“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson◦Who are good examples of people that have
inspired others?
Can you think of events that have greater meaning than the event itself?
Bush throwing out first pitch after 9/11 in NYC?
Jackie Robinson breaking color barrier?
Tommie Smith and John Carlos at 1968 Olympics?
Do you believe in miracles?!?!Do you believe in miracles?!?!
Why was this event so important to the U.S.?
Has there ever been any other sporting event that has had this kind of impact on the United States?
Emergence of Conservative MovementEmergence of Conservative Movement
Concerns New Right
Believed state gov’ts, businesses and individuals needed freedom from Wash., D.C.
Entitlement program spending was $300 million
Civil Rights Act being abused
Support and promote single issues that reflect key interests
Oppose abortion, block Equal Rights Amendment, evade court-ordered busing, return to school prayer
Criticized affirmative action
Conservative GroupsConservative Groups
Conservative Coalition Moral Majority
Alliance of business leaders, middle-class voters, disaffected Democrats and fundamentalist Christian groups
Think Tanks and outside media promotion
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson
Interpreted the bible literally and believed in absolute standards of right and wrong
Called for traditional values
“back to God, back to the Bible, back to morality”
Individual Conservative GroupsIndividual Conservative Groups
“Family Values”Called for lower divorce rateFewer out-of-wedlock birthsMore individual responsibilityRevival of prosperity and patriotism
Goals of Conservative MovementGoals of Conservative Movement
Shrink size of federal government and reduce spending
Promote family values and patriotic idealsStimulate business by reducing
government regulations and lowering taxes
Strengthen the national defense
Ronald Reagan BioRonald Reagan Bio
Born in Illinois in 1911
Sports broadcaster for WHO and the Iowa Hawkeyes
Hollywood actor and President of Screen Actors Guild
Spokesmen for GE
Democrat until 1950s then became conservative Republican
Campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 64
Governor of Cali in 1966 and 1970
Reagan wins election of 1980Reagan wins election of 1980
S.C. decisions on abortion, pornography, teaching of evolution and prayer in public schools concerned conservative voters
Iranian hostage crisis and weak economyThe Great CommunicatorCommitment to military and economic
strength52.6% of people voted; Reagan won 51%
of vote but carried 44 statesRepublicans get Senate for first time since
1954
The Great CommunicatorThe Great Communicator
What is the impact of his attitude?Why was his attitude precisely what the
U.S. needed at the time?Does his attitude reduce his credibility?Is President Obama (or any other
president you can think of) like this?Is it bad for someone in a position like this
to use humor?
ReaganomicsReaganomics
Budget Cuts◦Cuts in social programs ◦Entitlement programs helping middle class
remained (Social security, Medicare, Veteran’s Pensions)
◦10% cut in budget for mass transit, food stamps, welfare benefit, job training, Medicaid, school lunches, student loans
ReaganomicsReaganomics
Tax Cuts◦Supply-Side Economics: if people paid fewer
taxes they would save $$ banks could then loan $$ to businesses invest money in resources to improve productivity supply would increase prices decrease
◦Lowered income taxes by about 25%
ReaganomicsReaganomics
Increased Defense Spending◦Increase in military spending offset cuts in
social programs◦Revived the MX missile and B-1 bomber◦Strategic Defense Initiative – SDI – Star Wars:
Reagan asked scientists to develop a defense system that would keep Americans safe from enemy missiles
ReaganomicsReaganomics
Recession: worst since Great Depression◦1983 consumer confidence boosted by tax
cuts, decline in interest rates and lower inflation
◦Stock market surged, unemployment declined, GNP up 10%
Reagan doubled national debt
Changes under ReaganChanges under Reagan
Shift to the Right◦ Sandra Day O’Connor,
Antonin Scalia, and Anthony M. Kennedy on S.C.
◦ William Rehnquist is Chief Justice
◦ Bush adds more conservatives
◦ Looked at issues such as discrimination, abortion and affirmative action
Deregulate the Economy◦ Cutting back federal
regulation of industry◦ Removed price controls
on oil and eliminated federal health and safety inspections for nursing homes
◦ Cut budget of Environmental Protection Agency
Conservative Victories Conservative Victories
1984 1988
Reagan and Bush vs Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro
Carried every state except Minnesota
Michael Dukakis vs Bush
Bush campaigned for no new taxes and used attack ads saying Dukakis was soft on crime and unpatriotic
Low voter turnout
Social ConcernsSocial Concerns
Health Issues Abortion
AIDS: virus that destroys immune system and weakens body
Sharing needles, contaminated blood transfusions, infected mothers giving it to child
Roe v. Wade of 1973Pro-Life v. Pro-choiceWebster v.
