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The Resurgence of Conservatism 1980-1996 Late ‘70s Racial Issues Milliken School v. Bradley busing issue Bakke v. University of California Reverse discrimination vs. affirmative action 1980 Election By 1980, many Americans frustrated with Carter’s mismanagement: Inflation High interest rates Hostages in Iran Democrats ABC Movement: “Anyone But Carter” Ted Kennedy rises to challenge Carter Chappaquidick affair killed his candidacy Republicans Ronald Reagan from California gets nomination Ronald Reagan Former governor, Bmovie actor, & Screen Actor’s Guild President Darling of “right wing” & neo-conservatives (“new right”) Anti- Counterculture, New Deal & Great Society Became the champion of the “forgotten man” Spoke out against the evils of federal intervention in local affairs Reagan wins with 51% of popular vote but 489 to 49 in electoral votes Republicans gain control st of Senate for 1 time in 25 years Inauguration sweetened by release of hostages Reagan’s Domestic Policies Reagan Revolution Cabinet composed on the “Best & the Rightest” “Government is the problem” smaller gov’t Less “tax & spend” Welcomed by Americans Promoted Proposition 13 spurred a tax revolt Reagan worked with Senate & “boll weevils” to cut $35 billion in federal social programs Reagan Shot March 30, 1981: John Hinckley shot Reagan 12 days later, 69 year old Reagan walked out of hospital & received huge public sympathy Hinckley found not guilty by reason of insanity Reaganomics “Supply-side economics” Reagan cut taxes on the “trickle down” idea that if people had more $$$$, they would invest instead of spend on consumer goods Reagan Tax Cut 1981: Congress granted his 25% across-the-board reduction in taxes over 3 years Reagan Budget Gets Congress to agree to $695 billion budget that increased defense spending, made cuts in domestic programs, & created a $38 billion deficit Reagan Recession (1982) Unemployment hits 11% Businesses & banks folded Auto industry hit hardest Democrats charge Reagan cuts hurt poorest Americans hardest “Tight money” policy under Carter really the cause 1983: Economy turns around & “Reaganomics” vindicated st 1980s saw 1 increases in gaps between rich & poor YUPPIES Young Urban Professionals Symbolic of increasing wealth of upper classes & pursuit of wealth of 1980s culture Rolex watches & BMWs Defense Spending Many argue that the real growth in GNP of the 1980s resulted by the nearly $2 trillion of defense spending Caused budget deficits of nearly $200 billion a year in the 1980s Rising Interest Rates Government borrowing kept interest rates high Elevated the value of the US dollar Helped some but hurt American exporters Trade deficit reached record high in 1987 S & L Bailout 1982: Reagan pushes deregulation of savings & loan industry Allowed riskier loans Loans not repaid leaving heavy debts 1989: Gov’t forced to bail them out ($500 billion) Reagan & The Cold War “The Evil Empire” Reagan condemned USSR as “the focus of evil in the modern world” Believed in negotiating from a position of strength Embarked on a new arms race with Soviets to expand the US military capabilities Soviets would be forced to compete Our economy could do this, theirs could not Star Wars SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative Space-based missile shield & laser defense system Viability of program limited funds, but an effective diplomatic tool Poland 1982: Solidarity Rising labor movement Put down by Soviets & Polish Communists Reagan imposes sanctions on USSR & Poland KAL Flight 007 September 1983: Soviets blow up Korean airliner killing 269 civilians By end of 1983, all arms control negotiations broken off 1984: Soviets boycott LA Olympics Middle East Troubles Lebanon 1982: Invaded by Israel 1983: Reagan sent Marines October 23, 1983: Suicide bomber crashed truck into Marine barracks killing 241 Reagan withdraws & suffers no political damage Labeled the “Teflon President” Libya 1986: Reagan orders bombing of Qaddafi HQ Iran-Iraq War Latin America Nicaragua Leftist Sandinistas controlled country Reagan begins support of “contra” rebels against Sandinistas Grenada 1983: Military coup brought Marxist regime to power Reagan sends 6000 troops to overrun tiny island End of the Cold War Mikhail 1985: Gorbachev Began instituting radical reforms Glasnost: “openness” allowed freedom of speech & ended secretiveness of Soviet bureacracy “restructuring” reorganized the Soviet economy to allow free market practices Perestroika: Required a shrinking of Soviet defense budget 1985-87: INF Treaty Soviets cease deploying Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces in Europe Iron Curtain Falls Political & economic cost of maintaining Soviet sphere of influence too great 1989: August: Solidarity prevails in Poland October: Hungary November: Berlin Wall falls November: Bulgaria December: Romania & Czechoslovakia President Bush & Gorbachev reduce ICBMs Dec 1991: Soviet Union falls ending Cold War 1984 Election Democrats nominate Walter Mondale & Geraldine Ferraro Republicans renominate Reagan & Bush Reagan wins 525 to 13 with 60% of popular vote Iran-Contra Scandal 1985: National security & intelligence operatives begin selling arms to Iran to pressure release of hostages Money diverted to aid Nicaraguan “Contras” despite Congress’s refusal Senate investigation televised condemning Reagan’s actions Oliver North, Admiral John Poindexter, & Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger all indicted & convicted Tarnished Reagan’s reputation by making him seem lazy & a mental lightweight Reagan’s Legacy Despite scandal, remained popular Economically, left US a debtor nation & made government social spending practically & politically impossible 1988 Election Democrats “Seven Dwarfs” give way to Michael Dukakis Republicans Reagan’s Bush’s VP George Bush promise of “no new taxes” = victory