New conservatism rose to prominence in the United States due to a pushback against big government, a negative reaction to social progressivism, and a perception of declining American strength at home and abroad. Starting with FDR’s New Deal, the American government began to intervene more and more in the economic and social realms. The New Deal programs were followed by the establishment of sweeping social welfare programs, such as Medicare and Social Security. As pointed out by one time Republican presidential hopeful Barry Goldwater in a speech to his fellow conservationists, “government is engaged in activities in which it has no legitimate business” (Doc 1). He spoke for many when he enumerated that the rise of big government was pernicious …show more content…
Social progressivism began in the 1960s and spurred skepticism about authority (the year 1968 is branded ‘stormy’ because of all the anti-government protests), support for feminism and gay rights (as evidenced by the Stonewall Rebellion), and a sexual revolution. While the idea of social progressivism perpetuated for approximately a decade, it met its demise with the rise of conservatism. Jerry Falwell, who critiques the morality of America, urged his supporters to “reverse the trend America finds itself in today” (Doc 4). He advocated new conservatism by denouncing the youth of America for their “loss of respect for human life,” and their involvement with “the drug culture” (Doc 4). Falwell was the founder of the Moral Majority, a group that pushed back against gay rights and feminism, and he was a forerunner of the rise of new conservatism because of his speeches against social progressivism. Teddi Holt also contributed to the rise of new conservatism by denouncing feminism, another facet of social progressivism. She criticized feminists by stating that they “were calling for liberation from the things women like me love most—our husbands, our children, our homes,” (Doc 6). She even suggested that feminists were at a detriment to the safety of households across America by urging American citizens to “unite against threats to the home” (Doc 6). Holt’s intended