American Pageant Chapter 40 The Resurgence of Conservatism

American Pageant Chapter 40 The Resurgence of Conservatism

The Election of Ronald Reagan, 1980 • Reagan was a member of the New Right: – Believed large government was a failure • Advocated free markets, anti-Soviet foreign policy, against government programs • Election of 1980: – Reagan (R) v. Carter (D) – Reagan won 489 - 49

Reagan The Election of 1980 • Background: – Starts as a Hollywood Actor – governor of CA 1966 – becomes the hero of a movement called the New Right – promotes a conservative agenda • Reagan’s Platform – – Strong Defense Cut Taxes (read my lips) Cut Spending Balance the Budget (unless we can build a space laser…) • Conservative Agenda

The New Right & Neo-Conservatism • Starts w/ Eisenhower and ‘Modern Republicanism’ and 64’ Barry Goldwater conservative Senator • Political Movement that helped Reagan win the 1980 Election – Promoted Strongly conservative policies – Opposed New Deal/ Great Society Policies (ex: Social Security) • Believe that overextension of what needs gov’t could or should meet • Opposed government activism – Opposed Federal Civil Rights laws (not necessarily local or state)Demand military buildup to defend against Soviet attack (refocus on Cold War)

“The Time Is Now for Strong Leadership" • 1980 REAGAN VS. CARTER VS. ANDERSON Ronald Reagan’s television spots were not particularly artful. The centerpiece of the campaign was a conventional biographical ad tracing Reagan’s career and crediting him with reducing California’s deficit while lowering taxes. The ad’s main purpose was to show that Reagan—best known to the public as a movie actor—was also an effective governor. The rest of Reagan’s ads were simple but effective variations on the central question he put to voters: "Are you better off today than you were four years ago? " Discussion Questions: 1. How does the ad portray the candidate? Can you identify any bias? 2. What is the main point of the campaign ad? 3. How successful do you think the ad is at proving its point? http: //www. livingroomcandidate. org/commercials/1980

Political Realignment New Deal Coalition Reagan Coalition Democratic South African-Americans Union members Urban North Immigrant/newer ethnic groups • Farmers • • • Midwest small towns Wealthiest Americans Hawks on foreign policy Blue Collar in North and Midwest (union and non -union) • White Southerners • Evangelicals • Yuppies

The Reagan Revolution • Iran Hostage crisis ended on January 20, 1981 • “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem. ” – Government spending increased between 1960 and 1980 – Money spent on entitlement programs increased – Reagan proposed a budget that would cut $35 billion

Effect of Reagan on US Political Culture Left US Pre-1981; New Deal and Great Society era Right Reagan era Left-right defined as accepted level of government intervention in the economy: right = less intervention left = more intervention

Reagan’s Presidency Domestic • Conservative Presidential Agenda: – Reduce the Federal bureaucracy Strategic Defense certain – Deregulate Initiative (SDI) = industries better known as – Wars Cut Taxes Star – Increase the(Neo-cons defense Neoconservatives = Dickbudget Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, conservative Condoleeza – Appoint Rice, Richard Armistead, Colin judges Powell, etc. ) – *Reaganomics Foreign • Reignite the Cold War – Arms Race with USSR • Iran Contra Scandal • Selling arms (to Iran) for the release of hostages to support Nicaraguan Contras • Covered up • Reagan admitted covering up • No long term impact • “Teflon” president.

The Iran Contra Scandal Private US $ Iran Contra Foreign Gov’t $Scandal Contras bank • Selling arms (to Iran)Swiss for the release of hostages accounts; to support Nicaraguancontrolled Contras by North • Covered up • Reagan admitted covering $$$ up • No long term impact Iran Hostages • “Teflon” president. weapons Israel US weapons

Reagan Renews the Cold War • Why did Reagan increase military spending? – Belief that the Soviet Union could not compete, Soviet leaders would favor peace talks • Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) (Star Wars) – Reagan’s nuclear defense plan – Space stations could use lasers to defend against nuclear attacks – Never occurred • Increased tensions in the 1980 s: – Solidarity in Poland – Korean airliner shot down by the Soviets – Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games in LA

