When you have finished studying this chapter, you should be able to:
Explain the rising influence of evangelical religious groups and the conservative backlash against the liberal media.
Explain how the backlash to Watergate, Vietnam, and economic troubles led to the election of Jimmy Carter.
Describe how inflation, an energy crisis, and the hostage crisis undermined Carter's desire to create a more efficient government and a new moral climate in politics.
Describe how successful Ronald Reagan's first term was in establishing a conservative political agenda.
Discuss the three major objectives of Reagan's economic agenda and the degree to which they were attained.
Explain Reagan's foreign policy concerns and how these led to the Iran-Contra scandals.
Discuss the major international and domestic challenges facing the nation in the Bush administration, and why Bush lost his bid for reelection.
