Conservative Resurgence, 1980-2000 Summary

Key Events: Collapse of communism, breakup of the Soviet Union, and end of the Cold War reshaped global politics.
Domestic Changes: Reagan's administration (1981-1989) emphasized military strength, tax cuts, and traditional family values, dominating 1980s and 1990s US politics.

Goldwater's Influence: Despite losing in 1964, Barry Goldwater's campaign ignited conservative movement.
Coalition Formation: By 1980, conservatives included economic/political conservatives, religious fundamentalists, and PACs opposing welfare programs and diverse social changes.

Tax Cuts: Proposition 13 in California led the 1978 Taxpayers' Revolt against rising taxes. Laffer’s theory promoted tax cuts to boost revenue.
Religious Revival: Leaders like Jerry Falwell and televangelists mobilized conservatives against secularism and abortion through organizations like the Moral Majority.
Deregulation: Conservative groups aimed to reduce business regulations and promote free-market ideologies.

1980 Election: Reagan won decisively against Carter, emphasizing a strong military and economic recovery.
Reaganomics: Advocated supply-side economics; lowered taxes, cut social spending, and deregulated industries. Critics associated it with widening income inequality.

Judiciary Appointments: Reagan appointed conservative judges, influencing abortion rights and affirmative action policies.
Cultural Shifts: Conservative policies reflected backlash against social movements of the previous decades, emphasizing traditional family and religious values.

Cold War Tensions: Increased military spending and tensions with the Soviet Union; Reagan dubbed it an “evil empire.”
Significant Military Actions: Interventions in Central America and the Grenada invasion exemplified Reagan's commitment to anti-communism.
Iran-Contra Affair: Led to political scandal involving illegal arms sales to fund Nicaraguan contras.

Gorbachev's Reforms: Glasnost and perestroika signaled thaw in US-Soviet relations.
1991 Soviet Union Breakup: End of communism in Eastern Europe and dissolution of the USSR.

Election and Foreign Policy: Bush won amid a strong foreign policy focus; the Gulf War exemplified renewed US military involvement.
Post-Cold War Dynamics: Faced challenges in managing American involvement post-Soviet collapse as new conflicts arose in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Economic Prosperity: Notable economic growth; however, political polarization increased.
Health Care Efforts: Clinton's failures to reform healthcare contrasted with achievements like the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Impeachment: Scandals led to Clinton's impeachment over lying about his personal conduct, though he remained in office.

Republican Takeover: Republicans gained control of Congress in 1994, pushing for cuts and balancing the budget.
Technological Boom: Economic expansion characterized by tech advancements, although disparities persisted across demographic lines.

Societal Changes: Aging population, declining traditional family structures, and increasing inequality.
Reflections on Freedom: The definition of freedom varied significantly across socio-political movements, encompassing debates over economic rights versus personal liberty.
Notable Names: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jerry Falwell, Mikhail Gorbachev, Clarence Thomas, Newt Gingrich.
Key Terms: Reaganomics, Moral Majority, Iran-Contra Affair, welfare reform, Laffer Curve, Glasnost, and perestroika.