According To Ronald Story And Bruce Laurie The Dozen Years

According To Ronald Story And Bruce Laurie The Dozen Years Between 1

According to Ronald Story and Bruce Laurie, “The dozen years between 1968 and 1980 marked more than the beginning of Republican ascendency; they also saw the breakup of the New Deal coalition and the advent of conservative domination of American politics.” In this essay, you should explain, first, how it is that conservatives came to dominate American politics by the 1980s and, second, how the ideas and policies they embraced shaped American society into the twenty-first century.

Paper For Above instruction

The period from 1968 to 1980 was a crucial turning point in American political history, marking the rise of conservatism and the decline of the New Deal coalition that had long dominated American politics. This shift was driven by a convergence of social, economic, and political factors, including reactions to the tumult of the 1960s, the Vietnam War, civil rights movements, and economic transformations. Understanding how conservatism gained prominence by the 1980s, and how its ideas shaped subsequent American society, requires an exploration of these dynamics rooted in the sources provided.

One of the key catalysts for the conservative ascendancy was the societal upheaval of the late 1960s, exemplified by protests related to civil rights, the LGBT movement, and anti-war demonstrations. The "Black Cat Tavern" incident and subsequent activism highlighted tensions regarding social change, racial equality, and gender rights, often met with institutional resistance (Source 1). Many Americans, especially those in the suburbs and rural areas, perceived these upheavals as a threat to traditional values and social stability. This reactionaries' sentiment fueled a conservative backlash that questioned the liberal social policies and civil rights gains of the previous decades.

The political landscape also shifted as former Democratic allies, particularly white working-class voters and middle-class Americans, became disillusioned with the Democratic Party's handling of social and economic issues during this period. The crisis in cities, as detailed in the document "Crisis in the Cities and 1968," illustrated urban decline, increased crime, and economic distress, fueling fears of societal breakdown (Source 3). These concerns created fertile ground for conservative messages emphasizing law and order, constitutional originalism, and free-market policies, appealing to those seeking stability and tradition.

Conservatives also exploited economic anxieties through policies that promoted deregulation and free enterprise — ideas emphasized in Alfred Kahn’s analysis of the airline industry "Cheap Flights" and the broader revival of market-based solutions discussed in "A Second Gilded Age?" (Sources 6, 7). The Reagan-led movement built on these ideas, advocating tax cuts, reduced government intervention, and a rollback of New Deal-era social programs. These policy shifts reflected a desire to reassert individualism and economic freedom, contrasting sharply with the interventionist policies of the New Deal.

The political realignment associated with the conservative movement was exemplified by Ronald Reagan's presidency in the 1980s, which embodied the principles of limited government, strong national defense, and traditional moral values. Reagan's rhetoric, emphasizing patriotism, free markets, and family values, resonated with a broad segment of Americans disillusioned with liberal policies and social unrest (Sources 4, 5). The election of Reagan marked the formal defeat of the old liberal coalition, giving rise to a conservative dominance that has persisted into the twenty-first century.

Furthermore, the ideas embraced by conservatives during this era profoundly shaped American society, affecting policies in economics, culture, and foreign affairs. Reagan's emphasis on deregulation and tax cuts led to economic growth but also increased income inequality, setting the stage for ongoing debates about economic justice. Culturally, the conservative emphasis on traditional family values influenced policy debates on issues such as abortion, education, and social welfare, many of which continue to be contentious today.

In foreign policy, the conservative push for a robust military and unwavering opposition to communism marked the Cold War's latter stages, further consolidating conservative dominance in American politics. The anti-Soviet stance and aggressive foreign policy strategies shaped interactions with the world well into the post-Cold War era, influencing America's global position into the twenty-first century.

In conclusion, the conservative ascendancy between 1968 and 1980 was driven by societal reactions to upheaval, economic anxieties, and a desire for stability. Their policies and ideas redefined American political and social life, emphasizing free markets, traditional values, and a strong national defense, with effects that continue to influence contemporary debates. The transformation initiated during these years laid the groundwork for the political landscape of the twenty-first century, exemplifying how ideological shifts can alter a nation’s trajectory for decades to come.

References

• Black Cat Tavern and the LGBT Movement. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Insert credible source]
• ESPN Sport Center on Katherine Switzer. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.espn.com
• Crisis in the Cities and 1968.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from [source URL or database]
• MLK’s Final Speech in 1968. (1968). Retrieved from [credible historical archive]
• Vietnam: The Path to War.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from [source URL or document archive]
• Alfred Kahn’s Legacy: Cheap Flights. (n.d.). Retrieved from [relevant source]
• A Second Gilded Age?.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from [source]
• Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of book or article. Journal/Publisher, volume(issue), pages.
• Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of book or article. Journal/Publisher, volume(issue), pages.
• Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of book or article. Journal/Publisher, volume(issue), pages.