Conservatism Revived, 1980–1992

Chapter 32

Domestic Issues• Time of change in race/ethnicity:• most new immigrants = people of color• *during the 1970’s and 1980’s Latinos constituted the fastest-growing

minority in the United States. • Gap between rich and poor widen • Reagan supported by religious New Right• Implement political/economic conservatism:• result = massive deficits

• Cold War tensions accelerate, then decline• USA remain active as sole superpower• esp. Middle East

• Political conservatives:• more defense spending• roll back New Deal/Great Society

• Economic conservatives:• pro-business policies• deregulation, corporation/wealthy tax cuts

• Reagan tap into tax revolt of 1970s:• gain support of white “Reagan Democrats”

• Social conservatives = religious New Right:• restore “God’s America”/“family values”

Reagan Doctrine

• *In the Reagan Doctrine, the Reagan administration declared it would openly support anticommunist forces fighting the Soviets or any Soviet-backed countries.

Foreign Policy

• Sandinistas (leftist nationalists):• topple pro-US dictator Somoza (1979)• want to reduce US influence in Nicaragua

• Reagan’s CIA form contras in 1981• Destructive civil war develop (30,000 die)• Reagan see Central America via Cold War• Critics downplay communist threat:• fear Vietnam repeat

• Central American presidents end war (‘90)

• Breaks, 1986:• 1984, Congress ban funding to contras• Reagan authorize secret funding from others• illegal weapon sales to Iran also fund contras• destroy documents• lie to Congress• reduce Reagan’s popularity• Bush pardon those convicted, 1992

•*Also during Reagan’s presidency in 1989 the Berlin Wall is destructed symbolizing an end to Soviet domination in eastern Europe.

Global Concerns

• Saddam Hussein was an anti-Iranian ally in 1980s• Iraq invades Kuwait (1990)• Threaten Saudi Arabia• Bush:• build coalition to oust Iraq from Kuwait • 1991 Desert Storm

• Hussein remain in power• USA and UN impose limits on his power:• arms and economic embargoes• “no-fly” zones in Iraq

Into the Global Millennium, America Since 1992

Chapter 33

Election of 1992

• Bush’s popularity plummets• Clinton focus on economy/domestic issues• Democrats sweep:• New England, West Coast• much of Midwest; do well in South

• Paradox: smart, but undisciplined • Campaign as centrist “New Democrat”:• stress private-sector and global outlook• reform welfare to reduce USG role• expand access to healthcare

•During his first presidential term, President Clinton, suffered a major defeat concerning his health-care plan. •During the Clinton years, the

American economy featured a rising standard of living for both the nation’s richest and poorest people.

Election of 2000• Gore intelligent, but unable to inspire• Nader draw votes from Gore, esp. FL• Gore win popular vote (Map 33.1), but:• confusion in FL• Supreme Court end recount• award election to Bush

• Voters divide:• along race • and gender

9/11

• Deadliest act of terrorism in history:• kill upwards of 3000• cause change in foreign policy and at home

• Bush respond with military force (fall 2001):• Al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan• topple Taliban• fail to capture Bin Laden

• Patriotism surge; Bush’s approval skyrocket• Announce long war on terrorism/evil

• After 9/11, lots of foreign support:• evaporate by late 2002• upset by Bush’s continued unilateralism• esp. “preemptive action” on “axis of evil”• see it as reckless/contrary to international law

• Cheney and Rumsfeld want to oust Hussein: • since end of Gulf War in 1991• fold goal into new war on terrorism• strongly speculate that Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.• Nov. 2001, start war planning• administration consensus on removal by spring 2002

• 2002-03, Bush offer reasons to invade:• WMD – biological/chemical/nuclear• assert ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda• source of regional instability/brutality

• Secretly neoconservatives hope to:• reshape Mideast• protect Israel and assess to oil

• Critics dispute:• imminence of threat• Al Qaeda links