"We, as Young Americans, believe that foremost among the transcendent values is the individual’s use of his God-given free will, whence derives his right to be free from the restrictions of arbitrary government; that liberty is indivisible, and that political freedom cannot long exist without economic freedom; that the purpose of government is to protect those liberties through the preservation of internal order, the provision of national defense, and the administration of justice..."
— Young Americans for Freedom, The Sharon Statement, 1960
The principles expressed in the excerpt most directly contributed to which of the following political developments in the 1970s and 1980s?
- The growth of a conservative movement that successfully challenged the dominance of liberal economic and social policies.Answer
- BThe establishment of broad federal initiatives under the Great Society to address domestic poverty.
- CThe adoption of Keynesian deficit spending as the primary method to combat stagflation.
- DThe creation of new international military alliances to enforce containment policies in Asia.
Answer
The growth of a conservative movement that successfully challenged the dominance of liberal economic and social policies.
The ideas of individual liberty, limited government, and the link between political and economic freedom expressed in the Sharon Statement laid the intellectual foundation for the rise of modern conservatism. During the 1970s and 1980s, this movement mobilized a new coalition that successfully challenged the liberal consensus and led to significant political realignment, culminating in the election of Ronald Reagan.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The rise of modern conservatism and the political realignment of the late twentieth century.