AP U.S. History Period 9: 1980-Present
Key Concept 9.1 — A newly ascendant conservative movement achieved several political and policy goals during the 1980s and continued to strongly influence public discourse in the following decades.
Tea Party Protest, Dallas Texas, 2009
Topics on the Page
Introduction to the Conservative Movement
Key Figures in the Conservative Movement
- Phyllis Schlafly
- Barry Goldwater
- Ronald Reagan
- Donald Trump
The Tea Party
Boston College Professor Heather Cox Richardson's summary of the past 20 years of U.S. History (December 30, 2020)
The January 6, 2021 Insurrection at the Capitol
For background, Rick Perlstein's history of the Post World War II conservative movement in the US
- Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus, 2001
- Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America, 2008
- The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan, 2014
- Reaganland: America's Right Turn, 1976 - 1980
Cross-Links
Special Topic Page: The Presidency of Ronald Reagan
Special Topic Page: 2000 Presidential Election
Special Topic Page: The Clinton Presidency, Federal Economic Policies and Conservative Policies
Special Topic Page: Electoral College and Election Reform
Introduction to Conservative Movement
This video gives a brief introduction and overview of the Conservative Movement, describing the New Right, the Moral Majority, and the importance of religion and desire to keep laws as close to the Bible as they can.
Conservatism
- promotes traditional social institutions
- tradition, human imperfection, organic society, hierarchy, authority, property rights
- preserve institutions and continuity within them
- based on traditions of the time and place, not agreed upon universally
Click here for a video explaining conservatism and its meaning.
Click here for a six minute video on the conservative movement with a lesson plan in the description section of the video.
Conservative Movement in American Politics
Click here for the Crash Course video explaining its history.
- against Communism
- supports small government and the free market
- cutting government spending, taxes, and social programs
- family values (in the context of women's rights)
Key Political Figures
- Barry Goldwater
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Richard Nixon
- Ronald Reagan
- George H.W. Bush
- George W. Bush
- Bill Clinton
- Donald Trump
Phyllis Schlafly, 1977
Phyllis Schlafly (1924-201
- conservative author and movement leader
- Pro-Life, Pro-Family
- Opposed the Equal Rights Amendment and spoke out about its downfalls
- Explore primary source documents about the ERA.
- Was a key player in defeating its ratification
Click here for a video on her role in defeating the amendment and her legacy.
- Click here to learn more about the ERA.
Cate Blanchett played Phyllis Schlafly on the TV mini-series "Mrs. America" in 2020.
Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater was a conservative Republican who called for a harsher stance against the Soviet Union
and argued that the democrats created a "quasi-socialist" state at home. Goldwater won the Republican Nominee for the Presidential Race of 1964
"He preached the cause of modern conservatism," wrote one biographer, which emphasized “individualism, the sanctity of private property… anticommunism, and the dangers of centralized power.”
Click here for the primary source of Barry Goldwater's Republican Nomination Acceptance Speech.
Click here for a video on Barry Goldwater's opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan presided over the end of the Cold War. Reagan worked as an actor in Hollywood and enjoyed the lifestyle. He became President of the Screen Actors Guild. He became President in 1980 and served for two terms. Ronald Reagan believed that "Government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy."
Click here for a cartoon educational video on Ronald Reagan.
Click here for a video of Ronald Reagan explaining conservatism.
Reaganomics refers to the economic policies of Ronald Reagan. When Ronald Reagan was elected as president, the nation's economy had been in a state of inflation. Reaganomics was heavily based on the trickle down theory that lowering taxes will lead to higher investment, jobs, and wages. Trickle down is controversial because domestic social programs often suffer from it.
Click here for a video from the history channel on why Reaganomics is controversial.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump won the 2016 Presidential Race in the electoral congress, but he LOST the popular vote.
This has brought new concerns for the validity of the electoral congress.
Donald Trump became the third president to be impeached.
Click here for a PBS News Hour article on Trump's beliefs as of 2020.
Click here for a video analyzing if Trumpism is the new Conservatism
Trump has been criticized on his handling of his handling of the COVID-19 endemic due to the way he presented the pandemic to the American public. Many Americans have also brought attention to his changing attitudes by reposting his previous "tweets."
Click here for a video by NBC News sowing Trump's presentation of the pandemic as time has progressed.
Trump has also supported those who have protested social distancing, which protests government control over individuals, despite social distancing being proved to be life-saving. He has used the term "liberate" to describe what the protestors want, despite the fact that he also released guidelines encouraging social distancing.
Click here for a video on the protests as well as Trump calling them "responsible people."
Click here for another video on the protests with once again Trump encouraging them.
Tea Party Sign, Taxpayer March on Washington, September 2009
The Tea Party
Tea Party opposes taxation, immigration, and government intervention. Consists of mainly Republicans. Supports the free market. Widely known for their protests.
What is the House Freedom Caucus and Who's In It, Pew Research Center (October 20, 2015)
The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party, Frank Rich, New York Times (August 28, 2010)
Diversity in Conservatism
This source lists political activists that are African American Conservatives. This list gives names, dates, and brief introductions to each of the conservatives. Burgess Owens, one of only two African American Republicans serving as congressional representative in the U.S. Congress and the only African American Republican in the Utah congressional delegation.
Learning Plans
Click here for a lesson plan that explains the modern history of the American Right Wing.
- This lesson plan explains the modern history of the American Right Wing. This allows students to watch, analyze, and respond to two introductory videos that define conservatism and populism.
- Students then explore clips discussing Republican and Democratic parties, compare them, and detail the foundational underpinnings of the modern conservative movement.
Click here for a lesson plan from the New York Times on the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Policy.
Click here for a unit plan on the Reagan Revolution.
Click here for a PBS lesson plan and Barry Goldwater and "The New Conservatives."
Click here for a lesson plan on the impeachment trials of Donald Trump.
Q. What were main issues that were being argued between liberals and conservatives in the first decades of the 21st century?
Possible Answers
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Role of government: size and scope of government. Liberals want an active government that plays a large role in addressing societal issues and conservatives tend to advocate for limited government intervention, emphasizing individual liberties and free market principles.
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Economic policy. Liberals support progressive taxation, wealth redistribution, and robust government regulation to promote economic equality and protect consumers and workers. Conservatives typically advocate for lower taxes, less regulation, and free-market policies, arguing that they promote economic growth and individual prosperity.
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Social issues. Liberals support progressive social policies, including reproductive rights, marriage equality, and the separation of church and state. Conservatives prioritize religious freedom and the presentation of traditional family structures.
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Healthcare. Liberals support a larger government role in healthcare, advocating for universal healthcare, as healthcare should be a right and that government intervention is necessary to ensure access and affordability. Conservatives favor a more market-based approach, emphasizing individual choice and competition in private sector.
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Immigration. Liberals advocate for more inclusive and compassionate immigration policies, supporting pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and prioritizing humanitarian concerns. Conservatives focus more on border security, emphasizing the rule of law and national sovereignty, favoring stricter immigration policies.
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Environmental policy. Liberals prioritize environmental protection and believe in the need for government regulations to address climate change, promote renewable energy, and conserve natural resources. Conservatives are more skeptical of government intervention in environmental matters and emphasize economic considerations, arguing for less regulation and market-based approaches to environmental issues.
submitted by Callie Sullivan (May 2023)