Conservatism in American Life From 1968 to the Present

The conservatism movement in the U.S. was influenced by various political and economic factors. Since the late 1960s, many Republican party supporters have supported conservative government policies which favor a reduction in government regulation of economic activities and an increase in military spending. Conservatism grew as a reaction to the growth in liberalism which occurred in the U.S. and other parts of the western world in the 1960s. The main proponents of this movement are white Anglo Saxon Protestants who have strong Christian sentiments on how government should be run. President Ronald Reagan’s administration in the 1980s was one of the strongest conservative administrations in postwar America. The administration implemented tax reductions, increased military budget and used a more aggressive approach to prevent the spread of communism. As a result, this approach focused on reinforcing America’s political and economic power in the world.

One of the issues that led to a rise in a new wave of conservative attitudes was the underlying threat which communist ideologies posed to the survival of the U.S. The postwar period was characterized by the cold war, high economic growth, changes in lifestyles and the growth in civil rights movements by prominent African American activists. The main supporters of conservatism feel religion has an important role to play in enforcing political, economic and social attitudes influenced by Christian moral principles. In recent times, the main proponents of this school of thought have gravitated towards business-friendly policies to stimulate economic growth. Also, the radical Tea Party wing consisting of conservative Republicans has opposed new policies introduced by President Barrack Obama’s administration. They oppose new fiscal policies that seek to address inequitable access to healthcare in the country.