Reagan's Neshoba County Fair "states' rights" speech facts for kids
In 1980, Ronald Reagan gave an important speech about "states' rights." He was running to become the President. The speech happened at a county fair in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
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What Are States' Rights?
"States' rights" is an idea about how power should be shared. It suggests that individual states should have more power. This means states would make more decisions for themselves. The idea also says the U.S. federal government should have less power.
Why Did Reagan Talk About States' Rights?
Ronald Reagan believed in the idea of states' rights. He thought that local communities and states could solve problems best. He felt that the federal government had become too powerful. He believed the Constitution did not intend for the federal government to have so much control.
The Speech in Mississippi
Reagan gave his speech at the Neshoba County Fair. He spoke from a grandstand to many people. Here is part of what he said:
I still believe the answer to any problem lies with the people. I believe in states' rights and I believe in people doing as much as they can for themselves at the community level and at the private level. I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the Constitution to that federal establishment.
Why Was the Speech Controversial?
Many people thought Reagan's speech was controversial. This is because the idea of "states' rights" has a complicated history in the United States. In the past, some states used "states' rights" to oppose federal laws. These laws aimed to protect the rights of all citizens, especially during the Civil Rights Movement. Because of this history, some people worried about what Reagan's words might mean. They felt it could suggest a step backward for equal rights.
