Extent Of Religious Right Influence 1981-92 Flashcards
What was a significant factor for the dominance of the Republican Party in the 1980s?
The poor performance of the American economy in the late 1970s under Democrat president Jimmy Carter.
This economic downturn contributed to a shift in political power towards the Republicans.
What foreign affairs issue contributed to Jimmy Carter’s poor performance?
The Iran Hostage Crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
These events affected public perception of Carter’s leadership.
What role did the Religious Right play in the political landscape of the 1980s?
Supported ‘traditional values’ and believed in the central role of family and Christianity in American society.
Their influence was significant in mobilizing voters who identified with these values.
In 1980, how was the USA characterized in terms of religiosity?
The most religious nation in the western world.
This high level of religiosity provided a large audience for the Religious Right’s message.
What percentage of Americans prayed every day according to a late 1970s poll?
Approximately 50 percent.
This statistic illustrates the strong religious sentiment in the country at the time.
What percentage of Americans believed in an afterlife in the late 1970s?
80 percent.
This belief further highlights the religious context in which the Religious Right operated.
Who was the best-known individual associated with the Religious Right?
Reverend Jerry Falwell.
His prominence helped shape the Religious Right’s political influence.
What was the name of the radio show hosted by Jerry Falwell?
The Old Time Gospel Hour.
This show reached over 1.5 million listeners nationwide.
What organization did Jerry Falwell found in 1979?
The Moral Majority.
This organization aimed to promote traditional values and harness the political influence of the Religious Right.
Fill in the blank: The Moral Majority was founded to promote _______.
[traditional values].
The organization focused on mobilizing those who identified with these values.
True or False: The Religious Right had no significant political influence during the 1980s.
False.
The Religious Right played a crucial role in the political dynamics of the decade.
What was the potential audience size for Jerry Falwell’s radio show?
1.5 million people.
This large audience helped disseminate the Religious Right’s message widely.
What role did television evangelists play in the USA from 1955-92?
Television evangelists, such as Pat Robertson, had a significant influence, with Robertson’s network making $310 million and reaching an audience of 20 million in 1980.
Who was Jerry Falwell?
Jerry Falwell (1933-2007) was a prominent evangelical leader who founded the Moral Majority and was an outspoken critic of liberal social movements.
What did Jerry Falwell establish in 1967 and 1971?
He founded the Lynchburg Christian Academy in 1967 and Liberty Baptist College in 1971.
What was the Moral Majority?
The Moral Majority was a political organization founded by Jerry Falwell in 1979 that aimed to promote conservative Christian values.
What was the outcome of Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell?
The US Supreme Court ruled in 1988 that public figures could not receive libel damages for emotional distress caused by media stories, protecting free speech.
How much money did Falwell help raise for Moral Majority causes?
Falwell helped raise $100 million for Moral Majority causes during the 1980 Reagan campaign.
What was President Reagan’s stance on traditional values?
During his 1980 campaign, Reagan expressed support for traditional family values, traditional gender roles, and the rights of unborn children.
What significant Supreme Court appointments did Reagan make?
Reagan appointed Sandra Day O’Connor, William Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, and elevated Anthony Kennedy, making the Court more conservative.
What did Reagan claim about the role of faith in politics?
In a 1984 speech, Reagan stated that faith and religion play a critical role in the political life of the nation and strengthen society.
What was the significance of the phrase ‘one nation under God’ in Reagan’s speech?
Reagan emphasized that forgetting this principle could lead to the nation’s downfall.
What significant event occurred on 23 August 1987?
Reagan starts her Just Say No campaign against illegal drug use.
What happened in 1989 regarding Robert Bork?
The US Senate rejects the nomination of Robert Bork as a US Supreme Court judge.
What law was limited in 1992?
Law limits abortion.
What was the outcome of Planned Parenthood v Casey?
It upholds Roe v Wade and allows abortions under the law.
What was a key factor in the conservative backlash against abortion?
The US Supreme Court decision to legalise abortion in Roe v Wade, the women’s movement, and the legalisation of pornography in some states.
Who was Phyllis Schlafly?
A key individual in the campaign against abortion, known as the Sweetheart of the Silent Majority.
What organization did the National Conference of Catholic Bishops create?
The National Right to Life Committee.
How many supporters did the National Right to Life Committee have by 1980?
11 million supporters from a wide variety of religious denominations.
Who formed Concerned Women for America (CWA) in 1979?
Beverley La Haye, the wife of a Baptist minister from San Diego.
What issues did the CWA oppose?
Abortion and no-fault divorce laws.
What was the stance of the CWA on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?
They were against it, regarding it as anti-family.
How many members did the CWA have by the mid-1980s?
500,000 members, making it larger than the National Organization of Women.
What significant event occurred on 23 August 1987?
Reagan starts her Just Say No campaign against illegal drug use.
What happened in 1989 regarding Robert Bork?
The US Senate rejects the nomination of Robert Bork as a US Supreme Court judge.
What law was limited in 1992?
Law limits abortion.
What was the outcome of Planned Parenthood v Casey?
It upholds Roe v Wade and allows abortions under the law.
