In the 1960s and 1970s, many social changes happened in America, such as the right to abortion (via Roe v. Wade), and more. Fervent anti- movements against these social changes inevitably sprung up, such as the pro-life movement against abortion, and anti-feminists against the Equal Right Amendment, which they saw taking away from their traditional family life. Additionally, some Americans highly resented the newfound sexual permissiveness that was out in the general public, and many began to go against the homosexuality movement.
Essentially, this cultural war inspired the New Right. The New Right consisted of of Christian religious leaders, along with conservative business-people who claimed that environmental and labor regulations were undermining the competitiveness of American firms in the global market. These ideas were reinforced from ideas that already existed, as shown from Barry Goldwater's 1964 Presidential campaign, which was founded on the premise that the New Deal should be reversed. He declared that big government was the biggest threat to American liberty. Social spending and welfare needed to be cut to reduce the tax burden on individuals and families. Government regulations were inhibiting economic growth and personal freedoms. When foreign competition made inroads against American corporations in the 1970s, many people began to believe Goldwater had been right. Big business became the foundation of the New Right movement. Evangelical leaders had a consensus that America was experiencing a moral decline, and looked to alter that decline by going against these "threats" to American liberty.
Sources:
http://www.ushistory.org/us/58e.asp
http://www.history.com/topics/1980s
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