The Radical Left and Conservative Movement

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The Radical Left and Conservative Movement

• 1960s

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Left vs. Right

• The Left is associated with liberals, most
  often Democrats
• The Right is associated with conservatives,
  most often Republicans

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The New Lefts Beliefs

• Liberalism was the establishment.
• Establishment the dominant group or elite that
  holds power and is opposed to change
• They believed the Democrates were not liberal
  enough.

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S.D.S.Students for a Democratic - Society

• Who Well educated, middle class, college
  students, inspired by the Civil Right Movement
• Why Only students had the time to invest

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Goals of the S.D.S.

• Wanted Liberal agendas to be carried out
• Civil Rights, War on Poverty etc..
• Liberalism from the bottom up, grassroots
• Democracy at every level (participatory
  Democracy purest form)
• Felt heart of Dem. Party was corrupt (Ike, JFK)

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S.D.S. Moves Toward Anti-War

• 1965 the war in Vietnam escalates
• S.D.S. begins first anti-war demonstrations

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Abby Hoffman
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Abby Hoffman

• A leader of the Weatherman
• Encouraged others to survive by stealing
• Ave American thought he was too extreme and a
  stupid hippie

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The Weatherman
Weatherman Day of Rage October 1962
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The Weatherman dont need a weatherman to tell
you which way the wind blows.

• Fell in love w/ the romantic idea of 3rd world
  commy (college kids)
• Revolution only way to change Radical
  Violence
• Confront war makers (Chicago)
• By 1970 some became bombers

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U Michigan
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U Michigan
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University of Wisconsin Madison May 1966
See my dad?
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Middle Americas view of New Left/Radicals

• Spoiled brats
• Working class kids no time to protest
• WAY too extreme and not in touch with reality
• Imagine what a WWII vet thinks of this

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Richard Nixon andAmerican Conservatism

• Conservative Dilemma
• Conservative Crusade
• Liberalism Besieged
• Richard Nixon

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ConservativeDilemma
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1960 Presidential Election
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Conservative Delema

• 1960 election was close (JFK won)
• What to do?
• Move to middle?
• Get back to conservative basics?

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Young Americans for Freedom(the student Right)

• Power is threatening liberty. (power of fed
  govt
• Goals
• Take control of party
• Take control of politics

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Young Americans for Freedom (1960)

• In this time of moral and political crises, it is
  the responsibility of the youth of America to
  affirm certain eternal truths. We, as young
  conservatives, believe
• That liberty is indivisible, and that political
  freedom cannot long exist without economic
  freedom
• That the purpose of government is to protect
  those freedoms through the preservation of
  internal order, the provision of national
  defense, and the administration of justice
• That when government ventures beyond these
  rightful functions, it accumulates power, which
  tends to diminish order and liberty

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• This is basic argument today role of fed govt in
  our lives.
• Left feels govt needs to step in to protect and
  ensure rights
• Right feels people or states do this. Govt may
  get too strong
• Frame this w/ Civil Rights
• States or Feds trusted to ensure rights

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Young Americans for Freedom (1960)

• That the market economy, allocating resources by
  the free play of supply and demand, is the single
  economic system compatible with the requirements
  of personal freedom and constitutional
  government, and that it is at the same time the
  most productive supplier of human needs
• That when government interferes with the work of
  the market economy, it tends to reduce the moral
  and physical strength of the nation that when it
  takes from one man to bestow on another, it
  diminishes the incentive of the first, the
  integrity of the second, and the moral autonomy
  of both
• That the forces of international Communism are,
  at present, the greatest single threat to these
  liberties

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ConservativeCrusade -Barry Goldwater
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Goldwater

• Voted against Civil Rights Act of 64
• Felt unconst. Govt should not step in and tell
  states what to do.
• Racist or Upholding conservative thought?
• Believed in voluntary integration
• Feared racial backlash that would make things
  worse

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RacialBacklash
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Barry Goldwater (1964)

• Security from domestic violence, no less than
  from foreign aggression, is the most elementary
  and fundamental purpose of any government, and a
  government that cannot fulfill that purpose is
  one that cannot long command the loyalty of its
  citizens. History shows us demonstrates that
  nothing prepares the way for tyranny more than
  the failure of public officials to keep the
  streets from bullies and marauders. This is a
  party, this Republican Party, a Party for free
  men, not for blind followers, and not for
  conformists. Anyone who joins us in all
  sincerity, we welcome. Those who do not care for
  our cause, we dont expect to enter our ranks in
  any case. And let our Republicanism, so focused
  and so dedicated, not be made fuzzy and futile by
  unthinking and stupid labels. I would remind you
  that extremism in the defense of liberty is no
  vice. And let me remind you also that moderation
  in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

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Law and Order

• Street Crime
• Civil Unrest
• Moral Chaos

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Election of 1964

• Right (Goldwater) Pushes idea of Law and Order
• Street crime, civil unrest (riots) moral chaos
  (drugs/sexual revolution)
• Left (LBJ) Pushes idea of Civil Rights, War on
  Poverty and The Great Society. Carrying out JFK
  legacy.

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1964 LBJ wins by Landslide

• Americans felt Goldwater to be
• Too angry.
• Not ready for his conservative message
• Wanted to see LBJs policies carried out

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1964 Presidential Election
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Liberalism Besieged
Riots and assassinations rock the county
Who are the good guys? A matter of perspective.
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Watts (1965)
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Detroit (1967)
Troops couldnt restore order
Notice age of these National Guard troops
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MLK Assassinated (1968)
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Robert Kennedy
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D.C. Riot (1968)
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Democratic Convention (1968)
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Battle of Michigan Avenue
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Election 68

• Due to these events Law and Order becomes 1
  campaign issue.
• Middle America / Silent Majority is tired and
  scared of unrest.
• LBJ doesnt run to due Vietnam

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Richard Nixon

• Worked hard for a comeback
• Resented JFK
• Everything handed to them
• Law Order
• Found the hot topic

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Nixon Campaign (1968)
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Nixon Campaign (1968)
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1968 Presidential Election
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The War of Ideas Right v Left

• LEFT

• RIGHT

• Govt action to achieve equality
• Govt duty is to alleviate social problems
  (poverty, injustice)
• Govt duty is to protect individual civil
  liberties and human rights

• Empower individuals to solve own problems
• Govt small role in individual lives
• Govt should not restrict business and markets.
• Individuals and businesses are best to monitor
  own behavior