Religious Right (81-92)

Question 1

What was the Religious Right?

Answer 1

Influential group of voters in the late 70s
Opposed abortion and homosexuality
Right-wing, traditional values

Question 2

What were the beliefs of the Religious Right?

Answer 2

Opposed:
- Feminism, divorce, drug taking
- Roe VS Wade, homosexuality, pornography

Question 3

Why were the Religious Right significant?

Answer 3

• Both Presidents somewhat endorsed them, stating god plays a part when making policies
• Seen as a form of culture war
• Silent majority agreed with the RR
• Prominent in Southern states of US
• Reagan grew associated with the RR - had to emphasise his disgust

Question 4

How did the RR campaign against homosexuality?

Answer 4

• Set up anti-gay groups
• Groups were strengthened in the 80s with the spread of AIDS
• Christian Coalition set up in ‘88, lobbied against gay rights and abortion

Question 5

What was the ‘Just Say No Campaign’?

Answer 5

• Nancy Reagan, supported by her husband, set up this campaign
• Promoted religious values, harsher school discipline and enforced anti drug laws
• Called for routine urine testing on workers woking in public health and safety
• 1990, federal and state expenditure on the enforcement of drug laws was over $10billion a year
• RR didn’t manage to feed off the challenges to social conformity they desired

Question 6

Why was there a growth in political divisions (81-92)?

Answer 6

• Divisions between Republicans and Democrats over traditional moral values
• During 1992 campaign, former Reagan attacked Bush and promised that if he were the Republican candidate, he’d start a culture war against liberal influences in government
• Old style Democrats were still hankered after Great Society policies, but recognise that centrist ‘New Democrats’ were more electable
• RR mounted a counter-offence against the social changes and challenges
• Proved unable to turn the clock back, homosexuals were not reverting, nor abortions to the back streets, number of divorces rose still, drug taking still took place

Question 7

Why was Reagan seen as an RR sympathiser?

Answer 7

• After appointing Sandra Day to the Supreme Court (disappointing RR as she sympathised with women wanting abortions)
• Reagan persuaded Congress to fund ‘chastity clinics’ where women would be encouraged to avoid sex
• Managed to get the Supreme Court to rule that Missouri could deny women access to public abortion facilities