Conservative Movement & Reagan Era Notes

Roots of the Conservative Movement

  • The Republican Party faced setbacks with Barry Goldwater's failed 1964 candidacy and Nixon's Watergate scandal.
  • For the 1980 election, they sought an appealing nominee to attract Republicans and Democrats dissatisfied with Carter.

Emergence of a Conservative Movement

  • Jimmy Carter's re-election bid in 1980 was challenged by economic issues, foreign policy difficulties, and the rise of a conservative movement.
  • Republican candidates in 1980 included George H.W. Bush, John B. Anderson, and Ronald Reagan.
  • Ronald Reagan, former California governor and actor, was a favorite due to his conservative leadership since his 1964 speech endorsing Barry Goldwater.
  • The conservative movement emerged in the late 1960s with grassroots organizations like the American Conservative Union (ACU) and Young Americans for Freedom.
  • Conservatives favor traditional policies in economics and social legislation and prefer established systems over progressive ideas.
  • Conservative think tanks emerged to research and propose solutions, informing politicians' legislative decisions. Examples include the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation.
  • Conservative groups aimed to shape a message to gain voter support and influence in Washington.

Conservative Beliefs

  • Conservatives generally advocated for smaller government, lower taxes, and deregulation.
  • They opposed federal regulation of the economy, believing freedom in economic choices would stimulate growth.
  • Lower taxation would spur investment and growth by allowing consumers and businesses to retain more earnings.
  • Conservatives opposed government social programs, viewing them as requiring high taxation and federal spending.
  • They supported government spending for a strong military.
  • Many conservatives held a social agenda rooted in religion, sparking debate over separation of church and state.
  • The 1970s and 1980s saw renewed interest in Christian values, conveyed through evangelical churches and media.
  • Jerry Falwell, a Baptist minister, founded the Moral Majority, comprising Christian fundamentalists and evangelists.
  • The Moral Majority aimed to influence the government to support