American Yawp, Chapter 29: "The Triumph of the Right"

New Right

Conservative political movements in industrialized democracies that have arisen since the 1960's and stress "traditional values," often with a racist undertone.

Origins of the New Right

gradual unraveling of the New Deal political order in the 1960s and 1970s the conservative movement not only enjoyed the guidance of skilled politicians like Reagan but drew tremendous energy from a broad range of grassroots activists.

George Wallace

Four time governor of Alabama. Most famous for his pro-segregation attitude and as a symbol for states' rights. "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever"

Origins of the religious right

1960s and 1970s, Christian conservatives mobilized to protect the "traditional" family. Women composed a striking number of the religious right's foot soldiers

Women in the conservative movement

Activists like Schlafly and LaHaye valorized motherhood as women's highest calling. Abortion therefore struck at the core of their female identity.

Jerry Falwell

Leader of the Religious Right Fundamentalist Christians, a group that supported Reagan; rallying cry was "family values", anti-abortion, favored prayer in schools; Moral majority

Tax exemption for religious schools

Private, religious-affiliated schools were not required to pay federal taxes

1980 Presidential Election

Jimmy Carter (democrat) vs Ronald Reagan (republican). Reagan wins in a landslide amidst a struggling economy. Restored ideas of conservatism. embrace of the free market, opposition to the collectivism (welfare, handouts, federal interaction), belief in the importance of US military spending, states' rights.

Ronald Reagan

first elected president in 1980 and elected again in 1984. He ran on a campaign based on the common man and "populist" ideas. He served as governor of California from 1966-1974, and he participated in the McCarthy Communist scare. Iran released hostages on his Inauguration Day in 1980. While president, he developed Reagannomics, the trickle down effect of government incentives. He cut out many welfare and public works programs. He used the Strategic Defense Initiative to avoid conflict. His meetings with Gorbachev were the first steps to ending the Cold War. He was also responsible for the Iran-contra Affair which bought hostages with guns.

Reaganomics

The federal economic polices of the Reagan administration, elected in 1981. These policies combined a monetarist fiscal policy, supply-side tax cuts, and domestic budget cutting. Their goal was to reduce the size of the federal government and stimulate economic growth.

Jesse Jackson

A black candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 election who attempted to appeal to minorities, but eventually lost the nomination to Michael Dukakis

racial diversity

the way groups define or are defined by others in terms of innate physical characteristics

finance

the management of large amounts of money, especially by governments or large companies.

Women in the workforce

More women worked outside the home than as homemakers

abortion

termination of pregnancy

AIDS

A serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles.

The U.S. in Central America

The Reagan administration made Latin America a showcase for its newly assertive policies. Supported Anticommunists throughout

Nuclear Arms Policy

Initially Reagan pursued arms limitation talks with the Soviet Union. Reagan then proceeded with plans to place nuclear missiles in Europe to counter Soviet missiles in Europe. Reagan went a step further in when he announced plans for a Strategic Defense Initiative, a space-based system that could shoot down incoming Soviet missiles. These aggressive policies fed a growing nuclear freeze movement throughout the world

Iran Contra

a political scandal in the United States which came to light in November 1986, during the Reagan administration, in which senior US figures agreed to facilitate the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo, to secure the release of hostages and to fund Nicaraguan contras.