The Resurgence of Conservatism

Moral Decay Televangelism Pat Robertson Oral Roberts Jim Bakker “Moral Majority” Jerry Falwell

Affirmative Action Conservatives argue it was “reverse discrimination” Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Election of 1980 Ronald Reagan “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Jimmy Carter

Two Months Later…

Ronald Reagan – 40 th President Regan Revolution Lower Taxes Buildup Military Conservative Courts Reduce Government Spending

Reaganomics (Supply Side Economics) Tax Reduction… Spending Cuts… Deregulation… Critics charged “Trickle Down” Method (1920’s)

Recession and Recovery 1982 recession Reaganomics… Inflation rate falls to 4% 1983 Recovery “Yuppies”…

Election of 1984

Reagan’s Foreign Policy Orlando 1983 – Declared Soviet Union “the evil empire”

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

“Star Wars” Military Spending … Unknown at the time…

Iran – Contra Affair “Ollie” North

Middle East Beirut, Lebanon 1983 PLO Yassir Arafat recognizes Israel’s right to exist…

1986 Attack on Libyan dictator & terrorist Quadafi

“Mr. Gorbachev: Tear Down This Wall”

Mikhail Gorbachev 1985 Glasnost… Perestroika… INF Treaty Pulls out of Afghanistan

The Legacy of Ronald Reagan

Election of 1988 George H.W. Bush (R) “Read my lips – no new taxes!” Michael Dukakis (D)

George H.W. Bush – 41 st President

1989-Tiananmen Square - Beijing

Communism begins to Crumble Lech Walesa – Solidarity - Poland

Nov. 9, 1989 Berlin Wall “Falls”

U.S.S.R. Dissolves Baltic States began to break away from Soviet Union… Failed Coup against Gorbachev… Gorby resigns December 25, 1991 Boris Yeltsin forms Commonwealth of Independent States

Bush and Foreign Policy December 1989 invasion of Panama Manuel Noriega “Rock n Roll” at the Vatican Embassy

Persian Gulf War Aug Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait Upsets the “New World Order” Bush builds a coalition.

Jan – Operation Desert Storm “Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf… Colin Powell..

Bush’s Domestic Policies The Good Americans with Disabilities Act Education “kinder, gentler, America”

The Bad Tough fight for Clarence Thomas Recesssion The Ugly Savings & Loans… Raised taxes

Election of 1992 George H.W. Bush (R) Bill Clinton (D)

H. Ross Perot – Reform Party

Bill Clinton – 41 st President Early Setbacks Universal Health Care-Hillary Whitewater Early Accomplishments Family Medical Leave Act (1993) “Deficit Reduction

NAFTA

Contract With America Republicans win both houses of Congress in 1994 first time since 1957 Newt Gingrich

Oklahoma City Timothy McVeigh

Election of 1996

Clinton’s Second Term Good economy Internet develops Budget Battles Scandals…

Clinton’s Scandals Blamed on a “vast right-wing conspiracy” Alleged sexual harassment cases while Governor of Arkansas

Impeached First time since 1868 Perjury, Obstruction of Justice Republicans lose seats in fall elections and Gingrich resigns Senate refuses to convict

Clinton’s Foreign Policy Somalia 1993 Haiti 1994 Middle East Asia

Balkan Genocide 1990’s Slobodan Milosevic dictator of Serbia… U.S./NATO bombing of Bosnia and Kosovo

America at the Turn of the Century Globalization World Trade Organization (WTO) International Monetary Fund (IMF) Group of Seven (G-7) 2000 pop: 281 million (3 rd largest) South & West fastest growing Hispanics largest minority Graying population

American (continued) Traditional Family declines Home ownership climbs Large gap between rich and poor The Lone Superpower New Challenges European Union (EU)

Election of 2000

Vote hinges on Florida Democrats ask for a recount “Hanging Chads” Bush v. Gore (2000) Closest election since 1876

George W. Bush – 42 nd President “Solid South” now firmly Republican… 2001 Tax Cuts… 2001 Recession…

September 11, 2001 al Qaeda hijacks 4 commercial jets 2 are crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in NYC one at 8:46am and one at 9:03am. Both buildings collapse within 2 hours 2,974 people die in these attacks

Jet #3 crashes into the Pentagon at 9:37am Jet #4 was headed for the U.S. capitol………………… ………………………… ………………………… ………Shanksville, PA 10:03 am

Masterminds Khalid Sheik Mohammed (arrested 2003 Pakistan) Osama bin Laden (still at large- the most wanted man in the world)

In response to the attacks, President George W. Bush announces a global War on Terrorism