The Resurgence of Conservatism, 1980 1992 s1

Chapter 40 The Resurgence of Conservatism, 1980–1992

CHAPTER THEMES Theme: Leading a conservative movement to power in Washington, Ronald Reagan vigorously pursued “new right” economic and social policies. Under Reagan and his successor George Bush, these policies brought both economic growth and massive budget deficits that put severe constraints on the federal government. Theme: Religion pervaded American politics in the 1980’s; especially conspicuous was a coalition of conservative, evangelical Christians known as the religious right – led by Jerry Falwell, an evangelical from Virginia. An organization called the “Moral Majority” rose to oppose what they viewed as the moral deterioration of American values. Theme: The 1980s saw a revival of Cold War confrontation, but the decade ended with the collapse of Communism, first in Eastern Europe and then in the Soviet Union itself. With the end of the Cold War and the U.S.-led victory over Iraq in the Persian Gulf War, America remained the world’s only superpower. A series of relatively small military interventions in the Caribbean, Africa, and the Balkans raised questions about the proper use of American force in the underdeveloped world.

CHAPTER SUMMARY Reagan led Republicans to sweeping victories in 1980 and 1984 over divided and demoralized Democrats. Riding a conservative national tide, Reagan pushed both his “supply-side” economic program of lower taxes and the “new-right” social policies, especially opposition to affirmative action, abortion, and drugs. These policies brought economic recovery and lower inflation, as well as record budget deficits that severely restricted “big government.” The Supreme Court under Reagan and his successor, George Bush, became increasingly conservative, while the confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas highlighted issues of sexual harassment. Reagan revived the Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union, and engaged the United States in assertive military support for anti-leftist forces in Latin America and elsewhere. The ratcheting up of military spending, along with the attempted reforms led by Mikhail Gorbachev, contributed to the unraveling of Communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in 1989–1991. With America as the only remaining superpower, George Bush led an international coalition to victory in the Persian Gulf War, but the Middle East remained a dangerous tinderbox despite new efforts to resolve the Israel-Arab conflict. Extra Credit Opportunities: 1) Note Cards: Analyze the following terms; include historical context, chronology, drawing conclusions, and cause/effect where appropriate. Each note card you complete is worth one extra credit point; pick the terms you need the most help with to understand. 1. New Right 22. Walter Mondale 40. Robert Bork 2. Ronald Reagan 23. Geraldine Ferrara 41. S&L Crisis 3. neoconservatives 24. Mikhail Gorbachev 42. Black Monday 4. ABC movement 25. Glasnost 43. rainbow coalition 5. Edward Kennedy 26. Perestroika 44. Michael Dukakis 6. John Anderson 27. INF Treaty 45. George H. W. Bush 7. 444 28. Corazon Aquino’s 46. Tiananmen Square 8. James Watt 29. Libya 47. Solidarity 9. Government is the 30. Iran-Contra Affair Movement problem 31. Arms for Hostages 48. Boris Yeltsin 10. Proposition 13 32. staggering deficits 49. CIS 11. boll weevils 33. Reaganomics 50. new world order 12. supply side 34. Moral Majority 51. Ethnic cleansing 13. tight money 35. New Right 52. Nelson Mandela 14. Reaganomics 36. cultural wars 53. Panama 15. Yuppies 37. Sandra Day 54. Persian Gulf War 16. SDI O’Connor 55. Operation Desert 17. Solidarity 38. Webster v. Storm 18. Lebanon Reproductive 56. Americans with 19. Sandinistas Health Services Disabilities Act 20. Contras 39. Planned Parenthood 57. Clarence Thomas 21. Grenada v. Casey 58. read my lips

Homework Directions: Read the chapter and complete the following: 1. Complete American Pageant Study Guide. Chapter 40 Study Guide The Election of Ronald Reagan, 1980 1. Describe the contrast between Carter and Reagan. The Reagan Revolution 2. How were Reagan’s ideas revolutionary? The Battle of the Budget 3. How did Reaganomics impact the rich, poor, and middle class? Reagan Renews the Cold War 4. Describe Reagan’s Strategy to deal with the USSR. Round Two for Reagan 5. How did Gorbachev change the course of US/USSR relations? The Iran-Contra Imbroglio 6. Why was the Iran-contra Affair considered an illegal action of the Reagan administration? Reagan’s Economic Legacy 7. How does Kennedy suggest that Reagan succeeded in meeting his economic goals? The Religious Right 8. Why were leaders of the New Right more vulnerable to certain scandals than those in the New Left? Conservatism in the Courts 9. How did the courts move to the right during the 1980s? Referendum on Reaganism in 1988 10. Explain the S&L scandal of the 1980s. George H.W Bush and the End of the Cold War 11. How did the end of the Cold War affect Europe and the US? The Persian Gulf Crisis 12. Why was the UN successful in repelling Iraq from Kuwait? Bush on the Home Front 13. Why did the Thomas hearings divide the country? Where Did Modern Conservatism Come From? 14. What are the three broad trends historians have used to describe the future of conservatism in American politics?

