theme 4 - the religious right and its critics

Question 1

what did the Religious Right believe in?

Answer 1

believed in traditional family values and were highly conservative

believed the women were homemakers, rejected abortions, saw men as the head of the family

Question 2

how did the Religious Right promote traditional values?

Answer 2

Jerry Falwell’s highly conservative ‘Old Time Gospel Hour; was broadcast on 225 TV stations and 300 radio stations
- opposed smoking, drinking, and rock’n’roll
- believed women should submit to their husbands

looked to Conservative politicians to promote traditional values, such as Reagan

Question 3

what was the Family protection Act?

Answer 3

1981

attempt from Reagan to ban abortion and enforce traditional family roles

however, did not pass as legislation

Question 4

what was the Religious Right’s stance on abortion?

Answer 4

campaigned against abortion and Roe v Wade

methods used to promote values:
- emotive mailings and slogans
- former feminists asked to tell others they’d renounced feminism
- support of Republican politicians

Question 5

What was the Religious Right’s stance on homosexuality?

Answer 5

opposed gay rights in their campaign to return to traditional values

1966: Pat Robertson set up ‘The 700 Club’ to promote traditional values

1978: Jerry Falwell established the Moral Majority

Question 6

How successful were the Religious Right’s campaigns?

Answer 6

campaign against abortion was the most successful as to made access to abortion more difficult

campaign against homosexuality had less intense emotional issues, and so was limited in success

Question 7

how did the drug problem keep growing during the 80s?

Answer 7

emergence of crack cocaine - cheaper and more potent, lead to increased addiction and crime

Colombian cartels established efficient distribution networks

‘War on Drugs’ focused more on punishment than treatment, contributing to mass incarceration

Question 8

what were the aims of the ‘Just Say No’ campaign?

Answer 8

aimed to educate children to resist drug use by simply saying no

raised public awareness

effectiveness it debated, critics arguing it oversimplified a complex issue

Question 9

how did social issues in the 80s lead to political divisions?

Answer 9

crack epidemic and rising crime rates created political divisions

conservative ‘War on Drugs’ emphasised strict penalties and was supported by some who favoured law and order

others criticised its disproportionate impact on minority communities, and advocated for more focus on treatment and addressing underlying social inequalities