Chapter 4 - Race and Taxes Flashcards
What was the “liberal consensus” and why did it seem so popular from 1946 to 1964?
The “liberal consensus” was a widely shared belief in the principles of government regulation of the economy, a social safety net, and promotion of infrastructure. It was so popular that those who opposed these views were considered fringe and even ridiculous.
What “crucial vulnerability” did the Brown v. Board of Education decision expose in the liberal consensus?
The Brown v. Board of Education decision tied the active federal government not just to economic equality for white Americans, but also to civil rights for Black Americans. This allowed opponents of the liberal consensus to exploit racial anxieties and argue that the government was using white taxpayers’ money to support “undeserving” Black people
How did opponents of the liberal consensus use the word “socialism” to their advantage?
They used the word “socialism” to stoke fears of communism and to falsely equate civil rights advancements with a redistribution of wealth from hardworking white people to undeserving Black people.
How did the historical use of the word “socialism” in the US differ from its meaning in international socialism?
In the US, the word “socialism” was used by white supremacists after the Civil War to oppose policies that benefited Black Americans. They argued that Black voting, which could lead to increased public investments like roads and hospitals, was a form of socialism because it redistributed wealth from white taxpayers to Black people. This differed from international socialism, which was based on the ideas of Karl Marx and advocated for the working class to take control of the means of production.
How did the American cowboy become a symbol for those opposed to the liberal consensus?
Southern Democrats after the Civil War promoted the myth of the self-reliant American cowboy as a contrast to what they called “socialism.” They portrayed cowboys as white men who were independent of the government, despite the government’s role in supporting the cattle industry. This myth was revived in the 1950s and 1960s through popular Western TV shows and was used to promote the idea of limited government and individual responsibility.
Who was Barry Goldwater and how did he connect Movement Conservatism with the racist mythology of the post-Civil War years?
Barry Goldwater was a Republican senator from Arizona who rose to prominence in the 1950s by criticizing President Eisenhower for embracing “socialism.” Goldwater presented himself as a cowboy who valued self-reliance and opposed government intervention, including civil rights legislation and the Brown v. Board of Education decision. His platform combined opposition to civil rights with a hatred of business regulation, becoming a manifesto against the liberal consensus.
What was the significance of Goldwater’s book, The Conscience of a Conservative?
The Conscience of a Conservative, ghostwritten by L. Brent Bozell Jr., served as a manifesto against the liberal consensus. It advocated for states’ rights, limited government, and free enterprise, echoing the arguments of earlier opponents of Reconstruction. Unlike earlier attempts to dismantle the liberal consensus, this book was successful because it appealed to racial anxieties and was spread through the powerful medium of television.
