Rise of the New Right

Overview of the Rise of the New Right

  • Focus primarily on the rise of the New Right as a resurgent conservative movement.

  • Connection to earlier social programs and movements, including the Great Society, Cold War initiatives, and civil rights.

  • A resurgent conservative movement that grew rapidly and was a coalition of several different groups with several different ideas and goals

Historical Context

  • Previous discussions include:

    • Great Society initiatives aimed at addressing poverty.

    • John F. Kennedy's efforts, including the NASA program, in the context of the Cold War.

  • Key social movements and their influence:

    • Anti-war protests related to the Vietnam War.

    • Events influencing the political framework of America in the 1960s.

Factors Contributing to the Rise of the New Right

  • Unraveling of the Democratic Party (1968):

    • Lyndon Johnson's withdrawal from the 1968 election amid the Vietnam War discontent.

    • The 1968 Democratic Convention's portrayal of a fractured party.

    • Loss of citizen faith in Democratic leadership due to handling of Vietnam.

  • Richard Nixon and the Silent Majority:

    • Definition: A large group of Americans not publicly protesting during the upheavals of the 1960s; focused on daily lives rather than protests.

    • Nixon's address on November 3, 1969, popularizing the term.

    • Shift to conservative politics, focusing on suburban white working and middle-class voters.

    • Emergence of the “Southern Realignment,” where many Democrats migrated to the Republican Party.

    • Connection to later political claims by leaders representing ordinary citizens.

  • Moral Majority:

    • Founded in 1979 by Reverend Jerry Falwell.

    • Christian Right

    • Mobilization of Conservative Christians

    • Against Roe v. Wade (1973)

    • Supported traditional moral and family values in American society.

    • Significant in electing Ronald Reagan in 1980.

  • Affirmative Action Programs

  • Increase in Taxes

  • Counterculture Movement:

    • Contrasted against mainstream values promoted by the Silent Majority and the Moral Majority.

    • Made up of communal living advocates, hippies, and anti-war demonstrators.

    • Promoted peace, individual freedoms, environmental awareness, and anti-materialism.

  • Perception of Weakness Against Communism:

    • Anxiety about the U.S. becoming 'soft' on communism influenced political attitudes.

  • Deindustrialization:

    • Decline of manufacturing in the Northeast and Midwest (Rust Belt) due to automation and globalization.

    • Resulted in job losses, economic decline, and factory closures.

    • Growth of economic inequality and loss of identity among blue-collar workers.

    • Rise of the Sun Belt region's political and economic power.

Key Figures in the New Right Coalition

  • Ronald Reagan:

    • Launched the “Reagan Revolution” with a focus on restoring American exceptionalism.

    • Advocated for the idea that the American dream was reachable despite the economic challenges of the 70s.

    • Framed the Cold War as a moral struggle, justifying defensive spending and anti-communist policies.

    • Emphasis on:

    • War on crime: Increased funding and harsher sentencing linked to drug issues and crime.

    • Economic Liberty (Return of Laissez-Faire)

    • Government Assistance makes this worse

    • Reagan Doctrine: Provide overt and covert aid to anti-communist resistance movements to “rollback” communism

    • Reaganomics:

      • Tax reductions for the wealthy and businesses to spur economic growth.

      • Deregulation across several sectors, including banking, energy, transportation, and the environment.

      • Social program cuts while increasing defense spending.

      • Outcomes included a sharp decline in inflation, a surge in economic growth, increased federal deficits, and rising income inequality.

Political Landscape Comparison: Liberalism vs. Conservatism

  • Liberalism (1970s):

    • Advocated for significant government involvement in improving American lives.

    • Supported social programs for the poor, elderly, and marginalized groups.

    • Sponsor laws to protect minorities and women

    • Limiting the power of Big Business

    • Embraces new freedoms of counterculture and mass media

    • Emphasized diplomacy and cooperation in international relations/organizations to combat communism.

  • Conservatism (1970s):

    • Critiqued the financial burden of Lyndon Johnson’s social programs and liberal policies.

    • Believed that the large central government endangered economic growth and individual freedoms.

    • 1960s liberal policies left a legacy of rising inflation and waste of money

    • Criticized liberals for their approach of throwing money at social problems, echoing sentiments from the New Deal era and the failures of liberal social programs

    • Reduces taxes and limits government regulations of industry (Big Business supporters)

    • Warns of the dangers of abandoning American traditional values in the new freedoms of counterculture values

    • Anti-Communism

Conclusion on the Rise of the New Right

  • The rise of the New Right shaped American politics, creating a powerful backlash against liberal reforms aimed at addressing socio-economic and civil rights issues.

  • The implications and reverberations of these changes continue to influence contemporary political discussions and policies.

  • Encouraged to read additional contextual materials to enhance understanding.