U S History - Admission/Application Essay Example

"Crisis of Confidence" in the United s The United s was a dominant world power in the 1970’s even though the countries self-perception was mired in doubt and malaise. The stagflation of the country’s economy, the experience and results of the Vietnam war, the lack of confidence of the government by the people as it was no longer perceived as a champion of freedom, the Watergate imbroglio all contributed to the “crises of confidence” in the country. The debt on the dependency of US citizens and the government increased resulting to difficult times.

Jimmy Carter came into power at the time after the country’s failure in the Vietnam and Watergate scandals. A leadership crisis emerged that was characterized by deep and widespread lack of confidence among the leaders creating a major feature of the American politics. Earlier on, an energy crises and other economic troubles emerged raising concerns on Americans prosperity and power. As a result, the crises saw the beginning of a permanent and long decline in the countries manufacturing employment industry, as well as the European markets.

However, in terms of economic and military terms, the country remained the key force in the globe (Hamilton and Neil 2006, 21).The "conservatism and the Reagan Revolution" a response to the “crisis of confidence”As a political era, the conservatism realignment began in response to "Crisis of Confidence" in the United States. Carter adopted the era by proclaiming a crisis and blaming the people. Conservatism main aim was sorting in making the government competent and compassionate. The era saw a decline in unemployment rates as well as a partial decline in the deficit, but the recession continued.

However, it was difficult to achieve the objectives due to the economic crises resulting stagflation and rising energy crises. The conservatism revolution was, however, marked by several major crises such as fuel shortages and failed to achieve competence in the government. Ronald Regan, who was an optimist as compared to Carter, reflected the conservational reaction. He speculated that there was nothing wrong with American people, and there was no national malaise. However according to him the crises were rooted in nostalgia for the post-war decades in the country and advocated for adoption of exceptionalism.

An idea that the nation was a different nation and had a special duty of redeeming the world. Carter stood for defeat and Regan stood for victory with unbridled optimism (Greenberg, Brian, and Linda, 2009, 34).The Reagan era also referred to as “age of Reagan,” emphasizes conservative “Reagan revolution,” that was led by Ronald Regan emphasizing on the adoption of foreign and domestic policies. The era included ideas that were beyond Regan personality himself and was characterized as a leader of a broadly based conservative movement of ideas.

These ideas whether bad or god dominated the national policymaking in sectors such as taxation, defense, the federal judiciary, welfare and cold war. He put the country on a fundamentally different path, as the country was ready for it advocating for accountability of the government operations. He focused into the people feelings by enhancing an optimism. The vision was an accurate portrayal. Liberal Americans lament the Reagans Era, but the conservatives praise it and consider its continuation in the 21st century.

Barrack Obama in his campaigns in 2008 acknowledged Regan efforts in changing the nation’s trajectory. He stated that “the country wants a return back to dynamism and entrepreneurship ways that are missing since the Regan era." Regan changed trajectory of America in a way Bill Clinton neither Richard Nixon or GHW Bush did not (Horowitz and Daniel, 2005).Work citiedGreenberg, Brian, and Linda S. Watts. Social History of the United States. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2009. print.Hamilton, Neil A.

The 1970s. New York: Facts On File, 2006. Internet resource.Horowitz, Daniel. Jimmy Carter and the Energy Crisis of the 1970s: The "crisis of Confidence" Speech of July 15, 1979 ; a Brief History with Documents. New York, NY [u.a.: Bedford/St. Martins, 2005. Print.