Routledge 1980 Presidential Election: Ronald Reagan & Conservative Movement

Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential victory marked a watershed moment in American history, signalling the triumph of the conservative movement. This critical examination explores how Reagan, once a New Deal supporter, came to symbolize the union of anti-communism, social traditionalism, and libertarianism three diverse forms of conservatism increasingly intertwined under the Republican Party banner. The book traces the unlikely development of this new conservative coalition and its roots in the larger impacts of the civil rights movement, which reshaped the dynamics of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Essential reading for understanding how the 1980 election fundamentally altered the trajectory of American politics and ideology, this volume from the Critical Moments in American History series provides historical context and analysis of one of the nation's most consequential electoral moments and its lasting influence on political conservatism.