Conservative Revolution

What were the main differences between liberal and conservative viewpoints regarding government intervention?

Liberals favored government intervention to help the needy, while conservatives advocated for free market and limited government intervention.

What event marked a low point for conservatism in the United States?

The 1964 election, where Barry Goldwater lost.

What was a key belief of liberals in the late 1970s about the federal government?

They believed the federal government should play a large role in improving American lives.

How did conservatives view large central government?

They felt it endangered economic growth and individual choice.

What was the stance of liberals on social programs during the post-WWII period?

Liberals valued social programs that helped the poor, unemployed, and elderly.

What did the Moral Majority oppose?

It opposed Engel v. Vitale (1962) forbidding religious teaching in schools and Roe v. Wade (1973) which legalized abortion.

What economic theory became known as Reaganomics?

Supply-side economics, which assumed that reducing taxes would lead to increased spending and economic growth.

What was the outcome of the Economic Recovery Act of 1981?

It reduced taxes by 25% over three years, primarily benefiting the wealthiest Americans.

What significant foreign policy challenge did the Reagan administration face in Lebanon?

The 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, resulting in the death of 241 Marines.

What did the Strategic Defense Initiative propose?

It proposed a system of land and space-based lasers to destroy incoming missiles aimed at the U.S.

Who was Mikhail Gorbachev and why was he significant?

He became the president of the Soviet Union and initiated policies of glasnost and perestroika, which led to reforms and improved relations with the U.S.

What was the main reason for the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union?

Gorbachev's reforms of glasnost and perestroika opened the floodgates to rebellions against Soviet domination.

What was Operation Desert Storm?

The American-led attack on Iraqi forces in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, which began on January 16, 1991.

What was the main goal of the U.S. in the Persian Gulf War?

To compel Iraq to withdraw its troops from Kuwait.

What impact did the fall of the Berlin Wall have on Eastern Europe?

It symbolized the end of communism in Europe and spurred democratic movements in several countries.

What was the Iran-Contra Affair?

A political scandal involving the secret sale of arms to Iran and the use of proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Who was George H.W. Bush and what was his role during the Gulf War?

He was the President of the United States who led the coalition forces during the Persian Gulf War.

What was the significance of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985?

It aimed to balance the federal budget by requiring automatic cuts in federal spending if the deficit exceeded a certain level.

What were unfunded mandates?

Programs required by the federal government but not paid for, leading to criticisms from conservatives.

How did Reagan respond to the Iran hostage crisis?

He took office just as the hostages were released, ending a long period of crisis for the U.S. in Iran.

What contributed to the shift of conservative support from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in the South?

The civil rights legislation led many white southerners to realign with the Republican Party.