The Battle of the Budget • Supply-side economics (Reaganomics) – Tax cuts for the wealthy – In theory, the rich would use this money to invest and spend money to improve the economy – Very similar to Andrew Mellon’s tax policy from the 1920 s • Increase in military spending – $2 trillion for the Pentagon in the 1980 s – Helps contribute to federal deficits

Supply-Side Economics a. k. a “Reaganomics” • Cut taxes to put more money into the hands of businesses • Cut taxes on the wealthiest Americans • Lower taxes = more investment in the “supply side” of the economy • Would: – promote and create new jobs – encourage capital investment, and – lead to stimulated industrial growth

Political Interpretation of Laffer Curve Recession and Recovery Effects of Supply side Economics Maximum Revenue • 1981 & 1982 = Nation suffered the worst recession since the Great Depression. • Unemployment rose and government revenues fell. • Federal spending soared and the federal deficit skyrocketed. ________________________ • 1983 = Economic upturn sends consumers on spending spree • Stock Market surged and GDP went up 10% No revenue 0% Tax Rates 100%

Troubles Abroad • Sandinistas: – Anti-American revolutionaries in Nicaragua – Reagan believed they were an extension of the Soviet Union; 1 st of many Latin American countries to follow • Reagan used covert aid in Latin America – Nicaragua – aid to the Contras who were against the Sandinistas – El Salvador – sent the military to bolster the Pro. American government

Reagan and the Cold War • Called Soviet Union the “evil empire” • Reagan - Cold Warrior Lebanon Libya Grenada El Salvador Nicaragua (Contra rebels supported by US) *supported leaders that aided our fight against communism… – – –

Round Two for Reagan • Election of 1984: – Reagan v. Mondale – Reagan wins 525 – 13 • Mikhail Gorbachev “Gorby!” – Glasnost – openness, allowed some freedoms for Soviet citizens – Perestroika – economic restructuring to improve the Soviet economy • The Soviet Union could not keep pace spending with the US • Reagan and Gorby signed treaties limiting weapons

The Iran-Contra Imbroglio • Iran-Contra Affair – American hostages were held in Lebanon – Contras were rebels fighting the Sandinistas 1. The Reagan administration sold weapons to the Contras 2. That money was sent to Iran 3. Iran would then help free the hostages • Why is this a problem? – Congress forbid providing aid to the Contras – Reagan stated he refused to negotiate with terrorists • Effects of the scandal? – Reagan claimed he was innocent – Tarred his administration

Reagan’s Economic Legacy • Reagan did not balance the budget – Increase in military spending • Spending on social programs was reduced The Religious Right • “Moral Majority” led by Reverend Jerry Falwell– “against sexual permissiveness, abortion, feminism, and the spread of gay rights. ” (977) • 1980 s saw an increase in “right-to-life” movement

Conservatism in the Courts • Sandra Day O’Connor – first woman named to the Supreme Court • The court reversed some affirmative action gains from previous decades • Webster v. Reproductive Health Services: – Some restrictions were placed on Abortion Referendum on Reaganism in 1988 • Black Monday – October 19, 1987: – Dow Jones dropped over 500 points (22%) • Election of 1988 – George H. W. Bush (R – Reagan VP) v. Michael Dukakis (D) – Bush won 426 - 111

A New World Order The Main Idea In 1988 Reagan’s vice president, George H. W. Bush, won election to a term that saw dramatic changes in the world. Recession that began in late 1990 forced Bush to raise taxes. Unemployment & poverty rose significantly Despite his foreign-policy successes, economic troubles at home proved to be Bush’s political downfall.