Reproductive Health Care Services: states have right to impose restrictions on abortion
Social ConcernsSocial Concerns
Drug Abuse Education
Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No!” Campaign
Should U.S. legalize certain drugs?
Should we increase money spent on treatment facilities?
A Nation at Risk: 23 million Americans cant follow instruction manual or fill out job application
More homework, longer days and year, increased pay for teachers
Social ConcernsSocial Concerns
Urban Crisis◦high unemployment◦bad infrastructure◦inadequate funds for sanitation and health
services◦Deteriorating schools◦Growing divide between wealthy and poor◦LA Riots after beating of Rodney King
Fight for RightsFight for Rights
Women◦Unable to get Equal Rights Amendment ratified◦Geraldine Ferraro◦47 women in House of Representatives in 1992
and 6 Senators◦Earn 75 cents for every $1 men make◦Pay Equity: pay rates based on job
requirements in 20 states by 1989◦Family benefits
Fight for RightsFight for Rights
African Americans Latinos
Mayors in LA, Detroit, Chicago, and more
L. Douglas Wilder first governor (1990)
Jesse JacksonRichmond v. J.A.
Croson Company: limited scope of affirmative action
9% of population by 1990
Toney Anaya in NM and Robert Martinez in Florida
Issue of bilingual education
Fight for RightsFight for Rights
Native Americans Asian-Americans
Teach about their past
Return of ancestral lands
Reagan slashed aid to Native Americans opened up casinos
Low crime rates, low school dropout rates, low divorce rates
High unemployment and poverty
Fight for RightsFight for Rights
Gay Rights
Setback due to AIDS crisis
1992 Republican National Convention condemned gay activism
Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider
Make an argument for pro-choice or pro-life?Should we legalize marijuana?Should we lengthen the school year? School
day? Increase pay for teachers?Should there be bilingual education in schools
across the country?Should men receive the same family benefits
as women?Should same-sex couples be allowed to
marry?
End of the Cold WarEnd of the Cold War
1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of Communist Party
Increases defense spending and economy is pushed to brink of collapse
Glasnost: (openness) open to criticize the gov ’t steps toward freedom of press
Perestroika: less gov’t control of economy, introduction of private enterprise, establish democracy
INF Treaty – on-site inspections of military installations
““Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.””
Gorbachev allows non-communist parties to organize in satellite nations and push toward democracy
Reagan challenges him to back up his words
Berlin wall opened for first time in 28 years
German nations united in 1990
Countries break away from communism
Soviet Union DeclinesSoviet Union Declines
Nationalism grows in non-Russian republics
Gorbachev resigns in 1991
1992 – Bush and Yeltsin declare end of Cold War and sign START II pact in 1993
Communism in ChinaCommunism in China
Government loosened grip on business and eliminated price controls
Students demand greater voice in gov ’t
1989 – Tiananmen Square
“The government has won the battle here today. But they have lost the people’s hearts.”
NicaraguaNicaragua
US helps Anastasio Somoza to power in 1930s very strict dictator
Civil War from 1977-79: National Guard vs. Sandinistas
US sends aid to SandinistasIn 1981, Reagan cuts aid and supports
Contras10,000 men in Contra army and aided by CIA
agents Boland AmendmentFeb 25, 1990 – Violeta de Chamorro is
elected President in free election
Central American and Caribbean Central American and Caribbean PolicyPolicy
Grenada Panama
Reagan sends 2,000 troops to overthrow pro-Cuban government
18 soldiers die
20,000 soldiers overthrow General Manuel Antonio Noriega for drug trafficking
Taken by force to Miami for trial and sentenced to 40 years in prison
Middle East Middle East
Iran-Contra Scandal Persian Gulf War
1983 – terrorist group loyal to Iran take Americans hostage in Lebanon
Reagan approves sale of arms to Iran for release of 7 hostages and sends profits to Contras
Oliver North and televised hearings; found guilty of cover-up
Saddam Hussein looking to erase war debts
1990 – Iraq invades Kuwait
Operation Desert Storm◦ Kuwait liberated
Top Related