1. Chapter 25 The New Conservatism

2. What do liberals generally believe, according to the textbook?
Strong supporters of free speech and privacy
Separation of church and state
A diverse society is a more creative and energetic one
Economic equality tends to cure social problems
Dominant ideas for most of the 20th century
Government should regulate the economy
Government should help the disadvantaged
Taxing the wealthy

3. What do conservatives generally believe, according to the textbook?
Oppose high taxes
Oppose transferring wealth from the wealthy to the less wealthy
Government social programs take away people’s incentive to work hard
Religious faith is vital to sustaining society and curing social evils
Group that came to dominate power in the 1980’s
Distrust of a powerful government
Government regulating the economy makes it less efficient
Free enterprise is the best way to organize society

4. The New Right Goes After the Federal Government
Lowering taxes
Limiting the costs of expensive programs (medicare, medicaid, social security, etc.)
Re-establishing a tough approach to Communism (unlike Nixon, Ford, and Carter)
Shrinking the size of the federal government

7. Supply-side economics or “Reaganomics”.
Also known as supply-side economics
Reduce taxes and give generous benefits to large corporations and wealthy individuals
Result would be an economic revival where everybody benefits
Trickle down theory

8. Fixing the Debt… Increased Social Security tax
Budget cuts aimed at the “poorest” segment of society
Food stamps, low income housing, limitations on Medicare and Medicaid, student loans, school lunches, educational programs, federal aid to states

9. “Peace through strength”.
U.S. Military buildup would force the Soviets to do the same, but would ultimately cause the Russian economy to collapse

10. The Reagan Doctrine
The U.S. government will support opponents of Communism anywhere in the world
U.S. becomes involved in Grenada, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to prevent spread

12. Iran Contra Affair
U.S. sells weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of hostages and cash
Hostages were not released
Cash was sent to Nicaraguan “Contras” to fight Communists

13. Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or Star Wars program.
Proposed SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative)
Also known as “Star Wars”
Using lasers and satellites could provide an effective defense against incoming nuclear missiles

15. The End of the Cold War

16. How did Mikhail Gorbachev change the Soviet Union?
Came to power in 1985 with 2 new initiatives
Glasnost (openness): the dismantling of many repressive policies of previous rulers
Perestroika (reform): restructuring the rigid and unproductive Soviet economy by introducing capitalist elements

17. Collapse of Communism
Communist Party of eastern Europe began to disappear
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall!” –Reagan ‘89’
Boris Yeltsin led a Democratic coup of Communist Soviet Union
Communist Party outlawed in the Soviet Union

20. The Berlin Wall Comes Down (November 9, 1989)

28. The Bush Years

29. On Decreasing the Deficit
“Read my lips. No new taxes” –Bush in 1988 Campaign
Democratic Congress had other ideas
Agreed with Congress on a multiyear “budget package” that would raise taxes significantly to pay off debt
Goes against the campaign promise

30. Invasion of Panama
Decision time: A. reduce spending on military to deal with domestic issues (inflation, recession, national debt, etc.) or B. continue to flex America’s muscles to protect its economic and political interests globally
U.S. military invaded Panama in 1989 to overthrow Manuel Noriega (drug trafficker) with an elected pro-American regime

31. Crisis in the Gulf
August of 1990, Iraqi forces under leadership of Saddam Hussein invaded the small, oil rich nation of Kuwait
Bush administration leads a U.N. enforced trade embargo to Iraq
Meanwhile, U.S. military and its allies begin assembling along the Kuwaiti border

36. Understand the events of Operation Desert Storm.
January 12, 1991, Congress voted to authorize the use of military force against Iraq if they did not leave Kuwait by January 15
Massive allied bombing campaign began on January 16 on targets in both Kuwait and Iraq itself

37. Results
After six weeks of allied bombing, a ground offensive began into Iraq itself
The allied forces (mostly American) encountered little to no resistance
141 American fatalities to over 100,000 Iraqi casualties
February 28, 1991, Saddam accepted peace agreement, formally ending the war
Saddam allowed to stay in power in Iraq (to be continued)

38. Aftermath of the Gulf War
Bush’s approval rating was at an all time high at the outset of the war, but quickly declined as the reality of recession hit the American people and seemingly no solution was in place