Notes on Conservative Resurgence and Challenges of the 21st Century

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked a significant shift towards conservatism in U.S. politics, signaling the end of the post-war era.

Decline of faith in the federal government's ability to resolve social and economic issues.
Emergence of unregulated markets supported by American corporations.
Growth of religious fundamentalism revitalizing conservative ideologies.
Demographic expansion in the Sunbelt and white Southern conservative voter alignment with the Republican party helped establish an electoral majority.

Conservatives realized some objectives, yet programs like Social Security and Medicare maintained popularity and stability, limiting extensive reforms.

Reagan's administration articulated an aggressive anti-communist foreign policy.
The end of the Cold War through a 45-year standoff shifted U.S. foreign policy dynamics.
Post-9/11 interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq focused on homeland security.
The divisive reactions to the Great Recession of 2008 precipitated political rifts, contrasting an older conservative base with a rising multicultural demographic.

Political polarization evident in the 2016 election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Trump won with a narrow victory margin; a small change in key states would have led to a Clinton win.

The conservative resurgence began notably with Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign loss in 1964;
- Illustrates a foundational shift as subsequent conservative movements gained traction despite setbacks in earlier elections.
- Influential figures: Nixon, Ford, Buckley, and Friedman shifted political dialogue towards conservative values.
By 1980, a coalition of economic conservatives, religious fundamentalists, and political action committees became crucial in navigating political landscapes toward conservatism.

Opposition to government intervention in social issues such as gun control, feminism, gay rights, welfare, affirmative action, and perceived moral decay.

Tax Revolt (Proposition 13) (1978):
- California voters revolted against high taxes.
- Nationally, the idea emerged that tax cuts could enhance government revenue, supported by Republican Congressmen Jack Kemp and William Roth leading tax reduction legislation.
Religious Revival: Moral Majority:
- Inspired by televangelists like Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, and Jerry Falwell advocating for conservative moral values, opposing secularism in public education and returning prayer and biblical teachings to schools.
Affirmative Action Opposition:
- With societal frustrations over economic struggles in the 70s, the right-wing movement against racial preferences intensified.
- The Supreme Court's decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) marked a pivotal point, stating race could be considered but not as part of a strict quota, emboldening conservative critique.
De-regulation Movements:
- Businesses successfully campaigned for reduced regulations on various sectors, exemplifying the political zeitgeist aimed at amplifying profit and labor freedom.
- Utilitarian social commentary highlighted businesses' desires for reduced restrictions, happening simultaneously under conservative political leadership.

Reagan, a former movie and television actor, emerged as an articulate figure promoting conservative candidate interests during the Goldwater presidency.
- Elected Governor of California, gaining momentum within the party before securing the Republican nomination in 1980.
Election campaign against Carter framed around economic crises, recovery from national trauma, and radical shifts in tax and governance ideals.

Shifted the New Deal coalition and captured over 50% of the blue-collar vote.
Defeated multiple liberal Democratic Senators leveraging the Moral Majority's support, resulting in Republican control of the Senate for the first time since 1954.
Established a Republican working majority with conservative southern democrats enhancing legislative goals on pivotal matters.

Economic Policies - Supply-Side Economics (Reaganomics):
- Advocated for reducing taxes and government expenditures to incentivize investment, contrasting with Keynesian approaches favoring governmental consumer income boosts.
- Tax reductions stipulated by the Economic Recovery Act of 1981 catalyzed a significant income tax decrease over three years.
Sacrifices and Legislative Impact:
- Capital income tax reductions primarily benefitted wealthy demographics, although provisions existed to aid small investors (IRAs).
- Initial social program cuts succeeded concerning domestic programs aimed at welfare or economic assistance, which met resistance leading to surgical protective legislation for pivotal areas like Medicare.

Increased defense spending characterized initial tenets of Reagan's foreign strategy, meeting critiques of escalating militaristic engagements.
- Notable expansion in military technologies and infrastructure including strategic arms agreements and military support initiatives used to combat international communism.
Iran-Contra Affair:
- Unlawful diversion of funds from arms sales to Iran, managing clandestine military support for Nicaragua’s contras reflected deviations from precedented norms of foreign policy, and emerged as a contentious moment.

Successfully retained polled public support through early crisis handling and military successes, leading into a presidency transitioning toward modern dynamics shaped by foreign economic equilibriums and the checks and balances stemming from domestic theaters.

The 2000 Election:
- Extremely close election cycle, leading to the establishment of Bush by Supreme Court decision as Election Day highlighted polarizations within voter bases exacerbated by contested vote counts and legislative maneuverings.

The push of tax cuts, educational reform, and responses to national tragedies shaped the parameters of policy.
Marked evidences of economic turmoil, natural disasters, and discontent catalyzing a rebound toward political insights and rapid legislative changes.

The ongoing divide within party lines has delineated issues on immigration, national security, and economic welfare, with the Bush administration illustrating the struggles with balancing bipartisan perspectives.

Entering an age of burgeoning economic uncertainty, the Obama administration focused on modern solutions addressing inherited crises. Critical aspects of legislative responses would further global conversations on healthcare, international relations, and societal equity reforms regarding gender and race.

The interplay of economic distress, cultural developments, and fluctuating political alliances depicts the navigating landscape of American politics, revealing distinct paths crucial for scholars' endeavors to comprehend these expansive decades.