George H. W. Bush and the End of The Cold War • Tiananmen Square Massacre • 1989 and the Cold War – Solidarity Movement: • Toppled the Polish Communist government – Fall of the Berlin Wall • Germany was reunited in 1990 • The end of the Cold War saw cuts to the defense industry The Persian Gulf Crisis • August 2, 1990 – Saddam Hussein and Iraq invaded Kuwait • US and UN allies used advanced technology to crush Iraq • Saddam withdrew from Kuwait – Scorched-earth policy • “By God, we’ve licked the Vietnam syndrome once and for

The Cold War Ends Russia’s Boris Yeltsin, the leader of the Russian Republic, helped foil a hard-liners’ coup against Gorbachev in 1991. Beginning in 1990, Soviet republics started declaring their independence. Gorbachev resigned as president and the Soviet Union dissolved. Yeltsin now led the much weaker superpower. Bush and Yeltsin signed arms treaties in 1991 and 1993. Chapter 32, Sec 2, 3 and 4 - The Cold War Ends, The New World Order

The New World Order • New concerns New World Order? ? ? – War on Drugs – War on Terror - US Involvement in Less Developed – Technological nations continue after the Fall of the USSR advancements & … but US motivations gets a bitthe murkier. impact of the internet – Impact of - The Cold War shifts to the War on Drugs Globalization and War on Terror

War on Drugs “America's public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive. ” – Richard Nixon 1971 Connections to the Cold War Define • Campaign of prohibition of drugs, military aid (and $), and military intervention with the intention to reduce illegal drug trade. US give aid/ allows drug trafficking if the administrations are Pro-US or assist in US foreign policy goals (Extension of Cold War policies – such as Truman) • Ex: Noriega & Nicaragua – The CIA supported Gen. Manuel Noriega, leader of Panama, who gave assistance to Contra groups in Nicaragua in return for the CIA leaving his drug trafficking alone – 89’ US invasion of Panama & capture of Noriega, put him in jail in Miami As part of the War on Drugs, the US spends approximately $500 million per year on aid for Colombia, largely used to combat guerrilla groups such as FARC that are involved in the illegal drug trade

Impact • Mandatory Minimum Sentences & three strike rule – increase of the number of people incarcerated • Spending for the War on drugs increases – today US spends $51 billion yr. • Prices for illicit drugs rise but demand doesn’t = rise of cartels & violence

Bush on the Home Front • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Prohibited discrimination “Readagainst my individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities lips, NO NEW • Clarence Thomas TAXES. ” – Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by Bush – Confirmed by a vote of 52 – 48 • Pro-choice women began voting Democratic • Bush campaigned in 1988 by saying “Read my lips. No new taxes. ” – Too soon bro….

Quick Review • • • Iran Hostage Crisis Supply-Side Economics, “Reaganomics” Star Wars Gorby Iran Contra Persian Gulf War

Bill Clinton: The First Baby-Boomer President • Clinton was a “New” Democrat: – Movement towards the center politically • Tougher on crime, pro-defense, welfare reform • Election of 1992: – George H. W. Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D), and Ross Perot (Independent) – “It’s the economy, stupid” • Bad economy hurt Bush’s reelection bid – Perot received nearly 20, 000 votes – Clinton won, Democrats controlled Congress • Clinton’s appointments: – Janet Reno – Attorney General, Ruth Bader Ginsburg – 2 nd female on the Supreme Court

A False Start For Reform • Clinton advocated ending the ban on homosexuals in the military – Eventually settled on “don’t ask, don’t tell” • Brady Bill: – Gun-control law • April 19, 1995: – Oklahoma City bombing – Timothy Mc. Veigh and Terry Nichols – 168 people were killed • April 20, 1999: – Columbine High School shooting – Helped bring attention to weapons

The Politics of Distrust • Newt Gingrich: – Speaker of the House • Other famous speakers of the House……… – “Contract with America” • Promised reduction in deficits and welfare programs • 1994 Midterm elections: – All Republicans in Congress were re-elected, gained many more seats – Republicans challenged “unfunded mandates” • Welfare Reform: – Massive cuts for benefits – Cut benefits for immigrants • Although Clinton alienated some in his party, he gained a lot of support for moving towards the middle • Election of 1996: – Clinton (D), Dole (R), Perot (Independent) – Clinton won 379 - 159

