Study Notes on American Politics in Transition, 1968-1980

Misery Index: Calculation comprising the Unemployment Rate and the Inflation Rate.
- Formula: Misery Index = Unemployment Rate + Inflation Rate
- Historical data reflects unemployment and inflation trends from 1971 to 1980.

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

Explain the rise of the New Right and its distinctions from Nixon's pragmatic conservatism.
Discuss the successes and failures of the women’s movement in the 1970s.
Explain the growth of the environmental movement and its impact on American society.
Analyze the factors that led to the rise of the New Right and its influence, particularly the Christian Right, on politics in the 1970s.

Consider factors leading to the emergence of a new conservatism during the 1970s and the resulting impact on liberal activism, environmentalism, and women's rights.

The 1970s marked a continuation of cultural changes and rights movements from the previous decade, with notable impacts on:
  - Environmentalism: Victories in protections for air and water quality, as well as endangered species.
  - Women's Rights: Supreme Court rulings favoring abortion rights.
  - Emergence of the New Right: A conservative counter to liberal activism, amalgamating various conservative movements.

Increased divorce rates and shifting social norms:
- Divorce rate increased by 116% post-1965, peaking in 1979 at 23 per 1,000 married couples.
- Cultural acceptance of various social lifestyles and recreational drug usage.
The backlash against affirmative action and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) indicated conservatives' gains over liberal reforms.

Growth Factors: The New Right emerged as a response to:
  - Higher taxes and expanding federal government.
  - Disillusionment of former liberal intellectuals.
  - The growing influence of the Christian Right.
Represented a shift from Nixon’s more pragmatic conservatism to a more vigorous, ideologically driven conservatism.

The women’s movement gained traction but faced significant opposition:
- 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade sparked ongoing controversy regarding abortion legality.
- Congress implemented restrictions on federal funding for abortion services for impoverished women around the same time.
The National Organization for Women (NOW) aimed to pass the ERA, promoting gender equality under the law:
- Thirty-five states ratified the ERA by 1976, but conservative backlash led by activists like Phyllis Schlafly thwarted its final adoption by 1982.

Educational Amendments Act (1972), Title IX prohibited sex discrimination in federally funded education, leading to advancements in women's sports and increased educational opportunities for women.

Despite the progress, traditional femininity remained appealing to many women and was upheld by conservative representatives in legislatures.
The women's movement also witnessed the emergence of women of color advocating for broader definitions of feminism to include race, class, and sex oppression (e.g., Combahee River Collective).

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962) heightened awareness of ecological damages caused by pesticides, linking environmental issues with public health.
- Carson's work illustrated the interconnectivity of human activities and environmental health.
By 1970, public concern for water pollution surged, with 53% viewing it as a critical issue.

President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ratified the Clean Air Act, targeting vehicular emissions.
Investors in industry resisted stricter environmental regulations due to rising costs and competitive pressures, leading to job loss fears.

Events like the Three Mile Island nuclear accident (1979) spurred public demand for stronger oversight and accountability, showcasing the potential risks posed by industrial enterprises.

Disadvantaged communities were often disproportionately affected by environmental hazards, leading to the rise of the environmental justice movement, advocating for fair treatment of all peoples regardless of race or income level in environmental policies.

Emphasis on traditional family values propagated through the Moral Majority, formed by religious leaders like Jerry Falwell, aligned evangelical efforts with political activism.
By the late 1970s, evangelical Christians totaled around 50 million individuals, forming a significant voting bloc.

Issues central to the Christian Right included:
- Opposition to abortion and gay rights.
- Advocacy for the inclusion of religious expression in public life (e.g., opposition to Supreme Court rulings against school prayers).
Evangelical activism capitalized on media, transforming religious messages into organized political efforts.

Economic conservatives advocated for supply-side economics, arguing that reducing taxes would lead to increased investment and job growth, promoting fiscal conservatism and limited government intervention in the economy.