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Questions and Answers
What was a primary focus of the Reagan administration compared to previous policies?
Which event significantly shaped the perception of popular culture among conservative Christians during the rise of the New Right?
How did the Reagan administration initially respond to the AIDS crisis in the early 1980s?
What characterized the conservative movement's influence in the 1980s?
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Which strategy did the Reagan Doctrine emphasize for US foreign policy?
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What was one significant consequence of the IRS's action against racially segregated Christian schools during Carter's presidency?
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What was perceived as a major cultural shift during the 1960s that affected conservative viewpoints?
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What significant change occurred in the LGBT Movement in the 1980s?
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What was a key factor contributing to the New Right's challenges in the 1980s?
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Which concept did Ronald Reagan promote regarding U.S. foreign policy?
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What shift occurred regarding Christian values during the 1980s conservative movement?
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How did the Supreme Court's decisions in Engel v. Vitale and Abington v. Schempp affect conservative perspectives?
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What was a consequence of the AIDS crisis in the early 1980s as it affected the gay male community?
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What was a primary concern of the conservative movement regarding the societal changes in the 1960s?
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What characterized George Wallace's influence during the 1968 election?
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What relationship did Richard Nixon have with conservative populism?
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What was one significant effect of the IRS's actions against racially segregated schools during Carter's presidency?
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What was the overall approach of the Reagan administration towards social welfare spending?
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Study Notes
Rise of the New Right
- Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign centered on returning the United States to its former glory, emphasizing a return to traditional values and a strong national identity.
- The rise of the New Right contributed to a shift in American society, moving away from social welfare programs towards free market policies.
- The New Right faced challenges as conservative Christians perceived cultural trends as hostile to their values, particularly regarding changes in social norms and the role of religion in public life.
Conservative Populism and the Moral Majority
- George Wallace, a segregationist politician, gained significant support in the Deep South, capturing five states in the 1968 presidential election as a third-party candidate.
- Richard Nixon capitalized on conservative populism, appealing to anxieties about social change and economic uncertainty.
- The Supreme Court's decisions in Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Abington v. Schempp (1963), prohibiting state-sponsored prayer and Bible reading in public schools, fueled the belief among some conservatives that a liberal judicial system threatened Christian values.
- The counterculture movement of the 1960s, with its embrace of sexual liberation and drug use, further intensified conservative concerns about "permissive" liberalism, leading to a strong emphasis on traditional morality and family values.
The AIDS Crisis and Homophobia
- The emergence of AIDS in the early 1980s disproportionately affected gay men, highlighting the ongoing prejudices and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community.
- The Reagan administration's initial response to the AIDS crisis was characterized by indifference and a lack of urgency, leaving many LGBTQ individuals feeling abandoned and alone.
- The AIDS epidemic exacerbated homophobia, leading to widespread fear and prejudice against gay men.
- Lesbian women played a crucial role in caring for the sick and dying within their communities, demonstrating resilience and solidarity during a challenging time. This experience was pivotal in shifting the focus of the LGBT movement towards greater inclusivity, with the "L" taking a more prominent position in the acronym.
Conservative Influence and the Cold War
- The conservative movement gained significant influence over gender and sexual politics, as well as foreign policy in the 1980s.
- Ronald Reagan, a vocal anti-communist, viewed the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and predicted its demise.
- The Reagan Doctrine, implemented to combat Soviet influence, involved providing support to anti-communist forces around the world.
- Under Reagan, military spending significantly increased, reaching its highest level since the Vietnam War, reflecting a commitment to "peace through strength" as a means of countering Soviet power.
Carter's Presidency and the Religious Right
- Although initially aligned with liberal ideologies, President Carter's administration gradually shifted towards a more conservative approach.
- Carter's presidency faced criticism from the religious right, particularly regarding the IRS's revocation of tax-exempt status for segregated Christian schools.
The Iran-Contra Scandal
- The Reagan administration secretly engaged in arms sales to Iran, with the proceeds intended for the Contras, a right-wing insurgency fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua.
- The Iran-Contra affair, a major scandal involving the illegal diversion of funds, sparked debate about the legality and ethical implications of the administration's actions.
The Rise of the Anti-Abortion Movement
- Abortion became a unifying issue for the religious right, mobilizing grassroots activism against abortion rights.
- Jerry Falwell, a prominent Baptist minister and religious broadcaster, founded the Moral Majority in 1979, a significant force in mobilizing conservative Christians and shaping the political landscape.
Rise of the New Right
- The Reagan administration shifted away from income redistribution and social welfare spending towards free markets.
- The New Right faced challenges in achieving its goals, with conservative Christians perceiving popular culture as increasingly hostile to their values.
- George Wallace, a staunch segregationist, won 5 states as a 3rd-party candidate in the 1968 general election.
- Richard Nixon harnessed conservative populism.
- Christian conservatives mobilized to protect traditional values.
- Supreme Court decisions prohibiting teacher-led prayer and Bible reading in public schools led some on the right to conclude that a liberal judicial system threatened Christian values.
- 1960s Counterculture's celebration of sex and drugs, along with relaxed obscenity and pornography laws, intensified the conviction that "permissive" liberalism encouraged immorality in private life.
The AIDS Crisis
- When AIDS appeared in the early 80s, most of its victims were gay men.
- The Reagan administration initially responded with indifference.
- Homophobia in the country surged, and gay men were left to take care of their own sick and dying.
- Many Lesbian women took care of the sick and dying in their communities.
- Organizations responded appreciatively by moving the L to the front of the LGBT Movement (previously GLBT).
The Conservative Movement Gains Influence
- In the 1980s, the conservative movement gained significant influence over gender and sexual politics, as well as American foreign policy.
- Ronald Reagan, a committed Cold Warrior, believed the Soviet Union was an "evil empire" and predicted its downfall.
- Reagan Doctrine: declared that the United States would supply aid to anticommunist forces everywhere in the world.
- Federal spending on defense rose from $171 billion in 1981 to $229 billion in 1985, the highest since the Vietnam War.
- Reagan described this as a policy of "peace through strength".
Carter's Shifting Policies
- Carter's administration shifted towards a more conservative/moderate approach.
- The religious right criticized Carter's presidency, particularly regarding the IRS revoking tax-exempt status for racially segregated Christian schools.
The Iran-Contra Affair
- In 1982 the House of Representatives voted 411-0 to bar the USA from sending money to the ultra-right Contra insurgency fighting socialists in Nicaragua.
- Members of Reagan's administration secretly sold US missiles to Iran (using Israel), and asked Iran to funnel that money to the Contras.
- Without definitive proof, talk of impeaching Reagan remained simply talk.
The Rise of the Moral Majority
- Abortion became a unifying issue for the religious right.
- Grassroots passion drove most anti-abortion activism.
- Jerry Falwell, a Baptist minister and religious broadcaster, founded the Moral Majority in 1979.
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Description
Explore the pivotal moments of the New Right's rise during Ronald Reagan's campaign and the impact of conservative populism in American politics. Understand key events and figures, including George Wallace and Richard Nixon, and their influence on social norms and policies in the late 20th century. This quiz dives into the moral majority's response to shifting societal values and the contentious debates around religion and politics.
