1980s and the Resurgence of Conservatim

1970s economy

“It’s morning in America”

New Right and the Moral MajorityLeaders Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Pat

Robertson

ReaganomicsSupply side economicsTrickle down effectCut $35 billion from US

budgetTax Reform Act of 1986Four pillars: reduce

government spending, reduce income tax, reduce government regulation, control the money supply to reduce inflation

EffectsReagan recession- blamed on CarterMiddle class stagnationVery wealthy do VERY wellGDP increasesHigh deficit spendingUnemployment skyrocketed and then

droppedGraham, Rudmon and Hollings Bill- America

has to balance the budget

Election of 1984

Foreign Policy “peace with strength”

Soviet Union is “focus of evil in the modern world”

Strategic Defense Initiative- Star Wars Program

START IAid to ElSalvadorCovert aid to Nicaraguan

rebelsTroops to Libya to defend the

deaths of American soldiersHeavy fire invasion of

Grenada to stop a coupIran Contra Scandal

GlasnostMr. Gorbachev, tear

down this wall!

Conservative Supreme CourtWebster v Reproductive Health Service-

limited Roe v WadePlanned Parenthood v Casey-states can

restrict access to abortion as long as there is no “undue burden” on woman

Election of 1988“kinder, gentler America”Railed against Reganomics as

“voodoo” economics

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm

Americans with Disabilities Act

“Read my lips, no new taxes”1990 tax and budget package raises taxes

$133 billion

Clarence Thomas to Supreme Court

Election of 1992

“don’t ask, don’t tell”“Brady Bill” – gun

control billBranch DavidiansNAFTA- North American

Free Trade AgreementMillion Mom March-

ColumbineImpeachment and

Monica Lewinsky “it depends on what the meaning of “is” is”