Resurgence of Conservatism 1980–1992 Why It Matters The 1980s saw the rise of a new conservatism. President Reagan, standing for traditional values and smaller government, symbolized this movement. While tax cuts and new technologies fueled an economic boom, Reagan embarked on a massive military buildup and expanded efforts to contain communism. During President George Bush’s term, the United States fought the Persian Gulf War, and the Cold War came to a dramatic end with the fall of the Soviet Union. The Impact Today Developments of the Reagan era are still visible today. • The struggle between conservative and liberal ideas often defines American politics. • Foreign policy has greatly changed because of the fall of the Soviet Union. • The Americans with Disabilities Act has opened up doors for disabled citizens. The American Vision Video The Chapter 33 video, “Tear Down This Wall!” describes the history of the Berlin Wall, one of the Cold War’s most powerful symbols. 1979 • Jerry Falwell’s “Moral Majority” movement begins 1981 • American hostages released in Iran 1983 ▲ ▲ • Launch of Columbia, • U.S. Marine barracks Carter Reagan first space shuttle bombed in Lebanon 1977–1981 1981–1989 ▲ 1979 1982 1985 ▼ ▼ ▼ 1980 1985 1979 • War begins between • Mikhail Gorbachev • Iranian revolution Iran and Iraq becomes leader of establishes Islamic republic Soviet Union • Soviets invade Afghanistan 978 President Reagan at the Berlin Wall in 1987 1986 • Iran-Contra scandal enters the news 1987 1991 • INF Treaty between U.S. and USSR • Persian Gulf War reduces land-based intermediate- occurs between Iraq range nuclear missiles and UN coalition 1988 • More than 35,000 cases of AIDS diagnosed for the year HISTORY G. Bush ▲ ▲ 1989–1993 ▲ ▲ Chapter Overview Visit the American Vision Web site at tav.glencoe.com 1988 1991 and click on Chapter ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Overviews—Chapter 33 to 1986 preview chapter information. • Dictatorship of Ferdinand 1989 Marcos overthrown in the • Tiananmen Square protests for Philippines democracy break out in China 1990 1991 • Several Communist governments • Germany reunified • Soviet Union in Eastern Europe collapse into one nation dissolves 979 The New Conservatism Main Idea Reading Strategy Reading Objectives In the 1980s, discontent with government Taking Notes As you read about the rise • Explain how discontent with govern- and changes in society resulted in the rise of a new conservative coalition in the ment led to a conservative shift in of a new conservative coalition. United States, use the major headings of Americans’ political convictions. the section to create an outline similar to • Describe how the nation’s population Key Terms and Names the one below. shifts led to a change in voting patterns. liberal, conservative, William F. Buckley, Sunbelt, Billy Graham, televangelist, The New Conservatism Section Theme Moral Majority I. Conservatism and Liberalism Economic Factors High taxes as well as A. B. economic and moral concerns led the II. country toward a new conservatism. A. ✦1965 ✦1970 ✦1975 ✦1980 1964 1972 1976 1979 1980 Conservative Barry Goldwater Nixon wins Reagan challenges Jerry Falwell’s “Moral Reagan wins is defeated for presidency re-election Ford for nomination Majority” movement begins presidential election Midge Decter, a New Yorker and a writer for the conservative publication Commentary, was appalled at the terror that hit her city on a hot July night in 1977. On the night of July 13, the power failed in New York City. Street lights went dark. Elevators, subways, and air condi- tioners stopped running. The blackout left millions of people in darkness, and looting and arson rocked the city. City officials and the media blamed the lawlessness on the anger and despair of youth in neglected areas. “They were just waiting for something like this so they could go berserk,” said Lydia Rivers, a Brooklyn resident. Decter, however, had other ideas about who was to blame for the terror in her city: The answer is that all those young men went on their spree of looting because they had Midge Decter “ been given permission to do so. They had been given permission to do so by all the papers and magazines, movies and documentaries—all the outlets for the purveying of enlightened liberal attitude and progressive liberal policy—which had for years and years been proclaim- ing that race and poverty were sufficient excuses for lawlessness. .” —quoted in Commentary, September 1977 Conservatism and Liberalism Midge Decter’s article blaming liberalism for the riots in New York during the 1977 blackout exemplifies a debate in American politics that continues to the present day. On one side of the debate are people who call themselves liberals; on the other side are those who identify themselves as conservatives. Liberal ideas generally dominated American 980 CHAPTER 33 Resurgence of Conservatism politics for much of the 1900s, but conservative ideas The more the government regulates the economy, gained significant support among Americans in the conservatives argue, the more it will have to regulate 1970s. In 1980 