Transcript Conservativism Notes

Conservativism
US History
Conservativism
vs
Liberalism
I. Two Views: Liberal and Conservative
A.
Liberal Ideas and Goals
1.
2.
3.
Believe federal government should play an
active role to improve the lives of all residents
Support social programs and government
regulation of industry
Favor cooperation with international
organizations (like the United Nations)
Continued
I. Two Views: Liberal and Conservative
B.
Conservative Ideas and Goals
1.
2.
3.
Believe private organizations (like Salvation
Army…Feed My Starving Children) and
individuals should care for the needy, not the
government
Oppose government regulations, want less
Support a strong military
The Reagan Years
Pride in America
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When Reagan was
elected, Americans
were largely unsure of
their government after
20 years of unrest. His
largest task was to
change people’s
attitudes.
Reaganomics
Tax Cut
Investment

Part of
Reaganomics:
the president
gave the general
population tax
cuts hoping it
would increase
private
investment.
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Giving a company money so
they can improve their
company and make more
money.
You “own” a piece of the
company and as they make
more money, your piece of
the company is worth more
money. (dividend)
Market Economy

Market Economy: A
type of economy
where consumers
(people) are free to
buy and sell as they
please with little
government control.
Supply-side Economics
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Reagan’s theory
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cut taxes so people would invest more.
Encourage small businesses
create competition.
Deregulate industry
More businesses = more workers needed = more
taxpayers = increased money to government.
Reagan signed into law a 25% tax cut in 1981.
Social Programs
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Many social programs cut because of a lack of
money to the government.
Environment, education, and health care
concerned many people.
Challenging Issues
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Recession until end of 1982
Budget deficit (spend more than take in)
National debt (government bonds)
Savings and Loan Crisis
American students low test scores
AIDS
Social Security
Iran Contra
Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, there were
two groups fighting: the
Sandinistas (communist)
and the Contra Rebels.

Reagan strongly supported
the Contras. However, in
1986 Congress passed a
law making it illegal to
support the Contras.
Iran to Nicaragua
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In the Middle East, the US has a policy against
selling weapons to Iran.
Reagan officials make a deal to sell arms to Iran
in exchange for hostages held in the Middle East.
3 hostages are released and 3 more taken
captive.
The Scandal

With money from
Iran weapons sales,
the CIA sends aid
to the Contras in
Nicaragua.
The Scandal cont.
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Someone leaks the
story. Top Reagan
Administration officials
are arrested. Two are
convicted.
Reagan is never
directly connected with
the illegal activity,
although he almost
certainly knew about
it.
End of the Cold War
Reagan supports the buildup of United
States military.

Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) – shoot down missiles
from space (never worked!)
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Reagan supports anti-communist movements around the
world (Go Contras!)
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Mikhail Gorbachev pursues policies of glasnost and
perestroika
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Gorbachev knows USSR can’t match the US military buildup
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Berlin Wall tumbles
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Communists lose power in Europe (1989-1991)
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Soviet Union disbands in 1991
Fall of the Soviet
Union
Video Questions
1.
Why was the Wall Built?
2.
How did the Wall come down? What
caused it?
Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet Union under
Mikhail Gorbachev
was economically
weak in the mid
1980s
Gorbachev Continued
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Gorbachev made
peace agreements
with the United
States, especially in
the area of nuclear
arms.
Relaxing Control
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Tension increased
when he held
elections and made
changes to basic
communist thought.
Also encouraged
East European
nations to go
towards democracy.
Fall of Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin
Wall was the ultimate
sign that communism
had ended in
Germany and other
eastern European
countries.
New Focus

The fall of communism coincided with the
rise in terrorism. Fighting it would require
very different strategies – ones not yet
understood.
Due on Friday:
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1970s Learning Packet & Reading Packet
1970s Outline
Conservativism LP & RP
Conservativism Outline
Review of 1970s and Conservativism
DUE AT THE END OF CLASS
Get a textbook
 Answer the Comprehension Questions
under Terms and People on the following
pages:
605
637
613
644
619
649 (ONLY Saddam Hussein &
632
Operation Desert Storm)
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