fuck me apush Flashcards
Reagan Election 1981
leveraging his charisma and communication skills honed during his acting career, presented himself as the leader who could restore American greatness at home and abroad.
Won over Jimmy Carter
- had very Christian conservative values
The rise of the conservatism momentum
significant momentum throughout the 1970s as many Americans grew disillusioned with liberal policies and the perceived moral decline of American society
Economic Dissatisfaction before Reagan
- Stagflation combined high inflation with economic stagnation
- Energy crisis and high gas prices created everyday hardships
- Many blamed Carter administration’s economic policies
- Growing belief that government intervention worsened economic problems
Social Conservatism concerns during Reagan
- Opposition to Roe v. Wade (1973) and abortion rights
- Resistance to Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
- Backlash against feminist movement and changing gender roles
- Fear of moral decline and breakdown of “traditional family”
- Opposition to expanding LGBTQ+ rights and visibility
Law and Order
- Growing concern about rising crime rates in urban areas
- Support for tougher penalties and longer sentences
- Opposition to perceived leniency in criminal justice system
- Anti-drug sentiment amid increasing drug use
Keynesia Economics
focuses on demand in the economy—encouraging spending to boost growth, especially during downturns.
- Government should spend more during recessions to create jobs
- Raise/lower taxes and adjust spending to manage the economy (fiscal policy)
- Demand creates supply
Supply side philosophy
Focuses on boosting production (supply) by cutting taxes and reducing regulation.
- Tax cuts would stimulate business investment and growth
- Reduced government regulation would free private enterprise
- Benefits to wealthy and businesses would “trickle down” to middle and working classes
- Direct contrast to Keynesian focus on stimulating consumer demand
- Aimed to reduce inflation through monetary policy
Racial Tensions:
- Resistance to school desegregation, especially busing programs
- Opposition to affirmative action policies
- Supreme Court’s Bakke v. California (1978) ruling on race in admission
1980 campaign
- Focused on Carter’s handling of economy and Iran hostage crisis
- Promised to restore American pride and military strength
- Campaigned on smaller government and tax cuts
- Famously asked voters: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”
- Built coalition of fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, and disaffected Democrats
Reaganomics
“Reaganomics” prioritized tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending on domestic programs while significantly increasing military expenditures
- supply side philosophy
Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981)
25% cut in personal income taxes over three years
Economic policies during Reaganomics
- cuts to domestic programs (food stamps, student loans)
- defense spending increase
- cooperate tax rates decrease
outcomes of reganomics
at first their was a recession then followed by growth
reduced inflation
Furthered the gap between the wealthy and poor
federal debt increased
us became a debtor nation
federal deficit
Family Values
- Supported “traditional” family structures
- Opposed sex education programs that didn’t emphasize abstinence
- Advocated for school prayer and religious values in public life
- Supported anti-abortion legislation and policies
Labor organizaitons under Reagan
declared the PATCO strike illegal; fired A lot of workers cause they kept going. banned them from federal employment 4 life
set the tone for businesses; they set harder line against unions.
Conservative social policies in Regan times
Family Values agendas
Anti LGBTQ; Slow to respond to AIDS
Long term Reagan policies
- Lasting tax structure changes benefiting upper-income Americans
- Reduced government regulation became standard approach
- Military buildup continued under subsequent administrations
- Conservative approach to crime and drugs shaped criminal justice system
- Created enduring skepticism about government programs
Reagan and cold War
Took a very tough approach to the Soviet union
- believed that the US should challenge communism more directly by rebuilding American militarism; increased defense budget and shit
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Star Wars Defense program
A plan to develop shields against nuclear weapons
relationships between reagan and Soviet union
and summit meetings
Both leaders recognized the dangers of nuclear war so they both sought to reduce tensions.
Many summit meetings
Geneva 1985: first meeting
Washington 1987; signed the treaty
& arms controlled
Reagans Berlin wall speech
1989 fall of communism
Berlin wall fall
Economic issues
Freedom from the ppl
separated into 15 countries
US became the SOLE power
INF agreement
both parties agreeing to destroy all interranged missiles
removal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan
Reagan Doctrine
US would support any regime that was anti communist