The Federal Government and Promoting Vital Movements Various social movements from the 1940s to the 1980s gained a great amount of recognition influenced by the extensive control of the federal government. Although they had different views on how the government should be organized, the Civil Rights Movement and the New Right Movement were deeply affected by the expansion of government power. The Civil Rights Movement largely supported the ideal of government involvement and protection to achieve its goals of equality and justice. In contrast, the New Right Movement believed government involvement should be limited and advocated for traditional conservative values. The federal government played a vital role in determining the lasting impact …show more content…
In 1954, the Supreme Court case ‘Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka’ declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, therefore rejecting the ideals of ‘separate but equal’ (Lecture 17). It was a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement and would continue to improve their everyday lives. This established law allowed for better treatment of African Americans and showed the importance of the federal government’s power in challenging and dismantling the once-established segregated racism in the United States. Similarly, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were also significant legislations made following the Civil Rights Movement. These laws were initiated by the federal government and aimed to further end segregation in public places like schools, transportation, and businesses. The Montgomery Bus System in 1955 is an example that helped further advance the battle for the Civil Rights …show more content…
The movement’s support for these policies was a reaction to the social turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, including urban riots like the ‘March on Washington’ and the counterculture movement like those in the ‘Black Power Movement’ (LEP 816). By advocating for Law and Order principles, the New Right Movement aimed to restore stability and traditional values in the United States. This made the federal government take an assertive role in maintaining public order by allowing the state and local levels of government to take control. While the New Right and the Civil Rights Movement had different approaches to government power, both were influenced by the social and political changes that took place from the 1940s to the 1980s. The Civil Rights Movement supported the expansion of the federal government’s involvement in social issues, as seen in the New Deal and the Great Society programs. Meanwhile, the New Right Movement's resistance to this affirmative change reflected a backlash against government intervention and a desire for a more limited