Chapter 28 Resurgence of Conservatism

Section 1 The New Conservatism 1970s American politics dominated by Liberals Conservative ideas began growing in 1970s Ronald Reagan elected president-1980, a strong conservative.

Liberalism Liberals believe government should regulate the economy to protect people from the power of large corporations and wealthy elites. Also believe that the Federal Government should give the wealthier people more taxes to help out unfortunate people.

Conservatism Conservatives generally have a fundamental distrust of the power of government, particularly the federal government. Believe government power should be split up between branches, split between the state and federal levels. Believe free enterprise system is best way to organize society. Also, believe that social problems result from issues of morality and character.

Conservatism and the Cold War 1930’s-New Deal- conservatives lost much influence in national politics Support for conservative ideas began to revive for two major reasons: 1. The struggle against communism revived the debate about the role of the government in the economy. 2. Many Americans viewed the Cold War in religious terms.

Conservatives Organize 1955 - William F. Buckley founded a new conservative magazine called National Review, which revived conservative ideas in U.S. 1960 - some 90 young conservative leaders met at Buckley’s family estate and founded Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) Barry Goldwater, a conservative, won the Republican nomination for president, but President Johnson won re-election in a landslide.

The Rise of the Sunbelt American society moved decisively in a conservative direction after 1964 election. Conservatives in the South voted for Democrats and conservatives in West voted for Republicans. Liberals from the Northeast pulled both parties toward liberal policies. The movement South and West was called the Sunbelt.

Sunbelt Conservatism Rust Belt- Industry in the Northeast was in decline. This region had more unemployed people than any other, and its cities were often congested and polluted. Early 1970’s- “Sagebrush Rebellion”- rebellion against federal environmental regulations limiting ranching, controlling water use, and restricted development of region’s natural resources

Suburban Conservatism 1960’s and 1970’s- many Americans moved to suburbs to escape chaos of cities. 1970’s-Rapid inflation caused the buying power of average middle-class families to shrink, but taxes still high. 1978- Howard Jarvis, a conservative activist, launched first successful tax revolt in California (Proposition 13, a referendum on the state ballot that greatly reduced property taxes).

The Religious Right Roe v. Wade (legalized abortion), greatly concerned them. Supreme Court start limiting praying in schools, also more rights for accused. Feminist movement and the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) seemed an assault, to the religious right, on the traditional family. Protestant ministers, such as Billy Graham and Oral Roberts, built national following. Late 1970s- about 70 million Americans described themselves as “born again” Christians. Televangelists- Marion “Pat” Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network and Jerry Farwell used his television show The Old-Time Gospel Hour to form the “Moral Majority” movement

A New Coalition The Watergate scandal, high taxes, and special interest politics had undermined many Americans’ faith in their government. Rising unemployment, rapid inflation and the energy crisis had shaken their confidence in the economy. Riots, crime, and drug abuse suggested that society itself was falling apart. Many Americans wanted stability and a return to better times. For some, the new conservatism and Ronald Reagan offered hope to a distressed nation.