1. Conservatism Rise of the Conservatives 1980s

2. Liberal vs. Conservative

3. Liberal Liberalism is a belief that government has a responsibility to actively solve society’s problems.

4. Conservative A Conservative generally believes that individuals should be given more responsibility to make choices in the area of economics and society’s problems

6. Why Conservatism? Backlash against entitlements and Affirmative Action (reverse discrimination?) Opposition to big government programs Outrage at hippie lifestyle Desire for security (Increase defense, limit immigration)

7. “Well, they look pretty undocumented to me.”

8. Goals of Conservatives Shrink the federal government Reduce spending Promote traditional morality and values Strengthen national defense Stimulating business by reducing government regulations and lowering corporate taxes

9. Conservative Support Coalition: business leaders, frustrated middle-class voters, fundamentalist Christian groups Elected Ronald Reagan 1980  He was an actor, simplified things, very comfortable in front of people  1980 Presidential commercials 1980 Presidential commercials

11. Supply-side Economics Decrease taxes and reduce spending Tax cuts would increase private investments and stimulate the economy Largest tax cuts to the highest incomes

13. Deregulation Reduce the size and spending of the federal government by cutting back on the regulation of industry Eliminated safety inspections on nursing homes, deregulated the airlines and Savings & Loan

14. Reduction in Social Welfare Programs Cut mass transit, food stamps, welfare benefits, job training, Medicaid, school lunches, and student loans (Cut domestic spending by over $40 billion)

15. War on Drugs Random drug testing at gov’t workplaces Cut off college loans and public housing to drug offenders Anti-drug education in schools “Just say NO” Called drugs “our gravest domestic threat” Long sentences for drug offenders, death penalty for dealers, emphasis on stopping entry at borders War on Drugs Song

16. Civil Rights under Reagan End to Affirmative Action; saw as reverse discrimination Opposed abortion and ERA

17. Increased Defense Spending SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars). Keep US safe from enemy missiles.  Still Developing - 2013 National debt went from $900 billion to $4 trillion; interest payments on debt accounted for 21% of budget (more than budget for education, health, environment, agriculture, transportation, space, science, and technology combined!)