The Triumph of Conservatism 1969-1988: A Historical Overview
Gerald Ford's controversial pardon of Nixon, Carter's outsider promises, Camp David peace efforts, Middle East upheavals, Iran crisis and Afghanistan involvement under Carter's administration, and the rise of the religious right, reflecting political shifts during the late 20th century.
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The Triumph of Conservatism 1969-1988
Gerald Ford Pardoned Nixon almost immediately Americans didn t like this so he wasn t very popular after that Not much more to say about him Ford, ladies and gentlemen
Jimmy Carter Was considered an outsider Promised to never lie to the American people Appointed an unprecedented number of African- Americans to his cabinet Similar to the progressives
Camp David Carter tried to help international peace 1979 Carter brokered a peace agreement between the leaders of Egypt and Israel at Camp David
The Middle East Carter had shown public support for the Shah 1979- The Shah was overthrown and Iran became an Islamic Republic Middle East went from socialism and Arab nationalism to religious fundamentalism
The Iran Crisis We let the deposed Shah seek medical help in the U.S. making us very unpopular This caused outrage in Iran leading to the Iranian hostage crisis In 1979, 53 Americans at the American embassy were taken hostage and didn t get their freedom until Carter left office in 1981
Afghanistan Crisis The Soviet Union tried to support a pro-soviet government in Afghanistan Soviet s Vietnam Led to the Carter Doctrine the use of military force to protect its interest in the Persian Gulf Carter put an embargo on exports to the Soviets and boycotted the Moscow Olympics We also funded the fundamentalist Muslims fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan Led to the rise of the Taliban
The religious right Carter was the first born-again Christian to become president There was a rise in fundamentalism especially in conservative politicians Response to the sexual revolution Sort of a Third Great Awakening Pro-life, pro-family, pro- America War against sin
Election of 1980 Carter s approval rating was down to 21% Conservative tide rising through the western world Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of Great Britain Reagan campaigned on the slogans let s make America great again and the the era of self-doubt is over
Reagans Platform State s rights Condemned welfare cheats and affirmative action The Republican party also reversed it s platform of support for the Equal Rights Amendment Reagan was the first divorced man to run for president and wasn t overly religious but still easily gain support from the Religious Right
The Reagan Revolution Went from New Deal Democrat to conservative Preached the virtues of unregulated capitalism Made a speech at the Barry Goldwater Republican National Convention in 1964 Supported by Old and new conservatives, sunbelt suburbanites, urban working-class, anti-government crusaders, libertarians, and the Christian Right
FREEDOM! We have it in our power to begin the world over again Invoked the idea that America was divinely appointed to be a beacon of liberty and freedom to the world Used the word freedom more than any president before him
Reaganomics Economic freedom Limiting union powers, dismantling regulations, and reducing taxes Tax Reform Act reduced the tax on the wealthiest Americans to 28% Cut back environmental protection and workplace safety rules
Second Gilded Age Lots of money and lots of big business Yuppies
Reagan and Conservatives Wasn t doing enough according to many conservatives abortion still legal, women still going into the workforce, Medicare and Medicaid still intact, first female Supreme Court justice appointed Sandra Day O Connor Bowers v Hardwick found it constitutional for states to outlaw homosexual acts (not reversed until 2003)
Iran-Contra Affair Scandal that involved selling weapons to Iran despite an embargo partially in exchange for hostages in Lebanon Some of that money then went to buy supplies for the Contras fighting the Nicaraguan government something that had been banned by Congress 11 members of the administration we convicted but Reagan claimed he had no knowledge of the whole thing
Gorbachev Reagan had good relations with Gorbachev The two men worked together to end a lot of the Cold War tensions between the countries
