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Conservatism's Roots in Backlash
- Movement conservatism in the 1950s-60s responded ambiguously to the civil rights movement, mixing racism with other anxieties about social change.
- The rise of conservatism aligned with backlash to civil rights and cultural shifts, not just ideology alone.
Reagan's Rise and Stability Appeal
- Ronald Reagan's 1966 California governorship win capitalized on fears from riots and campus unrest.
- Conservatism began shifting its rhetoric to emphasize stability and law and order amidst social upheaval.
States' Rights as Racial Code
- Conservative rhetoric on federalism and states' rights was racially coded to resist civil rights enforcement.
- This appealed especially in the Deep South, highlighting underlying racial motives in conservatism.