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The Conservative Resurgence. Ch. 23. Ideas of Liberalism. Democrats Believed… Federal gov should play a large role in improving American lives Social programs should help poor, elderly, unemployed Rights should protect minorities and women Greater gov regulation of industry - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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CH. 23
The Conservative Resurgence
Ideas of Liberalism
DemocratsBelieved…
Federal gov should play a large role in improving American lives
Social programs should help poor, elderly, unemployed Rights should protect minorities and women Greater gov regulation of industry Cooperate with international organizations
Ideas of Conservatives
RepublicansLarge central gov endangered economic
growth and individual choiceCriticized the liberal solution of “throwing
money” at social problemsWanted to reduce taxes and limit gov
regulation of industryDidn’t want to abandon traditional valuesQuestioned the détente and SALT II treaty
Liberalism Loses its Appeal
Counterculture alienated many AmericansWatergate, oil crises, and the Iran Hostage
crisis weakened the public’s faith in the federal gov
Industries declined and the economy stagnated
The New Right
New Right- the name for the resurgent conservative movement
Disliked… Unfunded mandates-required programs but not paid
for by the gov Welfare programs- rewarded lack of effort Affirmative action
Supported Moral Majority- political organization working to fulfill religious goals
Reagan Wins the Presidency
Wins 1970 electionSupply-side economics (Reaganomics)
If taxes are reduced, people will work more and have more money to spend causing the economy to grow
Economic Recovery Act of 1981 reduced taxes by 25% over 3 years
Deregulation Removal of government control over industry Airline, telecommunications, banking
Despite policies recession hit and unemployment grew
Tear Down This Wall
June 12, 1987Brandenburg Gate, West BerlinReagan’s speech acknowledged the new
Soviet leader Gorbachev’s efforts at reform in the Soviet Union
But not satisfiedChallenged Gorbachev to tear down the
Berlin Wall and show a real commitment at reform
Formally torn down in 1990
Iran-Contra Scandal
1985US sold weapons to Iran in exchange for Iran’s
promise to pressure terrorist groups in Lebanon to release some American hostages Didn’t work Contradicted the US policy of refusing to negotiate with
terrorists Money from the sales was used to fund the Contras in
Nicaragua Sending funds to the Contras was banned 2 years earlier
News of the sandal came out in 1986 Reagan accepted responsibility Several administration officials and top aid, Oliver North, were
convicted, but many convictions were later overturned
The End of the Cold War
Reagan supported a massive US military buildup
Reagan wanted to weaken the Soviet Union by supporting anticommunist rebellions
US funded and trained anti-Soviet rebels in Afghanistan 1988- Soviet forces began to withdraw from
AfghanistanUS feared the Sandinista gov in Nicaragua
provided the Soviets with a “safe house” US backed the Contras, anticommunist
counterrevolutionaries
1989- George H.W. Bush becomes president
Fall of Communism
Fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of communism in Europe
1991- communist party lost powerSoviet Union separated into 15 independent
republics
The Persian Gulf War
Causes….Aug. 1990- Iraq invaded KuwaitSaddam Hussein, Iraq’s leader, wanted to
take over Kuwait’s oil deposits and would control 20% of oil produced in the world
US didn’t want Hussein to seek to gain control of Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves
Pres. Bush worked to build an international coalition and backed a UN resolution demanding Iraqi troops withdraw
Operation Desert Storm
700,000 American, British, French, Egyptian, and Saudi Arabian troops assembled in Saudi Arabia
Bush hoped military presence would convince Hussein to withdraw
Bush received authority from Congress to use force if necessary
Operation Desert Storm American-led attack on Iraqi forces Jan. 1991
Operation Desert Storm cont’d
General Colin Powell developed and executed a strategy 5 weeks of aerial bombardment on Iraqi forces Iraq launched missiles on coalition forces and Israel
(did little damage) Coalition troops stormed into Kuwait Iraqi troops fled and surrendered
War ended 5 days later when Iraq agreed to a cease-fire
Hussein and his regime survived the war
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