The Rise of the Right

• 1930’s-1970’s– Liberal Democrat,

New Deal dominance

• 1980– “The Reagan

Revolution”• The rollback of the

New Deal

Jerry Fallwell

Ronal Reagan

Why the Rise of the Right?

• Population moves to more conservative (more “rugged individualist”) South and West

• Rise of Christian Fundamentalism– Jerry Fallwell & the “Moral Majority”

• 70 million “born again Christians” organized to vote

• Reaction to “breakdown” of 60’s & 70’s• Ronald Reagan as the “friendly face” of the New

Right

April 8, 1966

The Religious Right’s Issues

• Abortion• Taxation• Government

– Regulation, etc

• Busing (for integration)• Unions• Welfare

• Military buildup• School prayer• “Rugged individualism”• Capitalism

Anti- Pro-

Election of 1980

• Reagan (R) clobbers Carter (D)

• The “Reagan Revolution” begins– And it ain’t over

yet, Bub!

Ronald Wilson Reagan

“The Teflon President”• Nothing “stuck to him”

– Problems & mistakes just slid off him

• Past Experience– Movie actor; (“Bedtime for Bonzo”)

• Image– Rugged cowboy, simple, Middle-American,

average guy

• Key to his popularity– Television, calm voice, handsome, throwback

to an earlier day

The Simple World of Ronald Wilson Reagan

Reaganomics

• Cuts in Domestic Programs– Food stamps, education, medical, welfare,

public housing, regulatory agencies, etc.

• Cuts in taxes– Particularly for upper income

• “trickle down economics”

• Massive increase in military spending

Reaganomics by the Numbers

• Cutting social programs– Saves $140 billion

• Tax cuts– Cost $190 billion

• Military buildup– Cost $190 billion

• (eventually to cost $1.6 trillion)

Add to Budget Subtract from Budget

The Costs of Reaganomics

• Deficit—the amount of money the country goes in debt in a given year– 1979—$66 billion– 1991--$268 billion

• Debt—the total combined deficits of year after year– 1979--$1 trillion– 1991--$3 trillion

Reaganomics Balance Sheet• 1981-1982—major unemployment• 1982-1990—economic recovery

– Record profits– Reasonable inflation and unemployment– Massive growth in GNP

• BUT….– Massive budget deficits– Dramatic jump in poverty, homelessness, etc.

• Poverty rate back up over 15% (25% for children)

– Deregulation hurts environment, leads to corruption and scandals

Rich & Poor Folk Under Reagan

• Wealthiest 1% income up by 87%– Massive profits

• Poorest 20% earns 5% less– Poverty rate up, especially children– 16 million lose health care

• New jobs don’t have benefits

– “War on Drugs”• Prison population more than doubles• 42% of black men in DC in prison, on probation, or

on parole

“Just Say No!”