Alabama Social Studies SS24.US2.17a
The Standard
- SS24.US2.17
- Analyze the conservative revolution in American politics and how this shaped Ronald Reagan’s domestic and foreign policies.
Describe the growth and composition of movement conservatism beginning in the 1960s, and explain how this culminated in the formation of the Reagan Coalition and led to his election in 1980.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Trace conservative organizing from Goldwater's 1964 campaign to Reagan's 1980 win. Name the groups that backed Reagan and explain what each wanted. Connect their support to inflation and frustration with Carter.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain why a business owner, an evangelical voter, and a defense hawk backed Reagan for different reasons. They can link earlier organizing and the tax revolt to his campaign, then explain how inflation helped him win.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may assume every Reagan voter was a lifelong Republican or that all his supporters wanted the same thing. They may credit his win only to inflation and miss years of conservative organizing.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: How did Goldwater's 1964 campaign help build support for Reagan? Name two groups with different priorities and one problem that helped Reagan win in 1980.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs cards labeled evangelical voters, business owners, and defense hawks; have them match each to abortion, taxes, or Soviet policy.
Ask: Why might a business owner and an evangelical voter support Reagan for different reasons? Have students write one priority for each.
Give teams slips labeled Goldwater's 1964 campaign, the 1978 California tax revolt, and Reagan's 1980 win; have them order and explain the links.
Pair a 1979 inflation graph with a current grocery receipt; ask how rising prices might affect a voter's choice in 1980.
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- SS24.US2.17
Analyze the conservative revolution in American politics and how this shaped Ronald Reagan’s domestic and foreign policies.
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