Resurgence of Conservative Movement Standard 8.4 Resurgence of Conservative Movement

Liberal Agenda that led to Conservative Resurgence New Deal Programs Civil Rights Movement Great Society under Johnson – Anti-poverty and Affirmative Action Brown v. BOE Civil Rights Act Voting Rights Act Roe v. Wade – woman’s right to choose Equal Rights Amendment

Conservative Views Backlash about Brown Decision – government should not tell states what to do with their schools. Great Society Programs and Affirmative Action seem to help African Am at the expense of whites. Believed federal government was becoming to big and “hands on”. Believed the welfare programs make their recipients permanently dependent on government and are too costly.

Conservative Views Cont’d Women’s Rights Movement took away traditional role of the woman. Roe v. Wade led to “right to life” movement. Believe abortion should be overturned by the Supreme Court. Opposed Equal Rights Amendment.

Vietnam Differences Divided America Conservatives: War Hawks. Also hated seeing people burn their draft cards. Thought America was losing its place as world leader. Liberal: War Doves

Social Counterculture (Hippies), drug use, divorce rate, decrease in family values irked the Conservatives and had a great impact on politics.

Nixon – Conservative Republican Use southern strategy – appeal to southern conservatives to win votes and the election of 1968 and 1972.

Conservative Groups New Right – businessmen who opposed environmental protections as a job-killing limit on their economic freedom and social conservatives. Televangelists and radio personalities

Watergate – break in and cover-up of Democratic headquarters. “The Presidents Men” – Haldeman (Chief of Staff), Ehrlichman (chief domestic advisor), and Mitchell (Attorney Gerneral). Came up with enemies list, ordered wiretaps, and had a group called “plumbers”. CRP (1019) helped to bribe burglars to cover-up break in. Woodward and Bernstein: Washington Post writers that investigated and broke the story open. During the trial John Dean, former White House Counsel, testified that Nixon new of the cover-up.

Watergate Cont’d Oct. 1973 – VP Agnew resigns for tax evasion, and Ford replaces him as VP. October 20, 1973 – Saturday Night Massacres (1021). July 1974 Nixon was forced to surrender tapes of meetings. August 4, 1974 – Nixon resigns as Pres. Ford pardons Nixon…leads to Jimmy Carter (Democrat) getting elected in 1976.

Ronald Reagan - Conservative Wins election of 1980 over Carter. “Reagan Revolution” – cutting taxes on the wealthy to promote investment and the creation of jobs, while at same time cutting government spending. As a social conservative he selected the first woman to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor, who was a conservative.

“Reaganomics” and view of Economy Believe if wealthy have more money then prosperity will “trickle down” to the rest of society with investments in business and hire workers. Advocate belt-tightening and balanced budgets. Deregulation of business and banks – felt in constrained free enterprise Limited the enforcement of environmental protections.

Liberal views to counter Reagan Demand side economics – increase demand for goods would create more jobs and investment. In hard times the federal govt should use deficit spending (New Deal) Support regulations on businesses and banks. Can have both jobs and protect the environment to ensure health and well being of general public.

Reagan and Soviets Took a hard line approach and increased defense spending to its greatest.

Reagan Legacy Thought highly of because of media savvy. Conservatives were seen as growers of the economy and traditional values. However, tripling of national debt mainly due to defense spending. Deregulation led to massive bailouts and added debt.

Explain this… So many jobs were being lost to places where labor costs are lower. Jobs being added were often low-paying with low tax revenues. Neither side are answering the question.