Election of Reagan

Reagan was nominated a a conservative man

Reagan was more charismatic and polished than Goldwater

radiated optimism which convinced Americans that he would usher in a new era of prosperity and patriotism

Born in Illinois and faced the hardships of the Great Depression

clear opposition to big government, support for a strong military and faith in traditional values

had a job as an Actor in Hollywood before he entered politics

began to make speeches that criticized big government and high taxes and warned of the dangers of communism

Governor of California

served 2 terms as governor

nearly won the presidential nomination in 1976

won the 1980 nomination by a landslide

Reagan made the main point of " Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Reagan knew that most Americans would say no

race was relatively close until about 1 week before the election when Reagan and Carter held their presidential debate

Reagan's gifts as a communicator shone in this debate

Reagan appeared friendly and even-tempered and calmed fears that he did not have enough experience to serve as president

Reagan won 50.6% of the popular vote

Reagan won an overwhelming majority of the electoral college votes

Democrats remained control of the HOR. but republicans captured the Senate for the first time since 1955

when Americans moved to the suburbs, their attachment to liberalism waned too

republicans attacked school busing as a form of social engineering that threatened the long cherished ideal of neighborhood schools

Opposed Liberal view

Liberals preferred federal government intervention to help the needy

Liberals valued programs that supported the poor, unemployed, elderly, and others

supported laws that protected the rights of women and minorities and greater government regulation of industry

Liberals favor cooperating with internal organizations like the UN

conservative views

felt that large central government endangered economic growth and individual choice

Book free to choose was written by conservative economist, Milton Friedman and his wife Rose

thought that liberal policies left a rising inflation and enormous waste

favored allowing the free market, private organizations and individuals to help the needy

sought to reduce taxes and limit government regulation of industry

New Right formed

resurgent conservative movement

formed because of the unraveling of the Democratic party

rise of the counterculture isolated Midwestern Americans and conservative Christians

liberal ideals were lost when the economy stagnated

complained about unfunded mandates: programs required but not payed for by the federal government

criticized federal welfare programs

supported by the "sagebrush rebels"

thought federal government should give control of the land to the states

opposed by most environmentalists

became more actively involved in politics

Moral majority- political organization working to fulfill religious goals

worried about the decline of the traditional family

opposed Engel v. Vitale and Roe v. Wade

condemned ERA and homoseuality

Moral majority boosted the Republican party's chances of winning the presidency by reaching out to Americans who had traditionally not participated in the political process

registered at least 2 million new voters

used tactics of distributing "report cards" in candidates