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Ronald Reagan Objective: Analyze the Presidency of Reagan. Conservative Resurgence. As the 1970s progressed, right-wing groups gained strength across the country. The voice of the conservative movement became known as the New Right. New Right Conservative Movement.
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Conservative Resurgence • As the 1970s progressed, right-wing groups gained strength across the country. • The voice of the conservative movement became known as the New Right.
New Right Conservative Movement • Support traditional family values, oppose gay marriage, often very religious • Moral Majority organization gets involved in political elections
Conservative Resurgence • Oppose abortion, known as “Right to Life” movement
Conservative Resurgence • Oppose affirmative action policies: those policies forcing employers and colleges to give special consideration to women and minorities, even if they were less qualified.
Conservative Resurgence • Promote patriotism and “support the troops”
1980 Election • Reagan appealed to these conservative Americans’ traditional values.
1980 Election • Reagan’s ability to simplify issues, and give clear answers earned him the nickname, “The Great Communicator.”
Reaganomics • Reagan’s package of new economic policies was dubbed “Reaganomics” and consisted of three parts:
Reaganomics • 1. government budget cuts • Less government spending on social programs, such as food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, school lunches, and student loans.
Reaganomics • 2. tax cuts • Less taxes people save more money banks loan more money to businesses business expands, productivity improves, and prices fall • Known as “Supply side” economics or “trickle down” theory
Reganomics • 3. Deregulation of business • Less regulation and rules for businesses to follow = more profits for corporations
Reaganomics • 4. increased defense spending • From 1981-1984, the Defense Department budget almost doubled.
Reaganomics • Despite these measures, problems continued to plague the economy. • Tax cuts helped the rich, while social welfare cuts had hurt the poor.
Reaganomics • By the end of his first term, the national debt had doubled.
Other Challenges • Under Reagan, NASA took a hit when the space shuttle, the Challenger exploded mid flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4JOjcDFtBE • Reagan survived an assassination attempt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYI79ziwh0w
His Legacy • According to most ranking systems (liberal and conservative), Ronald Reagan usually ranks between 8th and 25th in terms of the best U.S. Presidents in history. For those who are conservative, he was one of America’s best leaders, pulling us out of recession and winning the Cold War. For liberals, he favored the rich with conservative policies, ran up the debt, and was connected to other scandals.