C H. 3 3 , S E C . 1 & 2
REAGAN & NEW CONSERVATISM
IN GENERAL TERMS…HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?FEATURE=PLAYER_EMBEDDED&V=3H8O7V-WXWQ
Liberalism
• Gov’t regulates economy against power of wealthy• Gov’t provides social
programs• Tax burden to the
wealthy• Transfer of wealth =
equality• No gov’t regulation of
social behavior• No gov’t support of
religion
Conservatism
• Gov’t regulates economy = less efficiency • Oppose social programs
that transfer wealth• Taxes minimized• Gov’t regulation of social
behavior in some cases• Religion helps society• Communities &
individuals should help those in need, not the gov’t
THE SHIFT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
• PreWWII – New Deal – Social Programs $$$$• Cold War – Commies are atheists – religion vs.
commies• Sunbelt – population shift W and S – no gov’t
meddling• Rustbelt – NE – need gov’t help – social programs• Late ‘70’s resent taxes to pay for social programs• Conservatives call for tax cuts• “Religious” Right – America losing its moral values• Rise of “televangelists”
• Scandals & distrust of gov’t leads to desire for stability & the “good ‘ole times”
• Born in Dixon, IL • Sports broadcaster• 1937 Hollywood• 1947 shifting towards
conservatism• 1966 elected governor of CA
ARE YOU BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?
• 1980 Reagan elected & 1st Republican Senate (1954)• “In this present crisis, government is not the solution
to our problem. Government IS the problem.”
• “Honey, I forgot to Duck…”• March 30, 1981• John Hinckley shoots the President• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Jid5uRFo4
REAGANOMICS
• The Economy• Cut Taxes / Keep Interests Rate high / Reduce
social programs• Budget deficit – spend more than you bring in –
OK by Reagan• Cut taxes, increase military spending
• Deregulation• Remove government price controls• Prices dropped !!!
• Economy recovers by 1984• Appointments to the Supreme Court• Conservatives & 1st woman (Sandra Day O’Conner)
THE REAGAN DOCTRINESUPPORT ANTI-COMMUNISTS
• Peace through Strength• Force the USSR to collapse to keep up $$$$$• Support Afghan rebels vs USSR• Invades Grenada
• Support the “Contras” in Nicaragua• Sell weapons to Iran, siphon some $ to the Contras • Reagan’s “Watergate” – BUT he recovers
RISE OF TERRORISM• 1982 Lebanon• Reagan deploys US Marines to
Lebanon• Peacekeepers• Caught between warring factions –
religious factions
• 1983 Terrorist attack on US troops
241 Americans killedReagan pulls Marines out
? Emboldens our enemies?
WINNING THE COLD WAR
• Star Wars – Strategic Defense Initiative• Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”
• The USSR reduces military
spending and begins political/economic reforms
• Communism in USSR & Eastern Europe collapses
• The Great Communicator leaves office 1988
THE REAGAN LEGACY
• "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”
• Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same
We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.
“We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.”
“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver 5 minutes longer.”