Ronald Reagan, a strong conservative, every aspect of people’s behavior. Ultimately, conser- was elected president. vatives fear, the government will so restrict people’s economic freedom that Americans will no longer be Liberalism In American politics today, people who able to improve their standard of living and get call themselves liberals believe several basic ideas. In ahead in life. general, liberals believe that the government should Many conservatives believe that religious faith is regulate the economy to protect people from the vitally important in sustaining society. They believe power of large corporations and wealthy elites. most social problems result from issues of morality Liberals also believe that the government, particu- and character—issues, they argue, that are best larly the federal government, should play an active addressed through commitment to a religious faith role in helping disadvantaged Americans, partly and through the private efforts of individuals and through social programs and partly by putting more communities helping those in need. Despite this gen- of society’s tax burden on wealthier people. eral belief, conservatives do support the use of the Although liberals favor government intervention governmental police powers to regulate social behav- in the economy, they are suspicious of any attempt by ior in some instances. the government to regulate social behavior. They are Reading Check Contrasting How do liberal and strong supporters of free speech and privacy, and conservative opinions about government differ? they are opposed to the government supporting or endorsing religious beliefs, no matter how indirectly. They believe that a diverse society made up of many different races, cultures, and ethnic groups tends to Conservatism Revives be more creative and energetic. During the New Deal era of the 1930s, conserva- Liberals often support high taxes on the wealthy, tive ideas had lost much of their influence in national partly because they believe taxes weaken the power politics. In the years following World War II, how- of the rich and partly because the government can ever, conservatism began to revive. transfer the wealth to other Americans to keep soci- ety more equal. They believe that most social prob- Conservatism and the Cold War Support for con- lems have their roots in economic inequality. servative ideas began to revive for two major reasons, both related to the Cold War. First, the struggle against Conservatism Unlike liberals, conservatives gener- communism revived the debate about the role of the ally have a fundamental distrust of the power of gov- government in the economy. Some Americans believed ernment, particularly the federal government. They that liberal economic ideas were slowly leading the support the original intent of the Constitution and United States toward communism and became deter- believe that governmental power should be divided mined to stop this trend. They also thought the United into different branches and split between the state States had failed to stop the spread of Soviet power and federal levels to limit its ability to intrude into because liberals did not fully understand the need for a people’s lives. strong anticommunist foreign policy. Conservatives believe that if the government regu- At the same time, many Americans viewed the lates the economy, it makes the economy less effi- Cold War in religious terms. Communism rejected cient, resulting in less wealth and more poverty. They religion and emphasized the material side of life. To believe that the free enterprise system is the best way Americans with a deep religious faith, the struggle to organize society. They often argue that if people against communism was a struggle between good and businesses are free to make their own economic and evil. Liberalism, which emphasizes economic choices, there will be more wealth and a higher stan- welfare, gradually lost the support of many religious dard of living for everyone. Americans, who increasingly turned to conservatism. For this reason, conservatives generally oppose high taxes and government programs that transfer wealth Conservatives Organize In 1955 a young conser- from the rich to those who are less wealthy. They vative named William F. Buckley founded a new believe that taxes and government programs discour- conservative magazine called National Review. age investment, take away people’s incentive to work Buckley’s magazine helped to revive conservative hard, and reduce the amount of freedom in society. ideas in the United States. Buckley debated in front CHAPTER 33 Resurgence of Conservatism 981 of college students and appeared on radio and tele- economy expanded, Americans living in those vision shows, spreading conservative ideas to an regions began to view the federal government differ- even wider audience. ently from people living in the Northeast. Within the Republican Party, conservatives, particularly young conservatives, began to Sunbelt Conservatism Industry in the push their ideas and demand a greater role Northeast was in decline, leading to the in party decision-making.