“Morning in America? The 1980s and the Conservative Turn”

In this episode of APUSH for ALL, we explore the 1980s and the conservative resurgence led by Ronald Reagan. They unpack Reagan’s “Morning in America” optimism, his economic policies (Reaganomics), and the culture wars that defined the decade—from the rise of the Moral Majority to MTV, Madonna, and Public Enemy. The episode also delves into the government’s slow response to the AIDS crisis and the activism that followed. On the global stage, Reagan’s Cold War strategies and his eventual diplomacy with Gorbachev are discussed. The hosts connect these themes to today’s politics, courts, public health, and ongoing cultural divisions.