Ronald

Reagan
The Rise of the
Modern
Conservative
Movement

Ronald Reagan
Born in Illinois, 1911
Lifeguard, Radio
Announcer
Launched an acting career
during the Great
Depression
Became conservative
during socialist and
communist threats in the
movie industry (HUAC)
Switched from Democratic
to Republican Party in the
late 50s/early 60s

The 1980 Election

Between current
President Jimmy
Carter (Democrat)
and Republican
Ronald Reagan

The New Conservative Coalition

The NEW RIGHT
Conservative
evangelical Christians
To restore Christian
Values in America

Southern Democrats
Reduction of Social
Programs
Called for reduction in
size and power of
government
Favored return of US
military pride
Patriotic focus

The 1980 Revolution

Carters perceived
mishandling of
major challenges
Reagans ability to
communicate
Nicknamed The
Great
Communicator
Few simple wellarticulated idea

Map 30.4 Presidential Election of 1980 (p. 903)

Assassination Attempt
John Hickley Jr. assassin
Tried to win Jodie Fosters heart

Three people shot, including

Reagan
Just 69 days into first
presidency
Reagan recovered to shot in
lung
James Brady, Press
Secretary, suffered a head
shot and was disabled.

Supply-Side Economics
a.k.a. Reaganomics
Cut taxes to put more money
into the hands of businesses
Cut taxes on the wealthiest
Americans
Lower taxes = more investment
in the supply side of the
economy
Would:
promote and create new jobs
encourage capital investment, and
lead to stimulated industrial growth

ECONOMIC THEORIES
Supply Side Economics (generally favored by
conservatives):
Tax breaks to the wealthy
capital accumulation
higher productivity
lower prices
job creation
higher tax revenues collected by the government
money to reduce federal budget deficits.

Demand Side or Keynesian Economics (generally

favored by liberals):
tax breaks to working/middle classes
higher productivity
job creation
higher tax revenues collected by the
government
money to reduce federal budget deficits.

Cutting Government
Regulation - deregulation
Continued Carters
programs to deregulate
key industries
Energy, Transportation
and Banking Industries
Challenged Air Traffic
Controllers in 1981 Fired those who refused
to go back to work after
a strike.

Slowed Federal Growth - New

Federalism (Reagan-style)
Limiting government
Eliminated public service
jobs
reduced unemployment
compensation
lowered welfare benefits
raised fees for Medicare
patients

Federal domestic
spending still grew for a
couple of years

Reagan and
Military Buildup
Sharp increase in military
spending = buildup
New weapons and new
technology
Neoconservatives (Neocons = Dick Cheney, Don
Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz,
Condoleeza Rice, Richard
Armistead, Colin Powell,
etc.)
Strategic Defense Initiative
(SDI) = better known as
Star Wars

Reagan and the Cold War

Called Soviet Union the
evil empire
Supported anti-communism
Reagan - Cold Warrior
Lebanon
Libya
Grenada
El Salvador
Nicaragua (Contra rebels
supported by US)

Reagan: Economic
Recession, and Recovery
1981-1982 Recession
Inflation slowed, consumer spending
increased
Stock market grew
Federal deficit grew even as domestic
spending decreased
National debt = $909 billion in 1980 --$3.2 trillion in 1990

Election of 1984
Patriotic renewal
59% of popular vote
2nd largest electoral
victory in history!
1984 Olympics in L.A.
Communist-bloc
countries boycotted
1986 - 100th anniversary
of Statue of Liberty
1987 - 200th anniversary
of the Constitution

Issues in 1984-1988
Womens Movement stalled (Equal
Rights Amendment=ERA failed in 1982)
Supreme Court conservatives
Sandra Day OConnor (first woman justice)
Anthony Kennedy
Antonin Scalia
Chief Justice William Rehnquist

More issues: 1984-1988

Farm Crisis - foreclosures
Manufacturing shift - from
metal and textiles (overseas =
outsourcing due to labor
costs)
Service sectors continued to
grow
Wealthiest Americans
flourished in the 1980s
Jan 28, 1986 - Space Shuttle
Challenger exploded shortly
after take off

Cold War Continued

Afghanistan
Soviet republic
In 1970s Afghans tried
to fight Soviets for
independence

1980s
USA convinces Saudi Arabia
to send troops mujahadeen
(holy warriors) to fight against
Soviets
One of the mujahadeen is
Bin Laden

IRAN-CONTRA
What was it?
Sale of weapons to Iran to ransom U.S. hostages
held in Lebanon and to finance anticommunist
contra-revolucionarios (contras) in Nicaragua in
order to depose the Sandanistas
Illegal because Congress had limited amount of aid U.S.
could provide (Boland Amendment)

U.S. sold arms to Iran through Israel.

Illegal because could not sell arms to a terrorist state
without Congressional approval.
Fourteen officials were eventually indicted and Reagan
apologized for the botched plan.

Summary
Deregulation (process of removing rules for businesses)
helped businesses create jobs
20 million more people had jobs
Spent money on military to keep us safe from communism
Met with Gorbachev in 1985 to discuss arms race
Signed a treaty in 1987 to reduce nuclear weapons
Supported many countries in the fight against communism
Credited for ending the Cold War
Created the highest budget deficit (shortage) ever!