American history Assignment due in 7 hours
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52308_4293993_TheRiseofaMoreConservativeAmerica.pptxThe Rise of Conservative America
Many of the constituents of the New Deal Coalition began to believe that Government intervention was the problem rather than the solution.
Much like the New Deal drew together conflicting interest groups, so too the rise of conservatism would draw together multiple groups who shared an interest in ending the power of the Democratic Party
Proposition 13 and the Taxpayers Revolt
Proposition 13 essentially put a cap on property taxes in California.
Why were California’s suburbs demanding reductions in taxation?
Until the 1970s, property values in California consistently rose between 4 and 5% annually. This occurred at the same time that inflation was as high as 14%. The end result was that homeowners’ rate of taxation essentially tripled between 1967 and 1978. At the same time, the per capita income tax rate rose by about 20% annually.
Developments in California Mirrored Those Occurring Around the nation
By the end of the 1970s, continued economic difficulties made taxes seem more onerous to many working class Americans.
At the same time, the shift to the service sector tended to hurt the power of unions.
Answering a Question on the Review Sheet !!!
Why did many suburbanites grow suspicious of government intervention in the economy during the 1960s?
Jerry Falwell
Concerned Catholics and Protestants added to the growing strength of conservatism in America. These folks were more concerned about social issues: the rise of feminism, abortion, premarital sex, and divorce.
Many social conservatives around the nation—like Jerry Falwell—believed that political action was the best way to preserve Christian values in America.
Televangelism and the Rise of Conservative Evangelism
During the 1970s and 1980s, Christian concerns had been changing.
Increasingly, churches focused on homosexuality, abortion, and secularization in society drew in members while denominations labeled as liberal lost members.
Deregulation of the Financial Industries
Reagan appointed James Watt—an outspoken proponent of the “sagebrush rebellion” to head the interior department. The administration in general devoted itself to opening federal land for private development.
Answering a Question on the Review Sheet !!!
Why were many Americans opposed to the feminist movement? Who inspired the creation of the “moral majority” and what did the “moral majority” think was wrong with America? Why were many in the West in favor of turning more power over to the states?
The Rise of Ronald Reagan
The Election of 1980
Not only did the Republicans win the Presidential office, but they were also able to win control of the Senate. It was the first time Republicans had controlled the Senate since 1954.
Reaganomics
Cut government rates of taxation
Entitlement programs—Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—had become untouchable.
To win the Cold War, Reagan increased spending on the military.
Modest cuts were made in several of the programs created by Johnson to fight the war on poverty.
Supply-Side Economics
Reagan believed that the problem with the American economy was that taxes were too high.
He reasoned that if Americans were paying fewer taxes then they would have more money to spend on consumer products.
Answering a Question on the Review Sheet !!!
Describe how Reagan proposed reviving the economy? How were his economic theories different from those that had inspired the New Deal?
Continued Recession
To deal with a continuing problem with inflation, Reagan kept interest rates high. Coupled with lowering prices on oil, the net effect was a more controlled rate of inflation.
Yet by 1982, unemployment stood at 10%.
The FED’s policy drove up the value of the dollar encouraging a trade deficit.
By 1983, however, the economy began recovering. With inflation down, consumer spending improved.
The Election of 1984
Walter Mondale ran for the Democratic Party and called for “the eradication of discrimination in all aspects of American life” and also called for an expansion in national welfare programs.
The Rising National Debt
Erected in 1989 by a New York real estate developer, the debt clock began its days by showing that the national debt was growing $13,000 a second.
Some critics charged that Reagan’s economic “revolution” brought short-term benefits for the 1980s but led to greater problems for future generations.
Recovery of Stock Prices
The result was that stock prices rose during the 1980s and 1990s. The Dow Jones stock price index doubled from 1,000 to 2,000 during the 1980s, and by the end of the 1990s it had risen to 8,000.
Rules for buying stocks also changed encouraging more Americans to participate in the stock market. Between 1980 and 2000 the percentage of American families who owned stock jumped from 13% to 50%.
The “Swiss-Cheese” Economy
Reagan touted impressive improvements in Americans’ economic health. Indeed, some Americans did benefit from the Reagan years. The number of African American families earning sold middle-class incomes doubled between 1970 and 1990. For many, however, wages remained stagnant.
The New Technology Economy
Ignoring Ideological Barriers in China and Vietnam
Many manufacturers ignored the ideological boundaries that had limited American investments overseas.
Answering a Question on the Review Sheet !!!
Describe the economic revival of the 1980s. What was the “Swiss Cheese” economy? Who benefitted from the economic changes of the 1980s and who did not benefit from the new economy?
Increasing Conservatism on the Supreme Court
Almost immediately after taking office, Reagan appointed a justice he believed would support conservative policies: Sandra Day O’Connor. By 1990, about half of all federal judges had reached the bench during Reagan’s presidency.
The Takings Clause
In its 1992 ruling in Lucas vs. South Carolina Coastal Council, however, the Supreme Court held state legislatures to stricter standards when determining what constituted a “taking” of private property. Changes to zoning laws and environmental regulations could now constitute takings.
The Evil Empire
Reagan claimed that the Soviets were “prepared to commit any crime, to lie, to cheat,” and do anything else to support their goal of world communism.
In 1983 Reagan escalated the nuclear arms race by authorizing Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). SDI was proposed as a complex network to shoot down Soviet ICBMS.
The Growing Military Budget
Anti-Communism in Latin America
In El Salvador, Reagan abandoned Carter’s condemnation of Salvadoran “Death Squads” and actively supported the oppressive government against communist rebels.
Scandal and the “Teflon” President
Feeling public pressure, Congress refused support for the Contras in Nicaragua.
US Actions in the Middle East
A pro-Communist government in Afghanistan weakened by both infighting and rebellion seeks aid from the Soviets.
At the end of 1979, the USSR begins a massive invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1986, begins supplying anti-communist rebels with stinger missiles and other equipment.
Answering a Question on the Review Sheet !!!
How did Reagan change Carter’s position on foreign policy?
Lebanon
In 1982, Reagan sent Marines to Beirut in Lebanon to help keep the peace in an ethnically and religiously diverse nation.
In 1983, a Shiite Muslim crashed an explosive laden truck into the barracks killing 239 Marines.
The Collapse of the Soviet Union
In 1989, Poland’s anticommunist labor party seized control of the government, and the pro-Moscow government in East Germany fell in 1989.
By 1991, the republics that had been part of the Soviet Union declared their independence and started governing themselves.
Answering a Question on the Review Sheet !!!
How has America’s international presence changed since the fall of the Soviet Union?
