Introduction

As Americans recognized the limits of their nation's power in the aftermath of Vietnam and Watergate, they increasingly turned their focus back to the private sector. During the 1980s, a reborn (often in a religious sense) conservative movement questioned the values that had dominated American governance since the New Deal. Ronald Reagan's proclamation that government was the problem rather than the solution led him to victory over Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election (see the map below). Reagan returned to the laissez-faire ideals of the late nineteenth century with his supply-side economic program and his desire to return to private regulation of the environment. He also promoted a conservative social agenda including restriction of abortion rights, the return of prayer to schools, and an end to affirmative action. Reagan also wanted the U.S. to selectively stand tall in the international community. He supported increased defense spending in order to return the United States to its position of prestige in the world. Yet the complications of a collapsing Soviet state and the emergence of regional power struggles made it difficult for the United States to return to its dominant position. In some cases, as in the Gulf War, American assertiveness seemed effective, but in other places, such as the Middle East and Central America, American intervention led to further chaos and occasional scandal. By 1992, after twelve years of Republican rule, Americans' loyalty to the conservative revolution remained questionable.

The Web exercises for this chapter examine the conservative resurgence in American politics and culture and the events and the consequences of the end of the Cold War. The additional research links examine some of the areas of conflict within American society that arose as a result of the ascent to power of conservative interests in the political arena.

Web Activities 

1.  The leader of the conservative challenge throughout the 1980s was Ronald Reagan. To get a sense of the ideology of the man, begin by reading some of his speeches at Featured Speeches of Ronald Reagan. Start with his 1964 "A Time for Choosing" speech. What choice does he present in this speech? How does he choose and why? Now read his famous "Evil Empire" speech. What country did he call the "Evil Empire"? What was his purpose in doing so? Do these speeches make his nickname of the "Great Communicator" seem appropriate? Now go to the Pictorial History of Ronald Reagan. Click on the audio and video icons. Do his presence on camera and the sound of his voice change your feelings about his communication skills? Read an essay about Reagan's character. What qualities does he have that this author felt conveyed a sense of character to the American people?

2.  Why did the Iran-Contra scandal cause such a stir in the mid 1980s? For a better understanding of the events that led to the scandal, read the Documents related to the Iran-Contra affair. Start with the summary of the Independent Counsel's report that details the exact events under scrutiny. What were the potential illegal activities of the Reagan administration? Then browse the report from the Kerry Committee on the Contras and drug running. Then read part of the CIA's training manuals for the Contras. Why were they illegal under American law? What was the basis of the indictment of Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger? Finally, browse through the statements that both sides in the Oliver North trial agreed were true. What actions did he take that were worthy of a criminal trial?

3.  The fall of Communism was one of the most remarkable events of the twentieth century.

• For the long view of the opposition to communism as well as a detailed explanation of the changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, start at Ten Years After: The Fall of Communism. What were the events that led up to these changes? How was 1989 different than earlier uprisings? What caused the Berlin Wall to come down?
• Examine of the role of Mikhail Gorbachev and his policies of glasnost. What changes did Gorbachev try to institute in the Soviet Union? What oppositions did he face? How did President Reagan assist and hinder him?
• For an assessment of Reagan's impact on these changes, go to Ronald Reagan’s Secret Anti-Soviet War. What role does this author believe Reagan and his administration played in the changes occurring in the Soviet Union?

4.  The Gulf War was the first major armed conflict of the post- Cold War era. For a thorough examination of the war, go to The Gulf War. Read through the oral histories. Why did the U.S. decide to go to war over Kuwait? How did the Iraqis attempt to fight in the face of such an overpowering foe? How was this war different than previous conflicts for the soldiers? How about for Americans at home? What role did new technologies play in the war?

Additional Research Links

The Conservative Rebellion

• The Moral Majority. This page explains the history and beliefs of the leading political action group focused on issues important to Christians during the Reagan era. What issues became central for this group? What tactics did their anti-abortion activists adopt from the political left?

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Margaret Thatcher. Read this article on Thatcher and the Rebirth of Conservatism. How were her policies similar to Ronald Reagan's? Were they different in any significant areas?

• All in the Family and M*A*S*H. Visit the sites of these two influential series, which led the movement toward topical comedy on television. What issues did these shows address? Why were they often condemned by the religious right?

Prime Time With Ronald Reagan

• President Reagan's economic policies caused (and continue to cause) much controversy in both the political and academic arenas.
• For an introduction to these policies, read Reaganomics: What Worked? What Didn't? (PDF file).
• For an argument that Reagan's plan worked well, read Reaganomics: Its Remarkable Results.
• For the opposing argument, read Reaganomics: The Hidden Agenda. After reading these articles, what do you think?
• Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars). A description of the science behind SDI. What is this defense system? Ideally, what is it supposed to do? Why was it used as a symbol of the excesses of the Reagan defense policies?

An End to the Cold War

• The Clarence Thomas Hearings. A chronology of the hearings with detailed descriptions of each step in the process. Why was this confirmation so controversial?
• A Feminist Writes about the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas Conflict by Jill Niebrugge-Brantley.