Task Two: How far were traditional values important in framing federal government policy in the 1980s? Flashcards
P1
P2
P3
YES-Reagan and Bush presented a socially conservative political agenda – SUPPORT
NO- Viewed by the Religious Rights as showing a lack of ‘committed’ presidential support for traditional values – CHALLENGE
NO- Both were influenced by core Republican ideals – CHALLENGE
P1 evidence
E1- Reagan’s beliefs
Abortion: Persuaded Congress to outlaw Medicare funded abortions for poor women
AIDS crisis – pursued conservative agenda by refusing to advocate the use of condoms. He failed to seek support from Congress to get more funding. Lack of action gained support from conservatives including Phylis Schafly who also opposed sex education
1986 orders to make workplaces ‘drug free’ – in 1988 Congress passed Act -declaring that universities and contractors that received federal money had to ensure they were ‘drug free’.
called for routine urine testing and signed National Crusade for a Drug Free America anti drug abuse bill into law.
Views on drugs reflected in Nancy Reagan’s Just Say No campaign – media coverage of campaign and played figurehead role in new organisations eg National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth; attended first National Conference of Drug Free Youth; first official Just Say No to Drugs week in 1986; addressed UN General Assembly in 1988
In 1986 Supreme Court upheld Georgia law that criminalised sodomy – 24 other states had similar laws that criminalised ‘deviant sexual intercourse’
E1- Bush’s beliefs
Drugs: Bush continued the law enforcement of drug action – suggested in election campaign that drug abuse was top priority. Increased border controls and subsidised police intervention in Colombia. In 1985, 1% argued drug use was a problem, but by 1989, 50% argued it was the gravest threat to national security.
Abortion: changed stance from ‘pro choice’ to ‘pro life’ suggesting ‘abortion is murder’
As a result, traditional values indeed dominated federal policy as they aimed to attract a large proportion of potential Republican voters who also favoured social conservatism and guarantee continued support for their other policy decisions. Reagan’s conservative agenda was particularly influential in determining Bush’s subsequent actions, as he altered many of his beliefs, showing his alignment to the Religious Right in his policy.
P2 EVIDENCE
(This suggests that the Religious Right felt that the Presidents lacked support for traditional values, therefore implying that they were motivated by other factors in their policy.)
Reagan
Appointed Sandra Day O’Connor to Supreme Court – upset Religious Right because of her record of sympathy towards women in need of abortions
Attitude towards AIDS crisis – Anxiety over crisis led to increased gay rights activism (ACT UP). Reagan’s friend Rock Hudson died from AIDS in 1985 and Reagan cooperated in report to investigate solutions to AIDS crisis.
Bush
Roe vs Wade ruling was confirmed that abortion was constitutional - Webster
Religious Right hoped Bush would appoint pro lifer to Supreme Court after Justice William Brennan retired, but he nominated David Souter – abortion views unknown
AIDS: Federal government assistance for AIDS sufferers – changed public perceptions of AIDS – ACT UP got $2bn from Congress for research – more than cancer research which killed 22x as many people»_space; Religious Right felt Bush was not truly advocating socially conservative values.
not the dominant force behind federal policy as many in the Religious Right questioned Reagan and Bush’s commitment to the issues on abortion, drugs and homosexuality. It appears there were gaps in both Presidents’ traditional values as many actions in policy seem to challenge the desires of the Religious Right.
P3 EVIDENCE
Reagan
convinced of need for minimal government and minimal taxation – inflation was at 13.5% - new philosophy of Reaganomics in which he decreased federal government and reversed New Deal focus
Reduced level of benefits for safety net progs – Aid to Families with Dependent Children – food stamps cut by 13%, student loans and child nutrition progs cut by 28%
Persuaded Democrat Congress to accept budget cuts and tax reduction – inflation decreased from 13.5% to 4.7% in 1988, 7m new jobs created
‘Reagan Revolution’ created – Democrats even came to accept his assumptions about expenditure on social welfare – in 1988 election, Democrat candidate didn’t suggest reversing the tax cut policy
E1_ focussed on economy – ‘read my lips, no new taxes’ – despite being forced to deal with Recession, had to raise income tax from 28%> 31% in 1990.
Shaped further by economic issues – interest rates lowered to 3.5% in an attempt to stimulate economic growth
As a result, both the administrations under Reagan and Bush failed to support the notion that traditional views framed their policies as often the economic priorities dominated. Whilst Reagan focussed on tax reform and reduction in the size of the government, which left a legacy even with the Democrat party, in
