Late 20th Century

Credit: LDS Magazine (2)

Conservatism Rises

In the late 20th century, conservative politics and support grew to its highest level since before the 1960's. This was made possible to the southern United States beginning to show out with overwhelming support for the republican party. Some reasons why many supported this ideology at this specific point in time is due to the overwhelming amount of activism that had taken place in the last 15 years and those growing tired of the liberal way of politics (1).

Credit: The Washington Post (4)

African Americans in the Late 20th Century

During the late 20th century, the African American community attempted to combat the conservative wave that was taking over the United States. The African American community made large strides during this time, with many African American celebrities garnering national support and Jesse Jackson making strides no other black American had when it came to national politics (3). Although they made some social progress, the African American community was still trailing behind their white counterparts when it came to equality.

Credit: USA Today (6)

U.S. Patriotism

Riding on the back of President Ronald Raegan and his values, Americans at this time grew to support their country and develop a strong sense of patriotism. This patriotism was shown in the mainstream media and pop culture, with the strength of the United States military being portrayed and movies encouraging Americans to take pride in what represents them (5). Patriotism at this time was associated with conservatives and the republican party, so those who were opposed to their political views did not always agree with their point of view and vice versa.

Credit: New York Post (8)

AIDS

In the late 20th century, an autoimmune disease with the nickname "AIDS" spread rapidly and became a major issue within the gay community in the United States (7). The stigma around AIDS made life difficult for gay Americans, as it caused them to be looked down upon and made people feel uncomfortable being around them in fear that they may catch the disease. AIDS claimed the lives of many famous individuals, most notably singer Freddie Mercury and rapper Eazy E. Eventually, a treatment for HIV, the disease that leads to AIDS, was created, eliminating the automatic death sentence that once came along with a diagnosis.

Credit: List Producer (10)

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan was an ex-movie star turned politician who served as President of the United States from 1980 until 1988 (9). Reagan's beliefs aligned with conservatism and led to him garnering heavy support in which people were starting to turn against liberal politics. Reagan believed strongly in patriotism and used that as fuel for his campaign and support for his leadership style. Reagan's popularity was shown when he won re-election in a landslide in which he gained the most electoral votes ever recorded and paving the way for new-age conservative politics.