Conservatism and
Reagan Revolution
By: Carolyn Stoughton, Nick Giorgi, Ashley Magee
Thesis/Theme

The presidency of Ronald Reagan consisted of Christian values combined with
a conservative mind-set.
Background

New Right in response to social changes in 1960s and 1970s



Reinforce “traditional family values” through media and laws
“Me” Decade

Personal well-being

Emotional security
Goals of Conservative Movement

Abortion

Reduce government services
Storyline


Ronald Reagan’s beliefs:

Rejection of activist welfare state

Create a conservative-minded America

Limit government support for women’s rights and civil rights
Reduce government size
Storyline

Reaganomics

Trickle Down Economics



Invest in businesses to create more jobs and new wealth
Strategic Defense Initiative

Prioritized defense spending in federal budget

Security to public, popularity for Reagan
Reagan’s Budget Cuts

Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981


Lowered income and corporate taxes
Reduce spending on domestic programs to lower interest rates
Outcome

Reduced tax on all income

Reduced federal aid to poor areas

National debt tripled

Stock scandals


Ivan Boeskey-used confidential information to illegally trade stocks
Fear that 1987 stock crash would resemble Great Depression
Trends
1.
Focus on national defense rather than domestic programs and problems
2.
Deregulation of business, decrease in federal government involvement
3.
Rise of traditional Christian values