THE NEW CONSERVATISM The Rise Reagan and the New American Right

The Rise of the Sunbelt  The Sunbelt region included areas of the Southeast, Southwest, and above all California.  By 1980, the Sunbelt’s population began to exceed the industrial regions of the North and the East.  Produced a change in political climate.  Produced a strong opposition to the growth of government and hate towards regulations, and restrictions.  Made politics in the region more hostile to the government.

Population Growth of Sunbelt

The Sunbelt and its politics  Sagebrush Rebellion  mobilized conservative opposition to environmental laws and restrictions on development.  The rebellion portrayed west as a victim of government control.  Suburbanization fueled the rise of the right because it attracted people who wanted to flee from problems and diversity of cities.

Religious Revivalism  In the 1970s the US experienced a major religious revival.  The most important religious revival was Evangelical Christianity.  More than 70 million Americans now described themselves as born again Christians.  Through evangelicalism more Christians now own their own businesses, they also operated their own schools, and they took a position in entertainment.

“Moral Majority”  Many evangelicals feared the growth of feminism so they launched a movement called the Moral Majority.  The Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition opposed federal interference in local affairs; denounced abortion, divorce, feminism, homosexuality; and supported a strong American posture in the world.

The Emergence of the New Right  The new right was a diverse powerful movement that enjoyed rapid growth during the 70s and 80s.  It took shape after the 1964 election where Barry Goldwater suffered a defeat.  Conservative campaigns had for many years been less well funded and organized than those of their rivals.

The Campaign of 1980  Key issues during the election.  The Iranian hostage crisis.  The weak economy and high rate of inflation.  Hostility toward big government.  Call for a more conservative Supreme Court.  Political trouble for Jimmy Carter  Low popularity in polls  Sen. Ted Kennedy primary challenge  Ronald Reagan disliked the excesses of the federal government so he chose to link his campaign to the tax revolt.  He promised substantial tax cuts.

1980 Election  Reagan(R) won 51% of the vote  Jimmy Carter(D) won 41% of vote  John Anderson(I) won 7% of the vote  The Republican Party won control of the Senate for the first time since 1952.

The Reagan Coalition  Reagan’s political skills and personal charm won him the support from these groups:  Midwest small towns  Wealthiest Americans  Hawks on foreign policy  Blue Collar in North and Midwest (union and non-union)  White Southerners  Evangelicals

Reagan’s Agenda  Cut taxes  Cut Spending  Balance the Budget  Strong Defense

Presidential Power and Persuasion Reagan Model Pres People Congress

Reaganomics  Believed excessive taxation was the main reason for the problems of the American economy.  Reaganomics (Supply-side economics)  Reduce taxes in order to encourage new investments, boost productivity, promote dramatic economic growth.  Cut spending  Balance Budget  deregulation

Economic Boom  Economic recovery by 1983  Biggest economic expansion in history  5 million new businesses  20 million new jobs  5.5 unemployment by 1988

Peace through Strength  Largest peacetime buildup in American history  $1.5 trillion of military spending over 5 years.  Impact on Cold War  American military buildup would cause the Soviets to try to match.  Soviet economy may either collapse or be forced to reform.  Increased deficit and debt

Reagan Doctrine  Support opponents of communism anywhere in the world whether or not regimes or movements it has connection to the Soviet Union Aid to Afghan rebels October 1982, American sent soldiers and marines into the Caribbean island of Grenada to drive out an anti-American Marxist regime Secret funding of contras in Nicaragua against Sandinista government In El Salvador, the administration provided increased military and economic assistance.

The Election of 1984  Running for presidency is Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale  Mondale selected Representative Geraldine Ferraro of New York to be his running mate.  Reagan won approximately 59 percent of the vote and carried every state except Minnesota and the District of Columbia

The Election of 1984

Iran-Contra Affair, 1980s  Pro-Socialist Sandinistas take control of Nicaragua (1979)  Sold military weapons to Iran, in return for release of hostages  The money from the arms deal with Iran had been illegally placed into a fund to assist the contras in Nicaragua.  Illegal sale of US property w/o Congressional approval  Aid to Contras violated the Boland Amendments

US opposed Sandinistas in Nicaragua Secret weapon sales to Iran $ from weapon sales send to Contras Contras fought war against Sandinistas Destabilized both regions Iran- Contra Scandal

The Fall of the Soviet Union  Emergence of Mikhail Gorbachev  Transformed Soviet Politics with two dramatic initiatives. 1. Glasnost (openness): the dismantling of many of the repressive mechanisms that been conspicuous features of Soviet life for over half a century. 2. The other policy was called perestroika (reform): an effort to restructure the rigid and unproductive Soviet economy by introducing elements of capitalism as private ownership and the profit motive.

Reagan and Gorbachev  At a Summit meeting with Reagan in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1986,Gorbachev proposed reducing the nuclear arsenals of both sides by 50 percent or more. However disputes of Reagan’s commitment to the SDI program prevented agreements.  In 1987 Regan and Gorbachev signed a treaty eliminating American and the Soviet intermediate- range nuclear forces (INF) from Europe  Finalizing Gorbachev also ended the military mobilization present in Afghanistan.

The End of the “Iron Curtain”  Gorbachev realized the Soviet Union could not sustain anymore responsibilities around the world Every Communist state in Europe- Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany, Yugoslavia and Albania overthrew their government to noncommunist and in some cases anticommunist regime.

The Election of 1988  Democrats regained control of the U.S. senate in 1986 and it incited great hopes for a Presidential victory in  Michael Dukakis as three-term governor of Massachusetts was the secured the Democratic nomination.  Vice President George Bush was the Republican nominee.  Bush won a substantial victory with 54 percent of the popular while Dukakis had a 46 percent. Bush’s Electoral vote was 426 and the votes to Dukakis was 112.