reagan years

The Conservative Movement BuildsEntitlement programs provide guaranteed

benefits to specific groupsHigh cost of programs, stories of fraud upset

taxpayersMany skeptic of civil rights rulings like

busing over long distances

The New RightNew Right - collection

of grass-roots groups promoting single issues

Affirmative action - special consideration for women, minoritiesmany say it’s reverse

discrimination, favoring one group over others

The Conservative CoalitionBusiness, religious, other groups form

conservative coalitionConservative periodicals, think tanks discuss,

develop policiesGoals are small government, family values,

patriotism, business

The Moral Majority1970s religious

revival uses TV, radio; strong among fundamentalists

Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority - Christians for traditional morals

Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority

Conservative Victories in 1984 and 1988The Reagan CoalitionReagan forges large coalition of diverse

groupsbusiness people, Southerners, Westerners,

Reagan Democrats

Conservative Policies Under Reagan and BushPresidents Reagan and Bush pursue a

conservative agenda that includes tax cuts, budget cuts, and increased defense spending.

Early YearsReagan, a former movie star, was twice

elected governor of California.Election of 1980 – Reagan won a landslide

victory over Pres. Jimmy Carter (Dem). He had a total of 489 electoral votes to 49 for Carter.

Reagan’s Landslide over Carter in the Election of 1980

Reagan’s QualificationsRonald Reagan wins 1980 Republican

nominationGeorge H. W. Bush is running mate

Reagan served 2 terms as governor of California

The 1980 Presidential ElectionReagan runs on conservative issues, weak

economy, Iran crisisCalled Great Communicator: can simplify

issues, give clear answersGets 51% popular vote, 44 states in electoral

race, Senate majority

“Reaganomics” Takes OverReaganomics - Reagan’s Economic PoliciesReagan encourages private investment by

cutting federal governmentReagan institutes budget cuts, tax cuts,

increased defense spendingMaintains entitlement programs that benefit

middle classCuts programs that benefit poor, urban

population

Reaganomics included cuts programs that benefit poor, urban population

Tax CutsSupply-side economics

holds that lower taxes result in:investment, greater

productivity, more supply, lower prices

Congress decreases taxes by 25% over 3 years

Increased Defense SpendingDefense Department

budget almost doubles; offsets cuts in social programs

Reagan asks scientists for Strategic Defense Initiativeanti-missile defense

system

The National Debt ClimbsSpending outstrips

revenues; new 1982 taxes do not balance budget

National debt almost doubles by end of Reagan’s first term

Deregulating the EconomyReagan reduces government by

deregulation - less industry regulation increases competition, results in

lower pricesCuts budget of Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA)fights pollution, conserves natural

resourcesInterior Department permits more

oil drilling, lumbering, coal miningsells millions of acres of public

lands

Recession and RecoveryJuly 1981 - November 1982, worst recession

since Great DepressionEarly 1983 consumer spending fuels economic

upturn:more consumer confidence, decrease in inflation,

unemployment1987, market crashes, then recovers,

continues up

The 1984 Presidential ElectionDemocrat Walter Mondale chooses Geraldine

Ferraro as running matefirst woman on major party’s presidential ticket

Reagan, Bush win by landslide

Election of 1984During the

campaign, Reagan stressed the nation’s econ. growth, the decline in unemployment, and the low inflation rate.

Economics PlanCongress approved his plan to cut taxes

while reducing welfare and unemployment programs.

Despite spending cuts, the fed. gov’t still spent more $ than it collected. Budget deficit for 1983 was almost $200 billion.

The lowering of tax rates combined with a thriving economy helped reduce the fed. Deficit to 148 billion.

A change was made in the Social Security Act raising the retirement age above 65.

DefenseReagan

supported the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a research program designed to develop a space-based missile defense system. Press called the program “Star Wars”.

Defense SpendingDespite opposition, Reagan was able to get

Congress to pass his costly defense program. The plan called for a large build-up of missiles, bombers, and other weapons that the Pres. Insisted were needed to meet any threat from the Soviet Union.

Foreign AffairsU.S. and U.S.S.R. held talks to reduce nuclear

arms, but failed to reach an agreement. Reagan then sent missiles to U.S. allies in W. Eur., raising the tensions between the Americans and Soviets.

Ronald Reagan speaking in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987.

Foreign AffairsSeveral meetings were

held with new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. U.S. and Soviets agreed to educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges. Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty to eliminate certain ground-launched nuclear missiles.

Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan

Supreme Court AppointmentsReagan appoints Sandra Day O’Connor first

woman justice of the nation’s highest court.

Ronald Reagan and Sandra Day O’Connor

Terrorist AttackReagan sent several U.S. Marine Corp. units

to Lebanon to try to reduce the level of fighting b/w troops of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Org. (PLO). A suicide truck bomber destroyed a Marine headquarters bldg. killing 214 Americans.

A smoke cloud rises from the rubble of the bombed barracks at Beirut International Airport.

Terrorist AttackTerrorists bombed a German nightclub,

killing a U.S. serviceman and injuring others. U.S. said agents from Libya were involved. Reagan ordered air strikes against military and terrorist bases in the Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi.

1986 terrorists bombed a German nightclub, killing a U.S. serviceman

Fighting CommunismIn the early 1980s, Cuba and the Soviet

Union – 2 Communist nations – Were giving war materials to the gov’t of

Nicaragua and rebels in El Salvador. The U.S. responded by sending advisers and

arms to the rebels in Nicaragua and the gov’t of El Salvador.

Middle EastIran laid mines in the Persian Gulf to disrupt

shipping and fired on American ships and helicopters.

Pres. ordered military responses and cut of trade with Iran

A warplane from Iraq fired two missiles that struck an American warship patrolling the Persian Gulf. 37 crew members were killed. The Iraqis said the attack was a mistake.

Photo of the USS Stark after being hit by Iraqi warplanes in the Persian Gulf

Drugs and AlcoholFirst Lady Nancy

Reagan took a special interest in supporting activities that called attention to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse among young people.

The program was called “Just say no”.

Iran-Contra AffairReagan administration

secretly sold weapons to Iran

Used the profits to help Nicaraguan rebels.

It was illegal in U.S. to sell arms to nations that supported terrorism.

The illegal deal was known as the “Iran-Contra Affair”.

Led to criticism of Reagan by Congress but no proof of his actual involvement.

The Iran-Contra Scandal1983, terrorists loyal to Iran take Americans

hostage in LebanonReagan says no negotiating with terrorists;

sells arms for hostagesStaff divert some profits to Contras; violate

Boland Amendment1987, Congressional committees hold joint

TV hearings1988, several staffers indicted; 1992, Bush

pardons Reagan officials