The Conservative Movement

Liberal (Democratic)

Favored government intervention to help the needy

Valued social programs that helped the poor, unemployed, and elderly.

Sponsored laws that protected minorities and women.

Greater government regulation in industry

Conservative (Republican)

Wanted free market, private organizations, and individuals to help the needy.

Thought that the liberal policies left a legacy of rising inflation and enormous waste.

Reduce taxes and limit government regulation of industry

Anti-communist

Worried about abandoning traditional values in favor of new freedoms exemplified by the counterculture.

The growing conservative movement helped Republican Ronald Reagan win the 1980 election

Reagan was very optimistic and convinced America that he would bring a new era of prosperity and patriotism.

Reagan wins a close election

The race between him and Carter remained relatively close until about one week before the election in a debate

Reagan gifts as a communicator shone and he appeared friendly and calmed fears that he did not have enough experience

Reagan won 50.6% of the popular vote. because most electoral votes are "winner-takes-all," Reagan won by an overwhelming majority of electoral college votes

Reagan's path to the White House

He was an actor and starred in Knute Rockne

Was a spokesperson for General Electric

In 1964 Reagan delivered and national televised address that won him the admiration of many conservatives

Two years later, Reagan won the governorship of California.

During the 1940s and the 1950s, the lines separating these two parties had blurred but in the 1960s and 1970s, many Republicans became critical of Liberal policies.

The New Right was the name given to the resurgence of the conservative movement

Liberalism loses its appeal

When the economy stagnated, liberal ideas lost their pull and conservative beliefs became attractive.

The rise of counterculture left some Americans feeling alienated

The New Right Criticizes Liberal Programs

Complained about unfunded mandates which were programs required but not paid for by the federal government.

Criticized Social welfare programs and argued they rewarded lack of effort.

Thought that the Great Society made poverty worse and also believed affirmative action went too far.

The Sagebrush rebels believed that the federal government controlled too much land on the west.

Religious participation rises

More religious groups became active in politics

The Moral Majority, formed by Jerry Falwell in 1979, was a political organization working to fulfill religious goals.

The moral majority opposed some supreme court decisions such as 1973 Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion.

The Moral Majority boosted the Republican Party's chances of winning.

Popuation Trends

As Americans living in the North moved to the suburbs, their attachment to liberalism decreased as they struggled financially.

Many White Southerners became Republican