Clinton Again • Setbacks for Affirmative Action: – California Proposition 209 • Prohibited AA in government and higher education – Clinton did not approve of the setbacks • Economic Issues: – Dot. com businesses boomed – Stock market increased drastically – The 1990 s economy was unprecedented • North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): – 1993 – eliminated tariffs between Canada, US, and Mexico – Many argued it helped promote outsourcing • World Trade Organization (WTO): – Hoped to promote free trade throughout the world – Protests in Seattle turned violent • Clinton scandals: – Allegations that individuals donated money in exchange for staying overnight at the White House

Problems Abroad • Somalia, October, 1993: – 18 Americans were killed on a special mission • Improved relations with China: – Large market, Clinton wanted to improve trade relations – May, 2000 China became a major trading partner of the US • Serbia: – “Ethnic Cleansing” by Slobodan Milosevic – US and NATO led a bombing campaign • Middle East, 1993: – Clinton held a meeting with Yitzhak Rabin (Israel) and Yasir Arafat (PLO) – Sought to promote self-rule for Palestinians

Scandal And Impeachment • Monica Lewinsky: – White-House intern that had an affair with Clinton – Clinton initially denied any wrongdoing under oath – Later, he admitted he had an “inappropriate relationship” • Kenneth Starr, a special prosecutor, provided 11 possible charges of impeachment • The House impeached Clinton on two charges – Obstruction of Justice, Perjury • The House vote was partisan • The Senate failed to convict Clinton, voted mostly down party lines as well

While the Scandal was all the media would cover for 2 years…. • America’s enemies where getting organized, even as the Clinton Administration increased its budget on combatting terrorism and bombed terrorist installations in Asia and Africa overseen by Osama Bin Laden. • Cynics saw this not as a progressive foreign policy for the 21 st century, but as a way of distracting people from the real story…. that people had sex in the White House and lied about it!!!

The Real Legacy of the 90’s • HOLY CRAP THEY BALANCED A BUDGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • And I was alive to see it. The 90’s ruled.

Clinton’s Legacy • Budget surpluses during Clinton’s last years – Debates between Republicans and Democrats over how to use surpluses • R – tax cutes • D – Medicare and Social Security • 1990 s saw a decrease in unemployment, poverty, and rise in income The Bush-Gore Presidential Battle • Gore – Clinton’s VP – Chose Joseph Lieberman – first Jewish person on a national ticket – Wanted to use budget surpluses on debt, Social Security, and Medicare • Bush – 2 time governor of Texas – “restore dignity to the White House” – Dick Cheney selected as his running mate – Wanted to use budget surpluses on tax cuts • Ralph Nader: – Consumer advocate – Unsafe At Any Speed

The Controversial Election of 2000 • Issues in Florida: – Vote was so close, automatic recount went into effect – Ballots and voting machines may have caused confusion • “hanging chads” • BUSH v. Gore: – Supreme Court stopped further recounts, declared Bush the winner in Florida – Bush won the electoral majority without winning the popular majority – Similar to Hayes-Tilden in 1876 Bush Begins • Government changes under Bush: – Cutback on stem cell research – Did not enforce the Kyoto Treaty

My goodness… • The spring and summer of 2001 was surreally peaceful, until a spy plane crashed in China. While the Chinese examined America’s spy technology, the president went on vacation a lot. • While the President asked the press to watch his drive off the 13 th tee, America tried to forget the horror of the election in the hopes that the Culture Wars that had crippled the nation for decades would someday go away. • Unfortunately, Americans would soon learn the harsh realties of living in the world’s only Superpower…

Terrorism Comes to America • September 11, 2001: – NYC, DC, and PA attacks – Over 3, 000 individuals died • Al Qaeda – Osama bin Laden, Islamic fundamentalist – Resented Western presence in the Middle East • PATRIOT Act: – Passed in response to attacks – Increased powers for the federal government • More phone and email surveillance. • Goodbye privacy! • Hello darkness my old friend… • Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – Suspected terrorists have been held

Define War on Terror • Refers to the international military, political, legal and conceptual struggle against organization designated as terrorist & regimes accused of supporting them. Cold War vs. War on Terror Similar but very Different: http: //www. history. com/topics/us-presidents/gerald-rford/videos/gerald-ford-cold-war-vs-war-on-terror Connections to the Cold War • Many assume the US is attacked b/c the terrorist ‘hated our freedom’ but Also connected to the Cold War – Involvement in Less Developed nations during the Cold War due to foreign policy from 50 s – 90 s • Similar use of fear to drive policy • Greater expansion of US intervention and involvement overseas

