The New Right and Conservative Movement

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Questions and Answers

What was the New Right primarily concerned with?

Foreign policy

Social issues such as opposition to abortion and pornography (correct)

Tax reform

Environmental issues

What characterized the origins of the New Right?

The gradual unraveling of the New Deal political order in the 1960s and 1970s, with guidance from skilled politicians and grassroots activists.

Who was George Wallace?

Racist governor of Alabama who advocated for segregation and ran for president.

What mobilized Christian conservatives in the 1960s and 1970s?

To protect the traditional family. Signup and view all the answers

What did activists like Schlafly and LaHaye value?

Motherhood as women's highest calling. Signup and view all the answers

Who founded the Moral Majority?

Jerry Falwell. Signup and view all the answers

What did the IRS ruling in 1978 impact?

Tax exemptions for racially segregated private Christian schools. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the candidates in the 1980 presidential election?

Jimmy Carter vs Ronald Reagan. Signup and view all the answers

What is Reaganomics?

Policies that combined a monetarist fiscal policy, supply-side tax cuts, and domestic budget cutting. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Jesse Jackson?

A civil rights leader and presidential candidate. Signup and view all the answers

How did Americans approach racial diversity in the 1980s?

As a positive value through an individualistic framework. Signup and view all the answers

How did the federal government attempt to finance its debt in the 1980s?

By borrowing money and raising interest rates. Signup and view all the answers

What cultural battle was prominent in the 1980s?

Conservatives and liberals waged a battle of ideas. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to women in the workforce during the 1980s?

They pushed further into male-dominated spheres and outnumbered those who worked at home by 1984. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the right's triumph have on women's rights, particularly regarding abortion?

It placed fundamental questions about women's rights at the center of American politics. Signup and view all the answers

What disease emerged in the 1980s that impacted the homosexual community?

AIDS. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The New Right

A conservative movement from the 1980s focusing on social issues: anti-abortion, opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, pornography, homosexuality, and affirmative action.

Origins of the New Right

Emerged from the gradual decline of the New Deal political order during the 1960s and 1970s.
Supported by skilled politicians like Ronald Reagan and energized by grassroots activism.

George Wallace

Governor of Alabama known for segregationist stance: "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."
Ran for president in 1968 as a candidate for the American Independent Party, emphasizing racism and law and order but lost to Nixon.
Injured by an assassination attempt in 1972, resulting in paralysis.

Origins of the Religious Right

Christian conservatives mobilized in the 1960s and 1970s to defend traditional family values.
Women played a significant role as activists within the movement.

Women in the Conservative Movement

Figures like Phyllis Schlafly and Tim LaHaye promoted motherhood as women's highest calling.
Viewed abortion as a direct threat to female identity.

Jerry Falwell

Baptist minister who founded the Moral Majority.
Advocated for a political agenda focused on pro-life, pro-family, pro-morality, and pro-American values.

Tax Exemptions for Religious Schools

In 1978, the IRS implemented rules revoking tax-exempt status for racially segregated private Christian schools.
The religious right claimed special targeting against Christian institutions by the Carter administration.

1980 Presidential Election

Ronald Reagan (Republican) defeated Jimmy Carter (Democrat) during a struggling economy.
Reagan emphasized free-market principles, military spending, and states' rights.

Ronald Reagan

Elected as president in 1980 and re-elected in 1984 on a populist campaign.
Served as California governor (1966-1974) and was involved in the McCarthy era.
Developed Reagannomics, promoting tax cuts and government incentives.
Pioneered initiatives like the Strategic Defense Initiative and had pivotal meetings with Gorbachev during the Cold War.

Reaganomics

Combines monetarist fiscal policy, supply-side tax cuts, and budget cuts.
Aimed to reduce the federal government's size and stimulate economic growth.

Jesse Jackson

Civil rights leader active in anti-discrimination campaigns.
Ran for presidential nomination as an advocate for racial equality.

Racial Diversity

Growing acceptance of racial diversity in America, paralleled by an individualistic rather than systemic approach to racial issues.
Federal policies disproportionately affected racial minorities.

Finance

The U.S. government borrowed extensively, raising interest rates to attract foreign investments.
Resulted in a stronger dollar and increased imports.

1980 Pop Culture

Cultural conflicts between conservatives and liberals focused on militarism and patriotism during Reagan’s presidency.
Notable absence of political themes in mainstream media.

Women in the Workforce

During the 1980s, women increasingly entered male-dominated fields.
By 1984, women in the workforce exceeded those working at home.

Abortion

The rise of the conservative movement brought women's rights, particularly abortion, to the forefront of political discourse, sparking division among Americans.

AIDS

The emergence of AIDS resulted in stigmatization but also mobilization within the gay community, highlighting discrimination and health activism.

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Description

Explore the emergence and influence of the New Right, a conservative movement from the 1980s focusing on critical social issues. Delve into the significant figures like George Wallace and the role of women in mobilizing Christian conservatives. This quiz covers key concepts and historical contexts surrounding these political movements.