History of the Reagan Revolution - Essay Example

The "Reagan Revolution" The “Reagan Revolution” refers to the first policies within the Reagan administration, which sawan increase in defense spending, cut taxes, and limited social programs. The policies were based on the supply part theory of economic growth by cutting down taxes and government interference. They were also efforts to take America back to the conventional values of family, church, and free enterprise and renew feelings of positive state spirit. The Reagan revolution did not just take America back to a world where rugged individualism, God.

Anti-communism, patriotism, and family values, took control. It also had the unspoken but well understood, dark and ugly subtext, and indeed expected that the revolution would return to the pre-civil rights era, when minorities, women, and blacks new their place. Changes that President Reagan tried to make in economic and foreign policy To evaluate the foreign and economic policies set forward by Reagan, it is important to assess how much of the projected policy changes were successful or if they were approved and the economic impacts they had.

Reagan tried to change the American attitude and a sanitized picture of the past into a strong conventional ideological movement. He appealed to the White Southerners’ that society was rolling out of control, yet the Democrats had no answers. Their hope was that a conservative Republican could fulfill Goldwater and President Richard Nixon’s promise to stabilize law and order, restore prosperity, and compress “permissiveness.” In this sense, Reagan’s role on foreign policy was to eradicate the miscellany of Great Society programs overwhelmed by many whites as regime handouts to blacks.

However, Reagan did not succeed in this plan. He crippled funding and even eroded public interest for social spending. In the first four years in office, federal spending on training and education, public works, social services, and development dropped by forty percent. Despite the fact that the Reagan revolution covered its racial appeals and made it an issue of concern, race was never far from its surfaces. Reagan’s attack on affirmative action, though not successful, his rejection to convene with the Congressional Black Caucus, his effort to limit the Civil Rights Commission’s power concerning employment favoritism cases, and his opposition to the expansion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was viewed as an assault on civil rights and as his administration’s main goal.

Reduction in economic regulation that was initiated in the Carter administration went on, though at a slower rate. President Reagan eliminated or eased price controls on natural gases and oil, interstate bus service, and on water transport. Banks were permitted to invest in more assets, import barriers increased, and some new regulations on the existing laws were reduced. Monetary policy was a bit unpredictable, but proved quite successful. He approved the reduction of financial growth started by the Federal Reserve, a policy that resulted in both the extensive reduction in interest rates, inflation and the 1982 recession.

Reagan’s administration kept its position on one aspect of monetary policy; in the first term, the government failed to mediate in the markets for foreign exchange till in 1985, when it irregularly intervened with the aim of reducing and stabilizing the dollar’s foreign exchange value. American economy experienced considerable turbulence under Reagan’s power regardless of the overall economic conditions. At the end of his time in government, Americans had foreseen the longest peacetime expansion than ever.

In retrospect, the key attainments of Reaganomics were the spiky reductions in inflation and marginal inflation. In addition, these alterations were obtained at a much lower cost than anticipated. Reagan failed to meet some of his goals in the initial program. For instance, the Federal budget was notably reallocated from optional local spending to entitlements, defense, and paying interests. The influence of President Reagan on U.S policy today Today, American leaders can keep their promises, and the country as a whole can be trusted as an ally.

Because of Reagan’s legacy, America has a greater military ability than any moment in history, and can deal with disputes in nations like Moscow strongly. The rebuilding of the nation’s arsenal has altered the global correlation of forces, which has currently been titled to the U.S. Further, Reagan initiated the privatization of government services. Today, some federal services offered include fire protection, prison management, garbage collection, as well as neighborhood court systems in minor dispute resolutions.

Generally, Ronald Reagan’s policies have to date restored power to cities and states and limited the power of the central government, particularly in Washington. Even though most State officials initially were hesitant in accepting this new power, they are currently passionate about it. Apparently, new ideas are emerging from the states-in housing matters, help for the poor, education reform, and strategies to clean the environment. Work Cited Thornton, Richard C. The Reagan Revolution. Vol. 1. Trafford, 2003. Print.