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Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan . A Return to Conservatism . The Conservative Movement. Typically a conservative agenda emphasized private interests over social reform 1950s - Eisenhower brought it back to the White House Conservatism returned with Nixon and Ford; reached a high point under Reagan.

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Ronald Reagan

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  1. Ronald Reagan A Return to Conservatism

  2. The Conservative Movement • Typically a conservative agenda emphasized private interests over social reform • 1950s - Eisenhower brought it back to the White House • Conservatism returned with Nixon and Ford; reached a high point under Reagan

  3. The New Right • Alliance of conservative special-interest groups - group of people or organization seeking or receiving special advantages, typically through political lobbying • Stressing cultural, social, and moral issues – some promoted single issues that reflected their key interests others had an overall philosophy about conservative government

  4. The New Right • Opposed to legal abortion, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), laws promoting minority opportunities in employment or education (seen as “reverse discrimination”) • wanted a constitutional amendment to permit prayer in public schools • voted against anyone who favored an increase in taxes Phyllis Schlafly– lawyer and leader of the pro-family movement, conservative supporter of Reagan

  5. Conservative Coalition • An alliance made up of • business leaders • frustrated middle-class voters • bitter / betrayed Democrats • fundamentalist Christian groups • Typically opposed: • big government • entitlements • use of busing and affirmative action to correct segregation • believed in a return to traditional moral standards

  6. Moral Majority • Consisted mostly of religious groups who interpreted the Bible literally and believed in absolute standards of right and wrong • Condemned liberal attitudes and behaviors • Argued for restoration of traditional moral values • Wanted to: • reduce the nation’s high divorce rate • lower the number of out-of-wedlock births • encourage individual responsibility • revive traditional values

  7. Religious Conservative Leaders • Leaders on TV: Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson • Guided groups like the New Right, Conservative Coalition, and Moral Majority as televangelists (evangelists or preachers)

  8. Election of 1980 • 1966 elected governor of California as a republican • 1980 Republican Party nomination / George Bush - running mate • Ran against Jimmy Carter / Walter Mondale, Democratic Party • Key issues in 1980 election: • abortion, pornography, the teaching of evolution and prayer in schools • Iranian hostage situation still going on – Americans dissatisfied with Carter • moral character of America

  9. Reagan’s Strengths • An actor who could easily handle the media and being in the public eye • He was relaxed, charming, affable • He said, “A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. A recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.” • Greatly committed to the military and focused on economic strength of America • Reagan won by a narrow margin – 51% of votes (only 52.5% of Americans voted) in popular vote, landslide in terms of electoral vote • The Republicans gained both the presidency and the Senate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X39dGQmBEww&feature=related

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