For your
calendar:
Conservative
vs
Liberal
You need the
History Alive
(green) textbook
today! 
Conservative vs.
Liberal Activity
Conservative vs. Liberal
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
-National govt governs best when
it governs least
-Federal govt has an obligation to
monitor businesses. It needs to
prevent them from polluting the
environment & taking advantage
of consumers & workers
-When businesses prosper,
prosperity will trickle down to
ALL Americans
-Regardless of tax cuts, the
national govt SHOULDN’T be
spending our limited resources on
programs that give people free
handouts
-Shrink the size of the federal
govt- letting the state & local govts
take care of the needs of citizens
-Cutting taxes may lead to cutting
federal programs. These programs
provide help the most needy.
-The National govt should ensure
that ideals like equality &
opportunity are attainable to all
Americans.
Partner Activity
 With a partner, you will use the History Alive book to
answer questions from the perspective of a liberal and a
conservative giving an argument for both sides!
(Conservative & Liberal)
 Is deregulation good for America? (page 629)
 Is New Federalism good for America? (Section 3)
 Is supply-side economics good for America? (Section 3)
 Are reductions in federal social welfare programs good for
America? (Section 4)
Let’s do 1 together!
Turn to page 629 and read the
section titLed “reagan caLLs for
Deregulation
Is deregulation good for America? (page 629)
Conservative response
Liberal response
Yes! Because…..
No! It is harmful because …
• it removes government
• it jeopardizes the environment
regulations in order to increase
by lowering federal standards
business competition and
on air and water quality.
efficiency and promote free
• it leads to a weakening of
enterprise.
worker safety laws, which
• it makes businesses more
endangers workers and the
profitable and allows them to
general public
pass on savings to consumers.
With a partner, you will use the
History Alive book to answer
the remaining questions from
the perspective of a liberal and a
conservative giving an argument
for both sides!
(Conservative & Liberal)

Let’s go over your answers!
Is New Federalism good for America? (Section 3)
Conservative response
Liberal response
Yes! Because….
No! It is harmful because …
• It shrinks the size of the
• block grants provide less
federal government by
funding for social
shifting powers to the
programs than the federal
states
programs they replace
• The system of block
grants gives states more
flexibility, allowing them to
allocate resources in
ways that suit their
individual needs
Is supply-side economics good for America? (Section 3)
Conservative response
Liberal response
Yes! Because….
No! It is harmful because …
• It provides business
• Because tax cuts benefit
incentives to increase the
the rich more than the
supply of goods and
poor
services, which in turn
• It widens the income gap
sparks economic growth
between rich and poor
• By lowering taxes, people
save more and invest
their earnings, which
allows companies to
produce more and hire
more workers
Are reductions in federal social welfare programs good for
America? (Section 4)
Conservative response
Liberal response
Yes! Because….
No! It is harmful because …
• such programs stifle
• They hurt the poor and
personal initiative and
force cities to reduce
produce a dependence on
services to those in need
government aid.
• They often severely affect
• Such programs trap
single women with young
people in a cycle of
children and young adults
poverty
with few job skills and
little education