Chapter 39

  • Conservative Movement Rise

    • Originated from Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign.
    • Reaction against New Deal liberalism and Great Society programs.
    • Concerns over feminism, abortion (Roe v. Wade), sexual revolution, and affirmative action.
    • Belief federal programs create dependency and undermine traditional values.

  • Moral Majority and Religious Right

    • Led by Jerry Falwell, mobilized conservative voters to support candidates.
    • Advocated for creationism, anti-abortion policies, and abstinence education.

  • Ronald Reagan's Election (1980)

    • Significant victory over Jimmy Carter; Reagan seen as the face of the conservative movement.
    • Promoted smaller government and opposed entitlement spending.

  • Reaganomics

    • Supply-side economics emphasized tax cuts for the wealthy (trickle-down economics).
    • Increased deregulation in various industries, leading to decline in union membership.
    • Continued popularity of Social Security and Medicare despite cuts to other programs.

  • Federal Budget Under Reagan

    • Increased defense spending and tax cuts led to growing budget deficits.

  • Foreign Policy Initiatives

    • Advocated for interventionism and staunch anti-communism.
    • Relations with Gorbachev were critical; led to arms control agreements.
    • Notable military actions in Grenada and support for Contras in Nicaragua.

  • Iran-Contra Affair

    • Controversial funding of Contras in Nicaragua through arms sales to Iran, violating Boland Amendment.

  • End of the Cold War

    • Gorbachev's reforms (Glasnost and Perestroika) changed the Soviet landscape.
    • Arms control agreements and eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

  • George H.W. Bush and Gulf War

    • Elected in 1988; led Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait.

  • Conservative Supreme Court

    • Appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor (first woman) and other conservative justices (Scalia, Thomas).
    • Court decisions began rolling back rights and restrictions on abortion and affirmative action policies.

  • Final Note

    • Preparation for AP exam emphasizes a strong understanding of these topics and events.