C H A P T E R

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QUIT
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C H A P T E R
The Conservative Tide
CHAPTER OBJECTIVE
INTERACT WITH HISTORY
TIME LINE
A Conservative Movement Emerges
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SECTION
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
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SECTION
GRAPH
Social Concerns of the 1980s
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SECTION
Foreign Policy After the Cold War
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SECTION
MAP
VISUAL SUMMARY
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C H A P T E R
The Conservative Tide
To understand the political and social events of
the 1980s and early 1990s
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C H A P T E R
The Conservative Tide
I N T E R A C T
W I T H H I S T O R Y
It is the autumn of 1980. You are a campaign
manager for Republican presidential candidate,
Ronald Reagan, former film star and past governor
of California. Reagan must defeat President Jimmy
Carter, who has lost support. Carter has failed
to bring home the hostages in Iran and to revive
the economy. Reagan, an optimist, pledges to do
both. He also plans to cut taxes and cut back on
government programs.
What campaign slogan will you create?
Examine the Issues
What qualities in your candidate will win
support?
What issues are important?
How can you present Reagan as a winner?
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C H A P T E R
The Conservative Tide
The United States
The World
1981 Sandra Day OConnor becomes the first woman
appointed to the Supreme Court.
1985 The Soviet Union suffers a disastrous
accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
1986 Iran arms deal is revealed.
continued . . .
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C H A P T E R
The Conservative Tide
The United States
The World
1987 President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces Treaty.
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KEY IDEA
The new conservatism begins with the defeat of
Barry Goldwater in 1964 and triumphs with the
election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
In the early 21st century, conservative views
strongly influenced both major political parties.
Conservatism reached a high point with the
election in 1980 of President Ronald Reagan and
Vice-President George Bush.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List eight conservative issues.
Reduce the size of the federal government
End affirmative action
Reduce entitlement programs
End busing
Conservative Issues
Stop the regulation ofguns
Prayer in school
Eliminate legal abortions
Defeat the ERA
continued . . .
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2. How did the leaders of the conservative
movement of the 1980s want to change government?
Think About
the difference between the conservative view of
government and the liberal view
the groups that made up the conservative
coalition
conservatives attitudes toward existing
government programs
ANSWER
Conservatives wanted to reduce the size of
federal government lower taxes end gun control,
affirmative action, and busing increase defense
spending and promote traditional family values.
continued . . .
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3. What role did the Moral Majority play in the
conservative movement of the 1970s and early
1980s?
ANSWER
The Moral Majority represented a religious
revival that stressed a literal interpretation of
the Bible and argued for restoration of
traditional values.
continued . . .
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4. What personal qualities in Ronald Reagan
helped him to win election as president in 1980?
ANSWER
Reagan, known as the Great Communicator, had the
ability to simplify issues and offer clear-cut
answers.
End of Section 1
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GRAPH
KEY IDEA
President Reagan puts in place conservative
policies that affect the nations budget and the
federal government.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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GRAPH
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Presidents Reagan and Bush pursued a conservative
agenda that included tax cuts, budget cuts, and
increased defense spending.
The conservative views of Reagan and Bush created
policies and priorities that affect government
spending and budgeting today.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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GRAPH
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S E C T I O N
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. Define Reaganomics, and then list its
short-term and long-term effects.
DEFINITION OF REGANOMICS
Policy advocating tax cuts to bolster private
investments, leading to increased national supply
of goods and services.
Short-Term Effects
Falling interest rates, decreased inflation,
economic growth
Long-Term Effects
Increased national debt, budget deficit, trade
imbalances, higher taxes
continued . . .
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GRAPH
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
2. Why did President Reagan and President Bush
think it was important to appoint conservative
justices to the Supreme Court?
ANSWER
The Supreme Court decides which laws are
constitutional. Both Reagan and Bush had
conservative agendas and wanted the Supreme Court
to support those agendas.
continued . . .
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GRAPH
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
3. In your opinion was Reagans first term a
success? Think About
how his tax cuts impacted the rich and the poor
the economy
the federal budget
ANSWER
Reagans first term was a mix of success and
failurestopped the growth of inflation but the
federal deficit rose.
continued . . .
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GRAPH
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
4. Read the following excerpt from Ronald
Reagans speech at the 1992 Republican
Convention. We mustnt forget . . . the very
different America that existed just 12 years
ago an America with 21 percent interest rates
and . . . double-digit inflation an America
where mortgage payments doubled, paychecks
plunged, and motorists sat in gas lines an
America whose leaders told us . . . that what we
really needed was another good dose of government
control and higher taxes. What picture did
Reagan paint of the Carter administration?
ANSWER
That high interest rates, high inflation, gas
lines, and too much government marked Carters
administration.
End of Section 2
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KEY IDEA
Social issues of many kinds continue to concern
the nation during the conservative backlash.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Beneath the surge of prosperity that marked the
conservative era of the 1980s lay serious social
problems.
Issues involving health care, education, civil
rights, and equal rights for women continue to
challenge American society.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. List several of the social problems of the
Reagan and Bush years and how the government
responded to them.
Social Problems
Government Response
Supreme Court restrictions
Abortion
Drug use
Just say No! campaign
America 2000 education initiative
Education
Womens rights
Day care budget cuts pay equity in some states
Equal rights for minorities
Supreme Court reversal of affirmative-action
decision
continued . . .
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2. How might improvements in the educational
system help solve other social problems? Think
About
the impact education might have on
health-related problems
the impact that education might have on urban
problems
the impact that education might have on
unemployment
ANSWER
Education might help discourage unsafe sex and
drug use. Education would lead to future job
opportunities and lower unemployment rates.
continued . . .
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3. Compare the political gains and losses
experienced by various groups during the Reagan
and Bush administrations.
ANSWER
More jobs and political opportunities for women
and minorities Native Americans gained support
for gambling casinos on their native lands Asian
Americans were the second fastest-growing
minority population several states outlawed
anti-gay discrimination.
continued . . .
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4. Why might a widening gap between the richest
and poorest citizens of a country be a cause for
concern about that countrys future?
ANSWER
A widening economic gap could lead to a
permanently divided society.
End of Section 3
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MAP
KEY IDEA
Major changes throughout the world have a great
impact on the direction of U.S. foreign policy.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The end of the Cold War, marked by the breakup of
the Soviet Union in 1991, led to a redirection of
many U.S. goals and policies.
After the Cold War, the United States provided
and continues to provide substantial economic
support to the new capitalistic and democratic
nations.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Explain U.S. foreign policy in Europe, in
Central America and the Caribbean, and in the
Middle East.
U.S. Foreign Policy
INF Treaty START II Pact Cold War ends
Europe
Central America and Caribbean
Cut aid to Sandinistas send aid to Contras
invasion of Grenada
Middle East
Iran-Contra affair Operation Desert Storm
continued . . .
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2. What factors caused the end of the Cold War?
Think About
events in the Soviet Union
events in Germany and Eastern Europe
how U.S. leaders responded to those events
ANSWER
Collapse of Soviet economy, Gorbachevs reforms
in the Soviet Union, unification of East and West
Germany
continued . . .
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3. What factors do you think determined whether
or not the United States intervened militarily in
other nations?
ANSWER
The United States intervened when essential
United States interests and assetsAmerican
lives, democracy, oilwere at stake.
continued . . .
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4. Is it possible for an authoritarian government
to make economic reforms without also making
political reforms?
ANSWER
POSSIBLE RESPONSES Yes China, for example No
Soviet Union, for example
End of Section 4