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The Conservative Revolution: The Movement That Remade America

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The Conservative Revolution: The Movement that Remade America

by Lee Edwards

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The conservative revolution is a broad term used to describe a political and ideological movement that began in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. The movement was a reaction to the perceived excesses of the New Deal and the Great Society, and it sought to promote traditional American values such as individual liberty, limited government, and free markets.

The conservative revolution was led by a number of prominent figures, including Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Milton Friedman. Reagan was elected President of the United States in 1980, and he implemented a number of conservative policies, including tax cuts, deregulation, and defense spending increases. Thatcher was elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979, and she also implemented a number of conservative policies, including privatization of state-owned industries and reductions in government spending.

The conservative revolution had a profound impact on American politics and society. It led to the election of a number of conservative presidents and prime ministers, and it helped to shape the political landscape of the United States and the United Kingdom for decades to come.

The Causes of the Conservative Revolution

There were a number of factors that contributed to the rise of the conservative revolution. One factor was the perceived excesses of the New Deal and the Great Society. The New Deal was a series of programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s to help the United States recover from the Great Depression. The Great Society was a series of programs implemented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s to address social problems such as poverty and racial inequality.

Many conservatives believed that the New Deal and the Great Society had gone too far in expanding the role of government in the economy and society. They argued that these programs had led to increased government spending, higher taxes, and a decline in individual liberty.

Another factor that contributed to the rise of the conservative revolution was the growing influence of social conservatism. Social conservatives believed that the traditional American values of family, religion, and patriotism were under attack. They were concerned about the rise of secularism, the breakdown of the family, and the increasing permissiveness of American society.

The conservative revolution was also fueled by the rise of the free market movement. Free market economists argued that the government should play a limited role in the economy. They believed that the free market was the best way to promote economic growth and prosperity.

The Leaders of the Conservative Revolution

The conservative revolution was led by a number of prominent figures, including Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Milton Friedman.

Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States in 1980. Reagan was a conservative Republican who believed in the power of the free market and the importance of individual liberty. He implemented a number of conservative policies, including tax cuts, deregulation, and defense spending increases. Reagan's policies helped to stimulate the economy and reduce inflation.

Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979. Thatcher was a conservative who believed in the importance of free markets and individual liberty. She implemented a number of conservative policies, including privatization of state-owned industries and reductions in government spending. Thatcher's policies helped to revive the British economy and reduce unemployment.

Milton Friedman was an economist who played a major role in the development of the free market movement. Friedman argued that the government should play a limited role in the economy. He believed that the free market was the best way to promote economic growth and prosperity.

The Impact of the Conservative Revolution

The conservative revolution also had a significant impact on the economy. The free market policies implemented by Reagan and Thatcher helped to stimulate economic growth and reduce inflation. These policies also led to a decline in government spending and a reduction in the size of the public sector.

The conservative revolution also had a significant impact on social policy. The social conservative movement helped to promote traditional American values such as family, religion, and patriotism. These values had a significant impact on American culture and society.

The conservative revolution was a major political and ideological movement that had a profound impact on American politics and society. The movement was led by a number of prominent figures, including Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Milton Friedman. The conservative revolution led to the election of a number of conservative presidents and prime ministers, and it helped to shape the political landscape of the United States and the United Kingdom for decades to come.

The Conservative Revolution: The Movement that Remade America

by Lee Edwards

4.5 out of 5