The rise of the modern conservative movement in the 1980s has several throughlines that continue to shape America today. Understanding these connections is crucial for analyzing contemporary issues and the strategies of political parties. One significant throughline is the persistent and evolving role of racial politics. The third reading on the "Southern Strategy" goes into how the Republican Party strategically appealed to white voters, particularly in the South. Who were resistant to the Civil Rights Movement. As Lee Atwater admitted, the overt racism of the past became politically untenable, leading to the adoption of coded language. His statement, "By 1968 you can’t say ‘n****r’ - that hurts you, backfires. So you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff, and you’re getting so abstract," (1980’s) illustrates a calculated shift. This strategy aimed to tap into racial anxieties without explicitly mentioning race, a tactic that continues to influence political rhetoric and voter behavior in debates surrounding immigration, criminal justice, and cultural identity. The legacy of this approach underscores the enduring, though often subtle, influence of race in American political dynamics.
Another critical point is the growing distrust of the government. Ronald Reagan stated "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." (The new right) This belief resonated with a segment of the population that felt burdened by government regulations, high taxes, and the expansion of the welfare state. People’s skepticism towards federal authority, with historical roots in anti-federalist sentiments has become a huge part of the conservative ideology. Today, that distrust manifests itself into political movements advocating for limited government, deregulation, and state autonomy, shaping debates on issues ranging from healthcare to environmental policy.
The emergence of a powerful and diverse political coalition was really important in the success of the conservative movement. The coalition brought together seemingly disparate groups who found common ground on a set of core principles. Michael McQuarrie’s observation, "Reagan represented the reorganisation of the Republican Party around a new coalition which starts capturing white workers for the Republican Party. And so you have this alliance of white workers alongside business elites and social conservatives," (1980’s) identifies these key components. Business leaders were drawn to the promise of lower taxes and deregulation. Social conservatives, often driven by religious or moral values, found a political home in the conservative movement's stance on issues like abortion and traditional family structures. The inclusion of some white working-class voters, who felt alienated by the Democratic Party's focus on social liberalism and racial justice, provided electoral support. This model of coalition-building, appealing to a diverse range of interests, remains a fundamental strategy for both major political parties in their efforts to gain and maintain power. Understanding the dynamics of these coalitions is essential for analyzing current political alignments and electoral outcomes.
The ascendance of supply-side economics and the advocacy for significant tax cuts, particularly for corporations and the wealthy, became a defining economic policy of the modern conservative movement, as discussed in the second and third readings. The underlying belief was that these tax cuts would stimulate economic growth, ultimately benefiting all levels of society – the "trickle-down" effect. While the actual economic outcomes of these policies have been widely debated, this economic philosophy has had a lasting impact on tax policy and continues to be a central tenet for many conservatives. The ongoing debates about income inequality, wealth distribution, and the role of government in regulating the economy are all consequences of the economic shifts that gained prominence during the rise of modern conservatism.
In conclusion, the rise of the modern conservative movement in the 1980s was a transformative period in American political history, with enduring consequences. The strategic use of racial appeals, distrust of the government, the formation of a political coalition, and the embrace of specific economic theories established throughlines that continue to shape our social and political landscape. As of today, all of these things are something our current president is guilty of committing. Donald Trump is guilty of doing all these things, the slogan he created “MAGA” truly seems like a coded message to bring back white power. Why isn’t America great to him anymore, because he believes only the white heterosexual rich men should be leaders. He’s already made numerous decisions that have hurt people of color, those who are LGBTQ+ and those who live in poverty. He is the perfect modern example of a conservative movement rising up to take over America.
Sources:
Aljazeera.“1980s.”
interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2017/the-people-vs-america/1980s.html
Pressbooks. “The new right”. Aug, 5 2020.
https://web.archive.org/web/20240613081100/https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/ushistory2/chapter/the-new-right/
Another critical point is the growing distrust of the government. Ronald Reagan stated "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." (The new right) This belief resonated with a segment of the population that felt burdened by government regulations, high taxes, and the expansion of the welfare state. People’s skepticism towards federal authority, with historical roots in anti-federalist sentiments has become a huge part of the conservative ideology. Today, that distrust manifests itself into political movements advocating for limited government, deregulation, and state autonomy, shaping debates on issues ranging from healthcare to environmental policy.
The emergence of a powerful and diverse political coalition was really important in the success of the conservative movement. The coalition brought together seemingly disparate groups who found common ground on a set of core principles. Michael McQuarrie’s observation, "Reagan represented the reorganisation of the Republican Party around a new coalition which starts capturing white workers for the Republican Party. And so you have this alliance of white workers alongside business elites and social conservatives," (1980’s) identifies these key components. Business leaders were drawn to the promise of lower taxes and deregulation. Social conservatives, often driven by religious or moral values, found a political home in the conservative movement's stance on issues like abortion and traditional family structures. The inclusion of some white working-class voters, who felt alienated by the Democratic Party's focus on social liberalism and racial justice, provided electoral support. This model of coalition-building, appealing to a diverse range of interests, remains a fundamental strategy for both major political parties in their efforts to gain and maintain power. Understanding the dynamics of these coalitions is essential for analyzing current political alignments and electoral outcomes.
The ascendance of supply-side economics and the advocacy for significant tax cuts, particularly for corporations and the wealthy, became a defining economic policy of the modern conservative movement, as discussed in the second and third readings. The underlying belief was that these tax cuts would stimulate economic growth, ultimately benefiting all levels of society – the "trickle-down" effect. While the actual economic outcomes of these policies have been widely debated, this economic philosophy has had a lasting impact on tax policy and continues to be a central tenet for many conservatives. The ongoing debates about income inequality, wealth distribution, and the role of government in regulating the economy are all consequences of the economic shifts that gained prominence during the rise of modern conservatism.
In conclusion, the rise of the modern conservative movement in the 1980s was a transformative period in American political history, with enduring consequences. The strategic use of racial appeals, distrust of the government, the formation of a political coalition, and the embrace of specific economic theories established throughlines that continue to shape our social and political landscape. As of today, all of these things are something our current president is guilty of committing. Donald Trump is guilty of doing all these things, the slogan he created “MAGA” truly seems like a coded message to bring back white power. Why isn’t America great to him anymore, because he believes only the white heterosexual rich men should be leaders. He’s already made numerous decisions that have hurt people of color, those who are LGBTQ+ and those who live in poverty. He is the perfect modern example of a conservative movement rising up to take over America.
Sources:
Aljazeera.“1980s.”
interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2017/the-people-vs-america/1980s.html
Pressbooks. “The new right”. Aug, 5 2020.
https://web.archive.org/web/20240613081100/https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/ushistory2/chapter/the-new-right/