In the course “Elections and Inaugurations” we talked about the current presidency and about past presidencies. During that I came across Ronald Reagan´s landslide election of 489 votes to 49.
Reagan was born in 1911 and during college he majored in economics. After college he became an actor. He started his political career in 1962 when he joint the Republican Party and got elected governor of California in 1966. Ronald Reagan stayed in office for 8 years until 1974, when he announced that he would not run again for governor, for he wanted to become the presidential candidate in 1976 for the Republicans. Unfortunately he lost the primaries to Gerald Ford, who went on to lose the election against Jimmy Carter. Four Years later in 1980 Reagan became the candidate for the Republicans and later on became the 40th president of the United States. At this point of time ( 1970s) the American situation was not so well. America faced economic problems, inflation, unemployment, the on going `Cold War´and a hostage situation in Iran, where the American embassy were being held hostage during the presidential campaigns between Carter and Reagan.
In this term paper I will look at the Reagan campaign and I will try to show that his campaign is deeply connected with the concept of ´American exceptionalism´. My thesis is that Reagan based his campaign on this concept and connected his promises and solutions to this concept. In order to prove my thesis, I will firstly explain the concept of ´American exceptionalism´in the first chapter and then I will summarize Reagan´s campaign in chapter two. After that I will try to show, and with that prove my thesis, how Reagan connected his campaign with the concept of ´American exceptionalism´ with regards to content and linguistically. In the conclusion my findings will be summarized and my thesis will be confirmed or rejected.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Main part
Concept of “American exceptionalism”
Reagan´s Campaign
Reagan´s campaign and the “American exceptionalism”
Conclusion
Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the 1980 presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan to demonstrate its deep thematic and linguistic integration with the concept of "American exceptionalism." By analyzing Reagan’s rhetoric and policy promises against the backdrop of a nation facing economic malaise and global instability, the study explores how he utilized this ideology to position himself as a transformative leader capable of restoring American greatness.
- The historical and ideological foundations of "American exceptionalism."
- Reagan’s campaign platform, including domestic economic reforms and foreign policy shifts.
- The linguistic synthesis of political promises with national identity myths.
- The role of moral values and traditionalism in Reagan’s electoral appeal.
- The strategic framing of the 1980 election as a choice between national decline and renewed optimism.
Excerpt from the Book
Reagan´s campaign and the “American exceptionalism”
In this chapter I will show how Ronald Reagan linked his campaign with the concept of ´American exceptionalism with regards to content and also linguistically. In general I will show how Reagan tried to show that every problem could be solved if they adhered to the traditional values and that Carter did not believe in those values or America.
First of all, Reagan saw America´s situation, kidnapping the U.S. Embassy, raised cost of oil, the collapse of the exchange rate-system, the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, the economic news about budget deficits, inflation and unemployment, as America losing its superior standings. Therefore one of his main campaign themes was: “Real peace would come through the Western´s strength and political and economic freedom” (Kengor 50), which already can be associated with the ideas of ´American exceptionalism´ of liberty, equality (in this case equal opportunity to rise economically) and of course being superior to all others.
Ronald Reagan said about the economy that he believes “that inflation is caused by government simply spending more than government takes in” ( debates.org). This quote can be linked with the concept in two different ways, first it is against the idea of ´Big government´ and therefore promotes the idea of liberty and secondly it supports Reagan´s idea to cut spendings in welfare.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the 1980 election and presents the thesis that Reagan’s campaign was fundamentally built upon the principles of American exceptionalism.
Main part: Provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept of American exceptionalism, details the core pillars of the 1980 Reagan campaign platform, and demonstrates how these elements were strategically aligned through rhetoric and policy.
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming that Reagan successfully integrated the ideology of American exceptionalism into his campaign narrative to effectively address the crises of the era.
Bibliography: Lists the academic literature and primary source transcripts used to support the research and analysis.
Keywords
Ronald Reagan, American exceptionalism, 1980 Presidential Campaign, Jimmy Carter, US Foreign Policy, Political Ideology, Liberty, Meritocracy, Patriotism, Cold War, Big Government, American Dream, Conservatism, Nationalism, Political Rhetoric.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Ronald Reagan utilized the ideology of "American exceptionalism" as a foundational element of his 1980 presidential campaign to contrast his platform with that of the incumbent, Jimmy Carter.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work explores American identity, the role of government, economic policy, foreign relations, and the influence of traditional moral values on political discourse.
What is the central research question?
The core inquiry is whether Reagan’s campaign promises and communication style were explicitly and deeply connected to the concept of "American exceptionalism" to gain voter support during a period of national crisis.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper uses a qualitative analysis approach, examining primary sources—specifically transcripts from presidential debates—and secondary literature to identify linguistic and thematic patterns reflecting American exceptionalist ideology.
What content is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main part defines "American exceptionalism," details the 1980 campaign agenda regarding welfare and the economy, and provides a comparative analysis of how Reagan used specific rhetoric to frame his vision against the Carter administration.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Ronald Reagan, American exceptionalism, 1980 Election, political ideology, rhetoric, patriotism, and conservative policy.
How does the author characterize the American view of war?
The paper notes that many Americans, within the framework of exceptionalism, tend to view war through a moralistic "good vs. evil" lens, believing that support for conflict is justified if fought for moral reasons.
What role does the "shining city on a hill" imagery play in Reagan’s campaign?
Reagan utilized this imagery to emphasize his vision of America’s unique destiny and its role as a beacon for all mankind, reinforcing the themes of populism, individualism, and national superiority.
How did Reagan perceive the economic challenges of the 1970s?
Reagan argued that inflation was a result of excessive government spending and proposed that returning to traditional values, cutting welfare, and reducing taxes would stimulate economic growth and restore the American Dream.
What distinction does the author make between Carter and Reagan?
The author frames the election as a clear choice between Carter’s perceived pessimism and lack of faith in tradition, and Reagan’s optimism and reliance on the traditional values of American exceptionalism.
- Citation du texte
- Niels Schreiber (Auteur), 2013, Regan and the American Exceptionalism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/288209
