Republican dominance and its opponents, 1981-92

Program for Economic recovery'-  economic growth through improvements in productivity.

Major tax cuts and reduction of $35b in public spending. 1981 Ombibus Reconcilliation Act and Economic Rcovery Tax Act, cut spending on over 300 programme, resulting in $963 billion over the period 1981-87. Income tax was cut by 25%

GNP growth 11% between 1981 and 1984. 

15% of the popultion considered poor by 1982. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development was cut by 57%. By 1987, 42/50 states had introduced work based benefit payments.

Office of Surface Mining lost 40% of its workforce ebtween 1981 and 1982. 

PATCO- 11,300 members went on strike- demanded all air traffic controllers return to work within 48 hours or get sacked. 

Federal spending rose by $321 billion to more than a trillion dollars. 

Defence spending rose from $171b to $242b by 1986. 

Spending on defence accounted for 23.5% of the GDP. 

Number of federal employees increased from 2.9m to 3.1m by 1983

Defecit in excess of $100b

National debt increased from $914b to $2.7 trillion 

Trade defecit of $170m

Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985- reduce federal budget deficit until it dissapeared by 1991- was no where near being complete in 1989.

US debt was $2.7 trillion, three times higher than 1980

By 1992, federal defecit had risen to $400 billion..

Federal Bailout bill for savings and loan industries had increased to $325 billion

Income tax was raised from 28% to 31%

Military and domestic expenditure was cut by $492 billion

Federal Reserve Board lowered interest rates to 3.5%.

Religious right- 50% of Americans prayed everyday in 1979

Rvr Jerry Falwell- literal truth of the bible. 'The Old Time Gospel Hour'- audience of 1.5m. Moral majority 1979 to influence state.

Pat Robertson ran the Christian Broadcasting Network. Jim Bakker founded the Praise the Lord MInistry in 1974. The top 8 televangelists in 1980 made $310m from programmes and reached an audience of 20m 

Phyllis Schlaffy- Catholic republican suupporter from Illinios. 'Sweetheart of the Silent Majority. National Conference of Catholic Bishops created the National Right to Life Committee which, by 1980, had 11 million supporters.

Concerned Women for America- 500,000 members by mid 80s

Prevented Equal Rights Ammendment 1972

Being gay went against bible teaching and Aids was sent by God as a punishment 

Just Say No- travelled 250,000 miles, visited 65 cities in 33 states. 18 wives of world leaders attended the First Ladies Conference on Drug abuse. Cocaine use dropped by one third from 6.2% to 4.3% in 1987

Between 1980 and 1988, the top 20% of wage earners saw their share of natioinal income go up from 41.6% to 44%. bottom 60% saw theirs drop. 

Reduce Federal Spending- set up the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalsim and the coordinating task force on federalism- rejected by the democrats who controlled the house of representatives.

Clean Air Act 1990 and Energy Act 1992 - greater energy conservation and support for renewable energy.