The Conservative Resurgence

1. The Conservative Resurgence

2. Focus Question • What are some of the key issues in the 2012 presidential race?

3. Roots laid during the New Deal • Conservative critics of the New Deal • Power concentrated into central government • “Dictatorial” policies of FDR • Violated ideas of laissez-faire • Did not see much traction during the Depression

4. American Isolationists • Felt U.S. had to remain outside world affairs • Dismayed by U.S. saber-rattling prior to World War II • Opposed to United Nations • Stressed America First ideology

5. Anti-Communists • Cold Warriors • Opposed to communism in any form • Saw a need to remove Communists from positions of trust • Sponsored numerous anti-communist groups

6. Failed to Make Headway • High Point of New Deal Coalition • Most Americans accepted the premises • Republicans bought along • Conservatives in the wilderness

7. Tentative Beginnings • Election of 1964 • Nomination of Barry Goldwater • Arch-conservative Republican • Defeated the moderate Rockefeller • Defeated badly by Johnson

8. Tentative Beginnings • Election of 1964 • Nomination of Barry Goldwater • Arch-conservative Republican • Defeated the moderate Rockefeller • Defeated badly by Johnson

9. Signs of Hope • Cracks in the New Deal coalition • Southern whites dismayed by Civil Rights • Tensions of the 1960s frightening moderates • Lack of progress in Vietnam • able to gain a victory with Nixon in 1968

10. Election of 1980 • Watershed for the Conservative Movement • Democratic President Jimmy Carter weak • High unemployment • High inflation • U.S. struggles against Iran • Republican Ronald Reagan positive, charismatic • Able to attract blue-collar Democrats • Solidified GOP gains in the South

11. Age of Reagan • Promoted “Morning in America” • Set a pro-business agenda • Slashed tax rate dramatically • Promoted deregulation • Broke the Air Traffic Controllers Union

12. New Federalism • Promised a smaller government • Shifted programs to the states • Attempt to cut domestic spending • Reduce tax burden • Created a new national trend

13. Reagan Doctrine • Set a new tone in the Cold War • Challenge Communism (Roll-back) • Sponsored massive military build-up • Sponsored insurgents in Latin America • Promoted negotiations with Gorbachev

14. Reagan Revolution • Reagan as the “patron saint” of conservatives • Pushed de-regulation • Expanded under Clinton • Grew by leaps under George W. Bush • Legacy of “low taxes” • Promotion of character

15. However, • Deregulation led to scandals • Savings and Loan collapse • Junk Bonds • Pentagon Spending • Tax burden largely unchanged • 1981: 19.4% national income in federal taxes • 1989: 19.3% national income in federal taxes

16. Income Redistribution • Marginal tax rates slashed for the wealthy • “Trickle-Down effect” • Wealth shifted toward the top • Top 1% saw share of wealth rise from 22 to 39% • Bottom 20% saw wealth drop 7% • Middle-class began to shrink

17. Budget Deficits • Budget Deficit tripled from 1980 to 1989 • Saw an increase in taxes and fees • Never submitted a balanced budget • People did not seem to notice • Belief that prosperity was enjoyed by all • Stagflation ended • Reaganism offered promises of material abundance

18. Reagan Legacy • Cemented alliance between social conservatives and economic conservatives • Consolidated “Solid South” • Republican Party far more conservative • Pursued policies that future administrations might make changes Reagan couldn’t • Promoted conservative judiciary (politicized judicial selection)