1983 to break up a Marxist coup.
Sent Marines as peacekeepers into Lebanon following an Israeli invasion in 1983.
Launched air strikes on Libya in 1986 in response to Libyan support of terrorism.
Signed the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the Soviet Union in 1987.
Met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to encourage him to initiate Glasnost and Perestroika.

20. Reaganomics
Reagan and his advisers based their economic policies on the theory of supply-side economics.
The theory that rests on the assumption that if taxes are reduced, people will work more and have more money to spend, causing the economy to grow.
The government will then collect more in taxes as social programs become less funded and not needed.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress criticized it for cutting the programs needed by the poorest in society.

21. Reaganomics
Congress cut taxes (nearly 25% over three years) with the wealthiest Americans receiving the highest cuts (who, in turn, created new jobs to existing businesses and stimulated the business growth).
In addition, Reagan ordered the deregulation of various industries (airline and telecommunications) and reduced the government’s role in many aspects of society.
Reagan also ordered increased spending in defense.
Despite a recession (1979—1982), inflation decreased and unemployment fell to levels near 5% by the end of 1983.

22. Problems with Budget Deficits
Reagan failed to win support in welfare state programs, but saw dramatic spending in defense causing a spike in the annual budget deficit (shortfall between the amount of revenue collected and expenses).
Between 1981 and 1986, the national debt (the amount of money the federal government owes to owners of government bonds) rose to $2.5 trillion.
Even with the passage of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985, deficit spending continued passed the 1990 deadline to balance the federal budget.

23. Reagan Assassination Attempt
On March 30, 1981, as President Reagan was walking out of a Washington, D.C. hotel, he was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. (a would-be assassin).
Reagan survived the attempt and recovered.

24. Domestic Issues in the Reagan Presidency
Despite the economic successes of the 1980s, both Reagan and Bush had to contend with domestic issues.
Social Security became a topic as the number of elderly people in the United States grew.
Reagan raised the minimum retirement age and increased payroll taxes to offset costs.
Reagan Signed the Social Security
Reform Act of 1983

25. SDI
In 1983, Reagan called the Soviet Union the “evil empire” increasing Cold war tensions.
Reagan also proposed a new weapon known as the Space Defense Initiative (SDI) or “Star Wars” which would place defense weapons in space to prevent ICBMs from hitting targets in the United States.
Though it was never fully developed or deployed, the research and technologies of SDI paved the way for some Anti-ballistic missile systems of today.

26. Current Patriot Missile from
SDI
Current Patriot Missile from
SDI Technology
SDI in Proposed Plan

27. Foreign Issues in the Reagan Presidency
Reagan ordered a peacekeeping force to Lebanon in 1982 as a response to an Israeli invasion.
In October of 1983, the United States marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was attacked by the Islamic Jihad (a radical wing of Hezbollah which receives aid from Iran) .
Reagan removed the Marines.
Attack on Marine Barracks
(October 23, 1983)

28. Savings & Loan Crisis
In the mid-1980s, about 1,000 Savings and Loans banks failed (mainly due to risky loans and fraudulent business practices) causing the Savings & Loan Crisis.
Many blamed Reagan’s deregulation of the industry.
The federal government spent $200 billion to bail out depositors at the failed banks.

29. Presidential Election of 1984
In the 1984 Presidential Election, the Republicans nominated the incumbent Ronald Reagan who was riding an air of popularity.
The Democratic Party nominated former Vice President Walter Mondale.
The election featured the nomination of Geraldine Ferraro (the first women to appear on a major ticket for VP) by the Democratic Party.
Reagan won reelection in a landslide.

30. Presidential Election of 1984
Walter Mondale
Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush
at the 1984 GOP Convention
Geraldine Ferraro

31. Presidential Election of 1984