Conservative Republican Right Capitalism
Fiscally: Limited government spending, lower taxes
Socially: Strict enforcement of laws, moral values
Liberal Democrat Left Socialism
Fiscally: Government programs to help poor, elderly, children
Socially: Protection of personal freedoms and liberties
Conservative ideas gained support for two main reasons
• Some Americans believed that the government’s role in the economy was leading the U.S. towards socialism.
• Many Americans feared that America had lost touch with its traditional values of right and wrong.

Conservatism grew throughout a region of the nation known as the Sunbelt. Because most people in this region are religious, the area is also known as the Bible Belt.

The person credited with reviving conservatism was
Republican Barry Goldwater, who lost the Election of
1964 against LBJ, but gained a huge following.

Rise of Conservatism
The leading voice of the conservative movement became a former actor named Ronald Reagan.

Reagan rises to power
Reagan had gained popularity as a movie star before becoming Governor of California in 1967, championing many of Goldwater’s beliefs.

Rise of Conservatism
After laws were passed in 1968 limiting freedom to own guns, the conservative group the National Rifle
Association began to play a large part in elections.

Rise of Conservatism
The National Rifle Association played a large part in the election of Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.

Rise of Conservatism
Another highly influential group that helped get
Reagan elected were Fundamentalist Christians.

Rise of Conservatism
After Supreme Court rulings that legalized abortion and outlawed prayer in public schools, Many Americans feared society had lost touch with traditional values.

Rise of Conservatism
Led by televangelists like Jerry Falwell and Billy
Graham, Christians formed the Moral Majority, which was socially conservative and anti-Communist.

Rise of Conservatism
Many of Reagan policies were strongly influenced by the Heritage Foundation, which sought to promote conservative policies.

Rise of Conservatism
Among these principles were the free enterprise system, limited government, individual freedoms, family values, and a strong national defense.

People were upset with Carter over the economy, Iran hostage crisis
Because people saw Reagan as a symbol of hope and pride, Reagan defeated Carter in a landslide

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