Conservatism in The USA and Its Impact on Economy and Social Development

By 1980 the Unites States political climate had shifted away from liberalism and towards Republican dominated conservatism. This new force for change led by Ronald Reagan opposed nearly every liberal policy, believing that the issues were undermining family and religious values, the national work ethic, and national security. Although technically Barry Goldwater’s failed 1964 presidential campaign marked the beginning of the resurgence of conservative, the new conservative rebirth drastically changed the social and economic policies of the United States from 1980 to 1992.

Conservatism combatted things such as social reform and big government. President Ronald Reagan along with other political conservatives opposed things such as FDR’s prized New Deal because of its reliance on social welfare programs and demonstrated involvement of the Roosevelt administration. As a result of these disapprovals Reagan cut more than $40 million from domestic programs, took a tough anti-union stance, and deregulated business and industry in order to “get the government off of the backs of the people”. Likewise H.W. Bush made social welfare cuts and vetoed bills that were written up with the goal of benefiting the lower class in mind. As a result of the actions taken by the conservative leaders the poor, bottom of society citizens lost faith that there was any relief coming from the government. Similarly, new government actions and policies slowed both the civil rights and feminist movements. Previously established civil rights laws were not enforced or upheld and women still struggled to achieve gender equality with their newest hurdle to jump over being the conservatism opposition to abortion. Because of the difference in the involvement of government, conservatism brought with it a new era of what was seen as turning a cold shoulder to social minorities or at least not giving them the same support they received under a liberal administration.

Leaders that were at the helm of the conservative resurgence established economic policies that coincided with their opposition to what they saw as liberal flaws. For example Reagan’s economic system (Reaganomics) that argued that tax cuts and reduced government spending would eventually lead to prosperity, directly contrasted with the hailed democratic Keynesian economic system of government spending. Reagans massive tax cuts and deregulation efforts resulted in national debt that plunged the economy into recession. Through deregulation of the workplace and union opposition, conservatism shifted the US economy from blue collar to white collar. Because of these new anti-liberal policies of government dissociation the economy fluctuated during the resurgence of conservatism.

The Conservative resurgence between 1980 and 1992 changed the economic and social policies of the United States to a great extent. The Republican Party now dominated American politics while the Democratic Party took a backseat along with their previously implemented liberal policies. Conservatism still drives the Republican Party, or the Party of Reagan, today and the policies implemented during the period of 1980-92 can be seen as the ideals that drive the republican candidates in the current presidential election.