Bush Takes the Offensive Against Iraq • Saddam Hussein in 1998: – Kicked out UN weapons inspectors • “Axis of Evil” – Bush declared Iraq, Iran, and North Korea were a danger to American security • March 19, 2003: – US invaded Iraq • Why did US invade Iraq? – Bush argued Iraq had WMDs, was developing nuclear weapons, and had ties to terrorism • What do we know today? – No WMDs have been found, no connection to Al Qaeda either • 139 Americans died during the invasion, many more died during occupation – 4, 424 deaths, 31, 952 casualties between 03 -’ 10 – over 3, 000 vets returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan and committed suicide.

A Country In Conflict • Corporate problems: – Fraud at Enron and World. Com • California: – Recalled Governor Davis, replaced with…… – Arnold Schwarzenegger – What state made recall popular during the Progressive Era? • Wisconsin – Robert La Follette Reelecting George W. Bush • No Child Left Behind – 2002: – Provided for federal standards in schools • Bush advocated an amendment banning gay marriage • Election of 2004: – John Kerry (D) v. Bush (R) – Kerry came across as a “flip-flopper” – Bush won, 286 – 252 • Gained support from the “Bible Belt”

US Foreign Policy Since WW 1 Origins of the -War on. WW 1 Terror Prior to US is isolationists - Post WW 1 US becomes world economic power • Truman Doctrine – Reagan Doctrine - Post WW 2 US 1 of the 2 – US will support any country that opposes Communism superpowers in the world – US expands involvement world affairs-to Cold War prompts increase in counter Soviet expansion foreign involvement – US involvement continues after fall of Rise of international organization USSR. (shift in foreign policy goals) (UN, etc. ) • Example: – Soviet war in Afghanistan - Fall of USSR leave US as sole – US CIA trains rebels (Mujahideen fighter) superpower in guerrilla warfare - US becomes part of a multipolar – Soviets leave & US pulls out causing bitter resentment & extremist group the Talibanworld & continues high level of take control involvement in foreign affairs Cold War Policies – Taliban seek to destroy ‘Western influence’ & ‘preserve Islam’ https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=NC 45 TRP 4 lq 0

Globalization Define • Tendency of businesses, technologies, or philosophies to spread throughout the world • Creates an increasing interconnected economy, trade, and communications • Implies the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world Connections to Cold War • Technology has increased the rate and distribution of information & ideas • Cold War spending spurred technological growth & innovation

2008 Economic Collapse Just the worst… • • • After undoing Glass-Steagall (Thanks Senator Dodd!), and allowing excessive buying and speculation on the housing market and the major banks to do the same, the bubble burst. It led to the collapse of several major banking institutions who had put short term profit over the long term stability of the American financial sector. 8 million jobs lost, 6 million homes lost. Practically overnight. See- Margin Call (2011) The Big Short-(2015) Ryan Gosling Jenga Scene especially The Bail Out • In the end, the American people, through the actions of congress and the executive branch, bailed out the banks and the car industry between 2008 and 2010 to the tune of 50 Billllion Dollars.

America – The Story of US • Major Topics: – Technological advancements in America • How has technological innovation impact the US? – US Political and Social changes • How has America continuously reinvented itself throughout its history? • 9/11 and the War on Terror • Reflection on the American Experience… Homework: Chapter 32, Sec 1 The Reagan Presidency and Neo-conservatism

Review Of America, The Story of US Task: Reflect on the Entire Series by answering the following questions. Give at least two examples for each questions. Your examples can be taken from any time in American history: • How has technological innovation impact the US throughout it’s history? • How has America continuously reinvented itself throughout its history? • What is the American Dream (according to this movie)? And How has it changed throughout American History? • Write a Review of the Story of US series. You can include information on the following questions: – What was your favorite aspect of this series? – What was your least favorite aspect of the series? – Would you recommend this series for students next year? Why or why not?