The Moral Majority

Spearheading the New Right were evangelical Christian groups such as the Moral Majority, a political group, who were dedicated believers who enjoyed startling success as political fund-raisers and organizers. Moral Majority was important, because it helped to block the adoption of Equal Rights Amendment.

Neoconservative thought

Though Ronald Reagan was no intellectual, he drew on the ideas of a small but influential group of thinkers known as “neoconservatives.” The neoconservatives championed free-market capitalism liberated from government restraints, and they took tough, harshly anti-Soviet positions in foreign policy. Neoconservative thought was important, because it called for reassertion of traditional values of individualism and the

Iran-Contra Affair

In 1985, American diplomats secretly arranged arms sales to the embattled Iranians in return for Iranian aid in obtaining the release of American hostages held by Middle Eastern terrorists. At least one hostage was eventually set free. Meanwhile, money from the payment for the arms was diverted to the contras. Iran-Contra affair was important, because it cast a dark shadow over the Reagan record in foreign policy.

Sandra Day O’Connor

Reagan had appointed a near-majority of all sitting judges. Equally important, he had named three conservative-minded justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. They included Sandra Day O’Connor, a brilliant, public-spirited Arizona judge. She became the first woman to ascend to the high bench in the Court’s nearly 200 year history. Sandra Day O’Connor was important, because she was the first female Supreme Court justice.

George Bush

Republicans nominated Reagan’s vice president, George Herbert Walker Bush, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and ran largely on the Reagan record of tax cuts, strong defense policies, toughness on crime, opposition to abortion. George H.W. Bush was important, because he viewed as successful in foreign affairs, but a disappointment in domestic