1 / 8

The Reagan Revolution

Explore how Reagan's conservative domestic policies reshaped the U.S. during the 1980s, from Reaganomics to deregulation and social reforms. Understand the impact on society and economy.

robison
Download Presentation

The Reagan Revolution

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Reagan Revolution How do conservative domestic policies under Reagan change America?

  2. 1980 Election: Conservative Revolution • Jimmy Carter challenged in own party by Ted Kennedy • Conservative coalition of “Reagan Democrats” & “Moral Majority” help Reagan win easily election • Reagan wants to fix America with “new right” ideas: 1) Shrink size of federal government by cutting entitlements 2) Promote family values 3) Promote patriotism & strengthen national defense Discuss: Why did Americans like Reagan’s ideas in 1980?

  3. Supply Side Economics aka Reaganomics 1) Cut personal taxes (wealthiest Americans get largest tax cut) 2) Cut the capital gains and estate taxes • Reagan’s budget director David Stockman believed “trickle down economics” would get “welfare state” under control 3) Cut taxes on corporations • 4) Cut Fed budget for mass transit, food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, mental health &job training but increase defense sp.

  4. Reagan’s ideas are criticized as the rich are getting richer and poor getting poorer, Nancy Reagan’s luxuries compound this • Plan backfires, recession hits hard from July 81- Nov 82, Reagan must raise some taxes • However, with low oil prices, higher interest rates, stronger dollar and less inflation economy begins to recover by 1983 Discuss: Why did Reaganomics fail in the early 80s?

  5. Deregulation • Reagan begins to deregulate businesses by removing govt controls on banks, businesses and stock market • Results: 1) Prices fall w/ more competition 2) Corporate profits & stocks rise 3) More bank failures as banks take more risks • Reagan appoints more conservative justices(many pro-business)

  6. Reagan Rolls Back 70s reforms • In his goal to reduce role of govt in people’s lives, Reagan rolled back many 1970s reforms • Environment: James Watt as head of Dept of Interior • Watt will begin to sell of protected land to oil and timber companies, Reagan also cuts EPA budget • Affirmative Action: Reagan actively fights to reduce program • Dept of Education: less fed guidelines, more local control

  7. Air Traffic Control Strike • Air traffic controllers go on strike, claim wages have been flat, issue: public safety vs. right to strike, Reagan fires strikers • Critics accused Reagan’s policies of being pro-business and anti-union/worker – union membership declines in 80s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc8brHWFZMY&safe=active Discuss: Explain if Reagan did the right thing by firing the striking air traffic controller?

  8. 1984 Re-election • 1984: economy booming, Democrats challenging Reagan incl: Sen Gary Hart, ex-VP Walter Mondale, & Rev Jesse Jackson • Mondale wins nomination picks Geraldine Ferraro as VP nom. • Reagan wins a landslide re-election

More Related