Triumph of the Right

American Yawp: The Triumph of the Right

I. Introduction

• Ronald Reagan's Vision:

  • Speaking to Detroit autoworkers in October 1980, Reagan criticized the state of the American Dream under Democratic President Jimmy Carter, portraying a vision of decline. He promised a revival, likening the U.S. to a "city upon a hill."

• Rise of the New Right:

  • The New Right represented a more libertarian economic stance and strong conservative religious values compared to post-WWII conservatism.

  • This movement became a powerful force within the Republican Party, credited with successes in elections.

  • It drew strength from grassroots activism, particularly among Christian conservatives, and bifurcated the liberal consensus dating back to the New Deal.

• Impact of the New Right:

  • Reagan's administration favored free-market principles, shifting away from New Deal policies focused on redistribution and welfare.

  • Conservative movements gained momentum from popular distrust of regulation, while critics noted increased economic inequality and corporate benefits from Reagan's policies.

  • Despite some social welfare programs persevering, the overall impact was partial success in cultural and public policy changes.

• Long-term Transformation:

  • The conservative movement altered the political landscape, compelling liberals to fight on the terms set by the New Right.

II. Conservative Ascendance

• Political Mobilization Post-WWII:

  • Despite initial setbacks, conservatism witnessed a resurgence in the decades after WWII due to various factors:

    • Social Agenda Backlash:

      • Johnson’s Great Society policies evoked fears of centralized government similar to Soviet communism.

    • Race and Civil Rights:

      • The civil rights movement pushed white voters, especially in the South, towards the Republican Party and fueled “white backlash” in urban areas.

• New Political Solutions:

  • Discontent among working-class whites grew due to economic factors, creating room for new ideologies.

  • Figures like George Wallace presented a populist alliance of older New Deal principles with emerging conservatism, emphasizing American traditional values.

• Resurgence of Christian Conservatives:

  • Mobilizing in response to perceived threats to family values and traditional morals, women made up a significant portion of activists.

  • Notable events included protests against sex education and campaigns against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) led by figures like Phyllis Schlafly.

• Growing Influence of the Religious Right:

  • Activists united against abortion post-Roe v. Wade, particularly following Francis Schaeffer's documentary advocating this stance.

  • The formation of organizations like the Moral Majority in 1979 highlighted a clear political agenda focused on social issues.

III. Convergence of Conservative Movements

• Intersection of Various Movements:

  • By the late 1970s, a diverse array of groups such as blue-collar workers, business leaders, and Christian conservatives came together under the Republican banner.

  • Business leaders contributed through PACs and think tanks, fueling a sophisticated counteroffensive against liberalism.

  • Neoconservatives entered the political fray, arguing for more aggressive anti-communist policies post-détente.

• Key Questions:

  1. What factors contributed to the rise of the New Right movement, and how did it differ from earlier forms of conservatism?

  2. In what ways did the conservative movement achieve partial victories in the 1980s and how did it lead to lasting transformations in American politics?

  3. How did various streams of conservative political mobilization converge in the late 1970s, and what institutions helped transform these diverse groups into a cohesive movement?