Download The Conservative Resurgence

The Conservative Resurgence
The Conservative Movement Grows
2 Views: Conservative & Liberal
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
Republican - Right
Democrats - Left
Wanted less government
and less regulations.
Believe that the governement should be
active in peoples lives.
Traditional Values
Social Programs
Believe that taxes needed to be cut and
affirmative action went too far.
Believe that there needs to
be more regulations.
The Conservative Movement & Reagan
Election of 1980: Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan
Moral Majority – Religious and political group fighting to get fundamentalist
Christians to condemn liberal attitudes and embrace
conservative values.
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The Conservative Resurgence
The Reagan Revolution
Reaganomics Guides the Economy
1. Budget Cuts
a. Downsized the federal government.
b. Cut government spending on social programs.
2. Tax Cuts
a. Lower Taxes = More Money = More Spending.
b. Would create Supply-side economics.
3. Increased Defense Programs
a. Star Wars Program
b. Strategic Defense Initiative
Conservative Strength Grows
Reagan and Bush appointed several conservative
Reagan – Bush:
justices to the Supreme Court. Reagan appointed
Supreme Court
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to
Nominations
the court.
Reagan nominated Justice William Rehnquist, the most conservative
justice on the court at the time, to the position of Chief Justice.
Conservative Victories in ’84 & ‘88
Mondale nominated Geraldine Ferraro as
1984 Election –
Ronald Reagan vs. his V.P. candidate, but Reagan and Bush
Walter Mondale
maintained their popularity and won in a landslide.
1988 Election –
George Bush vs.
Michael Dukakis
Most voters saw little reason for change and
Bush won easily. Bush stated, “Read my lips:
no new taxes!” – but…he raised taxes.
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The Conservative Resurgence
The End of the Cold War
Reagan Challenges Communism
Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union and initiated a
series of peace talks with the US. Gorbachev advocated glasnost
and perestroika for the Soviet Union. Gorbachev’s new policies led to
massive changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
Perestroika – Economic and
bureaucratic restructuring.
Glasnosts – Openness in
discussing social problems.
The Cold War Ends
Gorbachev reduced the number of Soviet troops in Eastern
Europe and allowed non-communist parties to organize in
satellite nations. On Nov. 9, 1989, the greatest symbol of
the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, was taken down.
East German border guards stood by and watched
as Berliners pounded away with hammers at the
despised wall. Other European nations adopted democratic reforms
and withdrew from the Soviet bloc.
Historical Significance: The collapse of
the Soviet Union and Eastern European satellites
resulted in a formal end to the Cold War.
Trouble in the Middle East
This affair tarnished Reagan’s reputation. The US sold weapons to
IRAN-CONTRA
Iran in exchange for Iran’s promise to pressure terrorist groups in
AFFAIR
Lebanon to release American hostages.
The plan did NOT work, and it contradicted administration’s policy of
refusing to negotiate with terrorists. The administration used the money
from the sale to fund the Contras in Nicaragua, despite the fact that
Congress had banned sending funds to the Contras.
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The Conservative Resurgence
Foreign Policy after the Cold War
A New Role in the World
George Bush sent more than 12,0000 US troops into
WAR ON
Panama and arrested Panama’s dictator Manuel Noriega.
DRUGS
Noriega was convicted of several charges of drug trafficking
and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
TIANANMEN SQUARE
In China, students were protesting the communist
government and promoting ideas of democracy.
The Chinese government sent the tanks out into Beijing
and killed hundreds of protestors and crushed the
demonstrations.
A CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
The South African government was
controlled by whites, who used an oppressive system of rigid
segregation known as apartheid. Antiapartheid leader
Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned from 1962 to 1990.
The world pressured South Africa to end apartheid. When
Mandela was released he pushed to bring democradcy to
his country. South Africa elected Mandela as their leader in
1994 in the country’s first free elections.
The Persian Gulf War
OPERATION
DESERT STORM
In Aug. 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait. The US received support
from the United Nations and 700,000 troops were deployed to
Iraq (500,000 of which were American forces). This invasion
was called Operation Desert Storm.
Death Toll
The UN and coalition forces compelled
Iraqis: 25,000
Iraq to leave Kuwait, but would not
continue on to Baghdad, to topple
Americans: 148
Saddam Hussein regime.