EXPANDING THE “VARYING VIEWPOINTS”  Daniel Bell, ed., The Radical Right (1963). A view of modern conservatism as an extremist and paranoid fringe movement: “Anti-elitism oriented toward groups that cannot be regarded as oppressed minorities or victims of bigotry, or anti- Communism directed against the agents or dupes of an evil foreign power, can serve as palatable outlets for those who require a scapegoat.…Intolerant movements, while often powerful, have never been able seriously to endanger the normal processes of American democracy.…But if such movements can not come to power, they can damage the democratic process for short periods of time, and they can and have injured innocent people.”  Kevin Phillips, Post-Conservative America (1982). A view of modern conservatism as more deeply rooted in American history: “I submit that the New Right combines three powerful trend patterns that recur in American history and politics. First, to some measure it is an extension of the Wallace movement, and as such represents a current expression of the ongoing populism of the white lower middle classes, principally in the South and West.…Second, the New Right is closely allied with the sometimes potent right-to-life or antiabortion movement, the current version, perhaps, of the great one-issue moral crusades of the American past.…And this one-issue element, in turn, folds into the third phenomenon—the possible fourth occurrence of the religious revivals or ‘Great Awakenings’ that have swept across the land since the middle of the eighteenth century. If so, the religious wing of the New Right may be the political wing of a major national awakening.”

15. Describe at least two historic events which support Daniel Bell’s view of the conservative movement. 16. Describe at least two historic events which support Kevin Phillips’ view of the conservative movement. HISTORIC NOTES

 The 1980s see the rise of neoconservatives in American politics and government. This group challenges most liberal domestic and foreign policies and favors laissez-faire capitalism.  By 1980 the Republicans have recovered from Nixon’s resignation and Ford’s loss to Carter in 1976. Their candidate, former actor and Governor of CA Ronald Reagan, easily defeats Carter.  Reagan promises to reduce the federal budget and bureaucracy and give more authority to the states. He slashes social programs that he sees as relics of a “welfare state” and seeks deep tax cuts. His supply-side economics has uneven results and does not dent unemployment.  A staunch anti-communist, Reagan uses US troops for operations against leftist groups and government in the Western Hemisphere – in some cases, critics contend, a violation of the law.  Reagan is reelected in a landslide, trouncing Democratic Senator Walter Mondale and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro.  In his one term as president, George H.W. Bush’s most significant accomplishment is his organization of Operation Desert Storm, which drives the invading Iraqi army from Kuwait. Bush is unable to address the nation’s economic problems; his 1988 campaign promise not to raise new taxes is embarrassingly reversed. He loses the 1992 presidential race.  Critics of Reagan’s supply-side economics contend that it merely allowed the rich to get richer. The nation was woefully in debt by the end of his presidency. Supporters, however, contend that Reagan’s policies reduced citizens’ dependence on the government, shrank the bureaucracy, and built an impressive military that persuaded the Soviet leadership to end the Cold War.  Due in part to the ability of its leaders (some of whom were televangelists) to organize successfully at the grassroots level, the religious right began to play an increasingly important role in elections across the nation. Advanced Placement United States History Topic Outline

25. The Turbulent 1960s A. From the New Frontier to the Great Society B. Expanding movements for civil rights C. Cold War confrontations: Asia, Latin America, and Europe D. Beginning of Détente E. The antiwar movement and the counterculture

26. Politics and Economics at the End of the Twentieth Century A. The election of 1968 and the "Silent Majority" B. Nixon's challenges: Vietnam, China, Watergate C. Changes in the American economy: the energy crisis, deindustrialization, and the service economy D. The New Right and the Reagan revolution E. End of the Cold War

27. Society and Culture at the End of the Twentieth Century A. Demographic changes: surge of immigration after 1965, Sunbelt migration, and the graying of America B. Revolutions in biotechnology, mass communication, and computers C. Politics in a multicultural society

28. The United States in the Post-Cold War World A. Globalization and the American economy B. Unilateralism vs. multilateralism in foreign policy C. Domestic and foreign terrorism D. Environmental issues in a global context