How to be a conservative: as told by Ronald Reagan Overview: Students will read, analyze and interpret quotes from Ronald Reagan that detail his conservative beliefs and what made him the model of “New Conservatism.” This will be done through a short handout. Objectives: 1. Identify examples of conservative thought. 2. Identify key beliefs of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. 3. Develop reading and analytical skills. Process: 1. Distribute handout (attached) to class, single copies each. 2. Discuss each of the five stated rules for being “conservative” 3. Have students examine each quote and put it into their own words that summarize the main belief of that quote. 4. Have students match each quote with the proper rule. Extension ideas: - Illustrate a literal or figurative interpretation of a rule or quote. - Students can do further research on historical events or Reagan’s policies or his actions that further illustrate his position. - Students can create their own quotes to match up with rules using literary devices such as hyperbole, analogy, simile, figurative speech, etc… - Create note cards with each quote and students could act out each quote verbally while other class members have to identify the conservative belief it follows. Worksheet/quotes attached
Ronald Regan’s a conservative
A proof in quotes
Directions: Read the quote by Ronald Reagan, then: 1) put the quote into your own words 2) Find which “conservative belief” the quote matches up with. Examples of conservative thought: 1. People should be smart enough/work hard enough to fend for themselves. 2. Believe in smaller government: less spending, fewer programs. 3. Taxes are generally a bad thing and fewer are needed. 4. Businesses, big and small, can solve America’s problems. 5. Belief in a strong military to defend one’s nation. “I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.
“Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.
“People don't start wars, governments do.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.
“To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last--but eat you he will.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.
“The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.
“Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.
“The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.”
In your own words: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Matches with conservative belief No. _________.