Reagan (jan 1, 1981 – jan 1, 1989)

Description:

Ronald Reagan- republican
New Right:
1) Cold war conservatism
2) Pro business
3) Moral/religious conservatism
- Barry Goldwater
- Rxn. to:
- New deal, great society
- Sex rev, gay, fem.
- affirmative action
- breakdown in amer. values, work ethic,
religious values
- Rxn. against pres. Ford:
- app. of V.P. Rockerfeller
- Wanted amnesty for draft dodgers
- Pursued detente w/ soviets
- Fall of Vietnam
Reagan Coalition:
1) Christian Conservatives: televangelists
2) NeoConservatives: free market capatilists
3) Corporate Elites
4) Libertarians: freedom choice!
Politics of Religion:
-growth of evangelical Christian preachers
-feared growth of immortality and disorder, sought to protect the traditional fam. unit
-against pornography, abortion, eliminating religion for pub. schools
Reaganomics:
- voodoo economics, trickle down
- supply side economics
- Decreased fed. spending
- big tax cuts
- deregulation: get gov out of business
- Cut 40 billion on social programing
- Rejection of liberal Keynesian economics
- Somewhat inspired by 20's
- Spent tons on military
-> Economic recovery act
Iran-Contra conflict
Soviets:
- Soviet=evil empire
- SDI Strategic defense initiative, shield US from nuclear misslies (STAR WARS)
- Used speeches to demoralize the soviets
- Reagan Doctrine: support opponents of communism ANYWHERE
Limited military conflict:
- Nicaragua: 1979 communist under sandanista-> US funded Contras to overthrow-> Contras were abusive towards human rights so Congress stopped
- Iran Contra

Soviets fall soon after presidency

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