The Conservative Resurgence & Reagan's America (1980s)

Core Concepts

Examine the rise of the New Right and the key policies of the Reagan administration, including "Reaganomics," a more aggressive Cold War stance, and the social and political trends of the 1980s.

The Conservative Resurgence & Reagan's America (1980s)

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What factors contributed to the rise of the "New Right" and the conservative resurgence of the late \(1970s\) and \(1980s\)?

Key factors included backlash against the counterculture and social changes of the \(1960s\), frustration with stagflation and perceived U.S. weakness abroad, and the mobilization of evangelical Christians (like the Moral Majority) as a political force.

What was the "Moral Majority"?

Founded by Reverend Jerry Falwell in \(1979\), the Moral Majority was a prominent political organization of the Christian right. It played a key role in mobilizing conservative Christians to vote for Ronald Reagan in the \(1980\) election.

What is "Reaganomics" (also known as supply-side or trickle-down economics)?

Reaganomics was the economic policy of the Reagan administration. It centered on large tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, combined with deregulation of industry, in the belief that this would stimulate investment, create jobs, and benefit everyone in the long run.

What was the immediate effect of the major tax cuts passed in \(1981\)?

The tax cuts, combined with a sharp increase in military spending, led to massive federal budget deficits. The economy experienced a severe recession in \(1981\)-\(1982\), largely due to the Federal Reserve's tight monetary policy to fight inflation, but began a strong, prolonged recovery in \(1983\).

What was the significance of Reagan's handling of the PATCO strike in \(1981\)?

When federal air traffic controllers (PATCO) went on strike, Reagan fired over \(11,000\) of them. This decisive action was a major blow to the power of labor unions and signaled a new era of pro-business, anti-union sentiment from the federal government.

How did Reagan's approach to the Cold War differ from the policy of détente?

Reagan rejected détente as weak and pursued a more confrontational stance. He labeled the Soviet Union an "evil empire" and initiated the largest peacetime military buildup in U.S. history to challenge the USSR and negotiate from a position of strength.

What was the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), nicknamed "Star Wars"?

Announced in \(1983\), SDI was a proposed missile defense system intended to protect the United States from attack by ballistic strategic nuclear weapons. Although technologically infeasible at the time, the project put immense pressure on the struggling Soviet economy.

What was the Iran-Contra Affair?

This was a major political scandal during Reagan's second term. It involved senior administration officials secretly facilitating the sale of arms to Iran (an embargoed nation) to fund the Contras (anti-communist rebels) in Nicaragua, which was a violation of U.S. law.

Who was Sandra Day O'Connor?

In \(1981\), President Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, making her the first woman ever to serve as a justice. She was a moderate conservative who often acted as a swing vote on the court.

The Conservative Resurgence & Reagan's America (1980s)

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