The Rise of Modern Conservatism

Conservatives Consolidate Political Factors that makes conservatism more appealing: LBJ’s policies Affirmative Action Social programs for poor Supreme Court rulings on social issues (assault on traditional values) Prayer in school Pornography Contraception Death penalty Roe v. Wade

Conservatives Reaction “It is now time to take a stand on certain moral issues, and we can only stand if we have leaders. We must stand against the Equal Rights Amendment, the feminist revolution, and the homosexual revolution. We must have a revival in this country. . . .As a preacher of the Gospel, I not only believe in prayer and preaching, I also believe in good citizenship. If a labor union in America has the right to organize and improve its working conditions, then I believe that the churches and the pastors, the priests, and the rabbis of America have a responsibility, not just the right, to see to it that the moral climate and conscience of Americans is such that this nation can be healed inwardly. If it is healed inwardly, then it will heal itself outwardly. . . Americans have been silent much too long.” Explain the conservative quote

Engel v. Vitale US Supreme Court ruled that no state could require school children to pray. One year later the high court ruled against mandatory Bible readings and recitations of the Lord’s prayer in public schools. NO PRAYER IN SCHOOL

Conservative Voices “The ruling has put the United States schools on the same basis as Russian schools….[the rulings are part of a] diabolical scheme….that is taking God and moral teaching from schools….and will usher in a deluge of juvenile delinquency” What does this mean?

Conservative Voices [The elimination of school prayer was part of] a movement gathering momentum in America to take the traditional concept of God out of our national life. If this movement succeeds, IN GOD WE TRUST will be taken from our coins, the Bible will be removed from our courthouses, future presidents will be sworn into office with their hand on a copy of the Constitution instead of the Bible….” What does this mean?

Billy Graham Born in 1918 (96 years old) Evangelical Southern Baptist Broadcasted sermons on the news and radio Served as moral advisor to several presidents Spoke out against communism Preached with Martin Luther King Jr. at Madison Square Garden Bailed MLK out of jail in the 60s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SPXeiXAP3I

Billy Graham

Billy Graham What role did Billy Graham believe religion played in American Culture? Moral foundation to our country – what guides and contributes to our prosperity. How might Graham’s comments about the Supreme Court’s ruling ending prayer in schools be radical for a preacher to make in the United States in 1962? Blurs line between church and state. Until now most religions had avoided political activism

Conservative Voices “Not long ago, Senator John Kennedy stated bluntly that the American people had gone soft. I am glad to discover he had finally recognized the government policies which created dependent citizens inevitably rob a nation and its people of both moral and physical strength.” What does this mean?

Conservative Voices “The conservative approach is nothing more or less than an attempt to apply the wisdom and experience and the revealed truths of the past to the problems of today. The challenge is not to find new or different truths, but to learn how to apply established truths to the problems of the contemporary world.” What does this mean?

Conservative Voices “Now failure cements the wall of shame in Berlin; failure blots the sands of shame at the Bay of Pigs; failure marked the slow death of freedom in Laos; failure infests the jungles of Vietnam, and failure haunts the houses of our once great alliances and undermines the greatest bulwark ever erected by free nations, the NATO community. Failure proclaims lost leadership, obscure purpose, weakening wills and the risk of inciting our sworn enemies to new aggressions and to new excesses.” What does this mean?

Barry Goldwater

1964 Campaign

Barry Goldwater Born in 1909; died in 1998 Served in the Air Force, National Guard, and Air Force Reserves Fought in World War II and the Korean War Episcopalian, Businessman, Arizona Senator Ran for President against Lyndon Johnson Defeated by the biggest landslide in American history Credited for starting the conservative movement in the Republican Party Father of Modern Conservatism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--375PlwiCw

Barry Goldwater What appear to be the political values of these Conservative Republicans? smaller government laissez faire anti- communism honoring tradition

Jerry Falwell

Moral Majority Founded by televangelical Jerry Falwell Wanted to follow the dictates of the Bible and revive the traditional values they believed had strengthened the country in the past. Appealed to viewers to contribute money to their campaign. Delivered fervent sermons on specific political issues and used the money they raised to back conservative politicians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rb1h1-oghk&playnext=1&list=PL88B620D4219E9DA2&feature=results_main

Goals of Moral Majority Traditional family life Opposed the ERA and SALT Opposed homosexuality Outlaw abortion with no exceptions Bring back prayer in schools Ban pornography

Conservatives Unite

Promote conservative principles of - free enterprise limited government traditional American values strong national defense Work to influence law and policy makers One of the most influential conservative research industries today

National Rifle Association (NRA) Founded in 1871 Centers on the 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms) Promotes Firearm ownership Police training Firearm safety Marksmanship Hunting Self-defense training

NRA How might the right to own a firearm be considered a conservative value? Gun ownership is tradition. To many conservatives the 2nd Amendment was created to give Americans a way to protect against the tyranny of the government. Given the size of the federal government today many would argue that it’s more important than ever.

NRA TODAY Aggressive protector of the 2nd Amendment One of the top three most influential lobbying groups in America

Gun Control Debate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNdIBZWhzO8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SqDocHFJ8k