What was a key factor in the conservative backlash against abortion?
The US Supreme Court decision to legalise abortion in Roe v Wade, the women’s movement, and the legalisation of pornography in some states.
Who was Phyllis Schlafly?
A key individual in the campaign against abortion, known as the Sweetheart of the Silent Majority.
What organization did the National Conference of Catholic Bishops create?
The National Right to Life Committee.
How many supporters did the National Right to Life Committee have by 1980?
11 million supporters from a wide variety of religious denominations.
Who formed Concerned Women for America (CWA) in 1979?
Beverley La Haye, the wife of a Baptist minister from San Diego.
What issues did the CWA oppose?
Abortion and no-fault divorce laws.
What was the stance of the CWA on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?
They were against it, regarding it as anti-family.
How many members did the CWA have by the mid-1980s?
500,000 members, making it larger than the National Organization of Women.
What was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and its outcome?
The ERA aimed to ensure equal rights regardless of sex but failed to become part of the US Constitution despite support from campaigners and Congress.
The proposal had to pass both houses of Congress and was not ratified by enough states by 1952.
What was the Religious Right’s stance on homosexuality?
The Religious Right opposed homosexuality, believing it contradicted Bible teachings and viewed AIDS as a punishment from God for being gay.
What was Nancy Reagan’s Just Say No campaign?
The Just Say No campaign aimed to discourage drug use among children and young people during Nancy Reagan’s time as First Lady.
Nancy Reagan claimed drugs took away children’s dreams and replaced them with nightmares.
What actions did Nancy Reagan take to promote the Just Say No campaign?
She visited treatment centers, addressed national conferences, traveled extensively, and invited world leaders’ wives to a conference on drug abuse.
She traveled 250,000 miles and visited 65 cities in 33 states.
What was the impact of Nancy Reagan’s campaign on youth drug use?
The campaign led to a reduction in illegal drug use among youth, with cocaine use dropping from 6.2% to 4.3% among high school students from 1986 to 1987.
How did marijuana use among high school leavers change by 1987?
Daily marijuana use among high school leavers dropped from over 10% in 1976 to around 3% by 1987.
What was the significance of Nancy Reagan’s role as First Lady?
Nancy Reagan played a significant role in creating a national anti-drug campaign, aligning her efforts with the aims of the Religious Right.
What slogan did Reagan use for his re-election in 1984?
‘Morning Again in America’ to suggest stability and prosperity.
What happened to the income share of the top 20 percent of wage earners from 1980 to 1988?
Their share of national income increased from 41.6 percent to 44 percent.
What happened to the income share of the bottom 60 percent of wage earners during the Reagan years?
Their share of national income decreased.
How did the income share of the top one percent of earners change from 1980 to 1988?
Their share increased from nine percent to 11 percent.
What was the political composition of the House of Representatives during Reagan’s presidency?
It had a Democrat majority throughout Reagan’s presidency.
What happened to Republican control of the Senate after the 1986 midterm elections?
Republicans lost control of the Senate.
Who did Reagan attempt to nominate as a US Supreme Court judge in 1987?
Robert Bork, an outspoken conservative.
What was Robert Bork’s stance on the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
He opposed it and affirmative action for ethnic minorities.
What was required for a Supreme Court judge to be confirmed?
A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.
What was the outcome of Bork’s nomination?
It was rejected by 58 votes to 42.
What was Reagan’s approach to federal regulatory bodies?
Reagan attempted to limit the power of federal regulatory bodies by reducing funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Health and Human Services Department (HHS).
What significant action did Reagan take regarding federalism?
Reagan set up the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism and the Coordinating Task Force on Federalism in April 1981.
What was Reagan’s plan announced in his 1982 State of the Union message?
Reagan announced his plan to reduce federal spending and give money directly to the states to use as they saw fit.
What was the outcome of Reagan’s plans regarding federal spending?
Reagan’s plans failed to pass Congress, where the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.
How did Bush Senior’s approach differ from Reagan’s?
Bush Senior attempted to bring greater consensus and even denounced Reaganomics as voodoo economics.
What significant legislation did Bush Senior pass in 1990?
In 1990, Bush Senior got Congress to pass a Clean Air Act.
What was the purpose of the Energy Policy Act signed by Bush Senior in 1992?
The Energy Policy Act aimed at greater energy conservation and support for renewable energy.
What controversial actions did Bush Senior take in 1992?
Bush Senior raised income tax and cut federal spending to eradicate a large budget deficit.
What were the consequences of Bush Senior’s actions in 1992?
Cutting spending alienated Democrats and raising taxes alienated Republicans, leading to his loss in the 1992 election to Bill Clinton.
What criticism did Walter Mondale express regarding Reagan’s tax program?
Mondale criticized Reagan for giving tax relief to the wealthy while asking working families to pay for it.
What did Mondale suggest about the administration’s plan for the future?
Mondale suggested that if the administration had a plan for a better future, they were keeping it a secret.
What metaphor did Mondale use to describe the economic situation?
Mondale stated, ‘We are living on borrowed money and borrowed time.’
