Conservative Movements From the Prohibition to the Moral Majority Lecture 4 May 19

Conservative MovementsFrom the Prohibition to the Moral Majority

Lecture 4

May 19

After the Civil War

• Abolition of Slavery • The 14th Amendment

Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896)• Social Darwinism

Progressive Era (1890-1920)

• Regulation• Government and Party Reform• Temperance

Prohibition

Temperance Movement• Started 1800s• Moderation• Effects on FamiliesGovernment Apparatus (ATF)

World War I and the Isolationists

Non-Interventionist: diplomatic policy whereby a nation seeks to avoid alliances with other nations

Washington’s Views

The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. […] it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.

Jefferson’s Views

"peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none."

Two Instances of Isolationism

Late entrance to the War.

Non-Ratification of the League of Nations and the Treaty of Versailles

Response to the Great Depression

Libertarians

vs.

Protectionists

Response to the Great Depression

Protectionism

-- Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930

Spending and Tax Increases

Volunteerism and Hoovervilles

A Libertarian Evaluation

"The serious fault of the Federal Reserve dates from the end of 1930, when a series of bank failures... changed the monetary character of the contraction. Prior to that date, there was no sign of a liquidity crisis—the ratio of currency to deposits was relatively stable or falling. From then on, the economy was plagued by recurrent liquidity crises.”

Conservatism After World War II:

The emergence of Communism:The Rise of Communist China (1949)McCarthyism (1950-1954)Korean War (1950-1953)Vietnam War (1965-1973)Cuban Missile Crises (1968)Scientific Race (Space and Weapons)

If federal funds are spent for housing, welfare, and other assistance to people at the cost of reducing the United States to a second position behind the Soviet

Union in military defense, would you favor or oppose these spending programs?

27.40% Favor 51.70% Oppose

• The principal issue dividing the U.S. and the Soviet Union at the summit was President Reagan's commitment to what's known as ""Star Wars"" -- a space-based missile defense system. Premier Gorbachev wanted the U.S. to agree to sharp restrictions on Star Wars development. In exchange, the Soviets agreed to eliminate all land-based strategic missiles within ten years. President Reagan rejected the deal. If you had to choose right now between eliminating all strategic nuclear missiles or proceeding with Star Wars development, which would you prefer?

35.50% Eliminate all strategic nuclear missiles

55.00% Proceed with Star Wars

The Meaning of CommunismAtheismForced EqualitySlavery (Negative and Positive Freedoms)PovertyTotalitarianismState over the Community, the Individual and

the NationLack Rule of LawProperty

The Emergence of Modern LiberalismA threat to the States’ Rights

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Civil Rights Act and the 24th Amendment

Busing and Affirmative Action

The Emergence of Modern LiberalismA Threat to Religion and Morality

Secularization of Government

Roe v. Wade

Equal Rights Amendment

Freedom of Speech

The Emergence of Modern LiberalismA Threat to laissez-faire

Expansion Welfare State

a) Medicaid and Medicare

Expansion of Regulatory State

A Worrisome Trends

Welfare Caseload 1960-2000

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

1960

1963

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

Year

% P

op

ula

tio

n

Series1

• Talking out of turn• Chewing gum• Making noise• Running in the halls• Cutting in line• Dress-code violations• Littering

School Teachers Rate Top Disciplinary Problems

1940

• Drug abuse• Alcohol abuse• Pregnancy• Suicide• Rape• Robbery• Assault

US News and World Report Basic Data: Congressional Quarter Researcher.

School Teachers Rate Top Disciplinary Problems

1990

Three Conservative Reactions

States’ Rights Movement

Expansion Federal Programs

Desegregation

Three Conservative Reactions

Libertarians

Tax Increases

Regulation

Draft

Growth federal Government

Three Conservative Reactions

Moral Majority

Abortion

Secularism

ERA

Free Speech