The American Age
Conservative challenges in
the 1960s and 1970s
In the middle of the twentieth century, America was at a crossroads. The liberal
consensus that had dominated since the New Deal began to fracture, giving rise
to a growing conservative movement. This political realignment was a profound
transformation driven by grassroots activism, cultural clashes, and a reimagining
of the nation's values.
Conservative challenges in the 1960s and 1970s
In the middle of the twentieth century, America was at a crossroads. The liberal
Consensus that had dominated since the New Deal began to fracture, giving rise
to a growing conservative movement. This political realignment was a profound
transformation driven by grassroots activism, cultural clashes, and a reimagining
of the nation's values.
The rise of conservative opposition in the 1960s
Anti-war protest in Chicago, 1968. Creative Commons.
, The 1960s were a Tumultuous decade marked by significant social unrest.
The Civil Rights Movement, anti-war protests, and a
youth counterculture challenged traditional norms, leading many Americans to
question the direction of the country. After a perceived “decline” in moral and
cultural values, a conservative backlash emerged that claimed it would restore
the moral center of the American people. This backlash gained momentum from
grassroots activism and national political attention.
One important moment in this new conservative movement was Barry
Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign. Goldwater's strong opposition to
government involvement in the economy and society, along with his support for
personal freedoms, appealed to many who felt left out by fast social changes.
Conservatives saw federal government intervention as a tool to force
progressive values on the American people. Although Goldwater lost the
election, his campaign laid the groundwork for a more organized and assertive
conservative movement.
Simultaneously, conservative intellectuals and activists sought to challenge the
liberal consensus by establishing research institutions funded to promote a
policy agenda.
Think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation
provided a platform for conservative policies and critiques of liberal legislation.
These institutions were central in shaping public discourse and policy and in
advocating for limited government and traditional values.
Cultural and social clashes of the 1970s
The 1970s intensified the cultural and social clashes between conservatives and
liberals. Issues such as abortion, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights became focal
points of disagreement. The Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade (1973),
which legalized abortion nationwide, upset conservative Christians, leading to
the formation of the Moral Majority and other right-wing religious organizations.
These groups sought to blend politics with their moral perspectives, aiming to
reverse what they saw as a moral decline. One of the most prominent figures in
this conservative reaction was Phyllis Schlafly, who led the campaign against
the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) . Schlafly argued that the ERA would
Conservative challenges in
the 1960s and 1970s
In the middle of the twentieth century, America was at a crossroads. The liberal
consensus that had dominated since the New Deal began to fracture, giving rise
to a growing conservative movement. This political realignment was a profound
transformation driven by grassroots activism, cultural clashes, and a reimagining
of the nation's values.
Conservative challenges in the 1960s and 1970s
In the middle of the twentieth century, America was at a crossroads. The liberal
Consensus that had dominated since the New Deal began to fracture, giving rise
to a growing conservative movement. This political realignment was a profound
transformation driven by grassroots activism, cultural clashes, and a reimagining
of the nation's values.
The rise of conservative opposition in the 1960s
Anti-war protest in Chicago, 1968. Creative Commons.
, The 1960s were a Tumultuous decade marked by significant social unrest.
The Civil Rights Movement, anti-war protests, and a
youth counterculture challenged traditional norms, leading many Americans to
question the direction of the country. After a perceived “decline” in moral and
cultural values, a conservative backlash emerged that claimed it would restore
the moral center of the American people. This backlash gained momentum from
grassroots activism and national political attention.
One important moment in this new conservative movement was Barry
Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign. Goldwater's strong opposition to
government involvement in the economy and society, along with his support for
personal freedoms, appealed to many who felt left out by fast social changes.
Conservatives saw federal government intervention as a tool to force
progressive values on the American people. Although Goldwater lost the
election, his campaign laid the groundwork for a more organized and assertive
conservative movement.
Simultaneously, conservative intellectuals and activists sought to challenge the
liberal consensus by establishing research institutions funded to promote a
policy agenda.
Think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation
provided a platform for conservative policies and critiques of liberal legislation.
These institutions were central in shaping public discourse and policy and in
advocating for limited government and traditional values.
Cultural and social clashes of the 1970s
The 1970s intensified the cultural and social clashes between conservatives and
liberals. Issues such as abortion, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights became focal
points of disagreement. The Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade (1973),
which legalized abortion nationwide, upset conservative Christians, leading to
the formation of the Moral Majority and other right-wing religious organizations.
These groups sought to blend politics with their moral perspectives, aiming to
reverse what they saw as a moral decline. One of the most prominent figures in
this conservative reaction was Phyllis Schlafly, who led the campaign against
the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) . Schlafly argued that the ERA would
