How did conservatism resurge in the 1980s, and how did the Cold War end?
Explain the conservative resurgence under Reagan (tax cuts, deregulation, a smaller domestic government) and the end of the Cold War (the arms buildup, detente and its breakdown, the collapse of the Soviet Union) (NYS Framework 11.9, economics; power).
A Framework-level answer on the 1980s for the New York US History and Government Regents: the conservative resurgence under Reagan (tax cuts, deregulation, smaller domestic government) and the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this topic is asking
The Framework wants the 1980s: the conservative resurgence under Ronald Reagan (a reaction against the expanding government of the New Deal and Great Society) and the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The leading Social Studies Practice is economics, and the central Enduring Issue is power (the size of government and the global balance).
The conservative resurgence
The resurgence was fuelled by economic troubles of the 1970s (stagflation, high inflation and unemployment together) and the loss of trust in government after Vietnam and Watergate.
The end of the Cold War
A new role in the world
The end of the Cold War left the United States the world's sole superpower. The guiding policy of containment, which had shaped US foreign policy since 1947, was no longer needed. American foreign policy shifted toward new challenges, regional conflicts, humanitarian interventions, and, by the early 2000s, terrorism, in a world no longer defined by the US-Soviet rivalry. This is the Enduring Issue of power on a global scale, suddenly rebalanced.
Try this
Q1. State two domestic policies of the conservative resurgence under Reagan. [2]
- Cue. Any two of: tax cuts, deregulation of business, reductions in some domestic programs (a smaller domestic government).
Q2. Explain one effect of the end of the Cold War on the United States' role in the world. [2]
- Cue. The United States became the world's sole superpower, the policy of containment ended, and foreign policy shifted toward new challenges such as regional conflicts and terrorism.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of NYSED exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Regents Jun 2023 (Part I MC, style)1 marksThe stimulus describes the policies of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s: cutting taxes, reducing government regulation of business, and shrinking some domestic programs.
These policies reflected a belief in
(1) expanding the New Deal welfare state
(2) a smaller domestic role for the federal government
(3) government ownership of industry
(4) higher taxes on business
Show worked answer →
A Part I stimulus-based multiple-choice question (1 point). Correct answer: (2).
Reagan's tax cuts, deregulation, and reductions in domestic programs reflected a conservative belief in a smaller domestic role for the federal government, a reaction against the New Deal and Great Society expansion. Reading the stimulus, cutting taxes and regulation, points to smaller government. The other options are the opposite.
Regents Aug 2022 (Part III A CRQ, style)2 marksDocument: a passage describing the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War around 1989 to 1991, including the fall of the Berlin Wall.
(a) Identify one event associated with the end of the Cold War. (b) Explain one effect of the end of the Cold War on the United States' role in the world.
Show worked answer →
A Part III A constructed-response question (CRQ), 2 points (1 per part).
(a) 1 point: any valid event: the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) or the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991).
(b) 1 point: a valid effect, for example: the United States became the world's sole superpower, the decades-long policy of containment ended, and US foreign policy shifted to new challenges such as regional conflicts and terrorism.
Markers reward naming an end-of-Cold-War event and a genuine effect on the US role in the world.
Related dot points
- Explain the origins of the Cold War and the policy of containment (the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO) and Cold War conflicts (the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis) (NYS Framework 11.8, geographic reasoning; conflict).
A Framework-level answer on the Cold War for the New York US History and Government Regents: its origins in the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, the policy of containment (the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO), and key conflicts such as the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Explain the Great Society, the Vietnam War and its effects (the War Powers Resolution), and Watergate, and how Vietnam and Watergate produced a crisis of trust in government (NYS Framework 11.9, civic participation; power).
A Framework-level answer on the 1960s and 1970s for the New York US History and Government Regents: the Great Society, the Vietnam War and the War Powers Resolution, and the Watergate scandal, and how Vietnam and Watergate produced a lasting crisis of trust in government.
- Explain the modern era: globalization and the information economy, the September 11 attacks and the renewed security-versus-liberty debate, and ongoing constitutional debates (NYS Framework 11.10, interconnectedness; ideas and beliefs).
A Framework-level answer on the modern era for the New York US History and Government Regents: globalization and the information economy, the September 11 attacks and the renewed debate over national security and civil liberties, and ongoing constitutional debates that connect to the course's Enduring Issues.
- Explain the New Deal (relief, recovery, and reform programs, the Social Security Act), the debate over it and the court-packing controversy, and how it expanded the role of the federal government (NYS Framework 11.7, civic participation; power).
A Framework-level answer on the New Deal for the New York US History and Government Regents: the relief, recovery, and reform programs, the Social Security Act, the debate over the New Deal and the court-packing controversy, and how it permanently expanded the role of the federal government.
- Apply the technique for the Part III A constructed-response questions (CRQs): read each of the 6 documents and answer the short scaffold questions (identify, explain, cause and effect, sourcing) using the document, as preparation for the Civic Literacy Essay (NYS Framework, gathering, interpreting and using evidence).
An exam-skills answer for the New York US History and Government Regents: how to answer the Part III A constructed-response (scaffold) questions on the 6 documents, identifying main ideas, explaining cause and effect, and analyzing sourcing, as preparation for the Civic Literacy Essay.
Sources & how we know this
- New York State K-12 Social Studies Framework (Grade 11) — New York State Education Department (2016)
- United States History and Government (Framework) — New York State Education Department (2024)