Ronald Reagan, candidate for Governor of California, campaign speech excerpt, 1966:
"We have a right to expect that our state-supported universities will be places of learning, not platforms for political demagogues or staging areas for riots. A small minority of students, encouraged by a few faculty members, has disrupted the university, violated the law, and insulted the taxpayers who support them. It is time to stand up for the law-abiding majority and restore order and decency to our campuses."
Which of the following developments of the late 1960s is most directly reflected in the sentiments expressed in the excerpt?
- AThe application of the foreign policy of containment to suppress political dissension within domestic public schools.
- The emergence of a conservative political backlash that criticized social disorder and student activism.Answer
- CA debate over whether to expand Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs or return to the relief policies of the New Deal.
- DThe initial implementation of supply-side economic deregulation and federal tax cuts to reduce state spending on public education.
Answer
The emergence of a conservative political backlash that criticized social disorder and student activism.
The correct option is correct because the speech reflects how conservative politicians successfully used public concern over the perceived lawlessness of student protests and the counterculture movement to build a political coalition centered on 'law and order.' This backlash propelled figures like Ronald Reagan to the governorship of California and contributed to the rise of the modern conservative movement.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Conservative backlash to counterculture and student protests
Estimated Time:1m 0s