8.14 Society in Transition

"Society in Transition" in APUSH (Topic 8.14) means the big social, cultural, and political shifts in the U.S. from the 1960s–1970s that changed who had power, what people expected from government, and how Americans defined morality and identity. Think: civil rights, women’s rights (Roe v. Wade), anti-war protests, and economic troubles (stagflation, 1973 oil crisis) that eroded trust in government (Watergate). Those changes provoked a conservative backlash—Goldwater, Nixon, the New Right, Moral Majority, and later Reagan—fueling debates about the federal government’s role, individual rights, and culture (Learning Objective J). It also covers the growth of evangelical political activism (Jerry Falwell, Phyllis Schlafly) under Learning Objective P. On the exam you’ll need to explain causes and effects and connect evidence to broader themes (contextualization & causation). For the Topic 8.14 study guide, see Fiveable (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd). For more review and 1,000+ practice questions, visit Fiveable practice (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Conservatives pushed back in the 1960s because liberalism’s gains—and the social upheaval around them—created a backlash. Expanded federal programs (the Great Society), activist Supreme Court rulings (like decisions on criminal procedure and later Roe v. Wade), antiwar protests, rising crime and urban unrest, and cultural changes around race, gender, and sexual norms led many Americans to see moral and social decline. Economic strains (stagflation, the 1973 oil crisis) and foreign-policy failures (Vietnam) weakened confidence in big government’s ability to solve problems. Leaders like Barry Goldwater and later Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan channeled that frustration, while growing evangelical activism (Jerry Falwell, the Moral Majority) turned cultural issues into political energy. The result: conservatives sought to limit federal power, roll back aspects of liberal policy, and promote a tougher foreign policy—an important theme tied to CED Learning Objective J and P and frequent on SAQs/DBQs (see the Topic 8.14 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd). For extra practice, try Fiveable’s APUSH problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Americans lost trust in the federal government in the 1970s because several shocks piled up: the Vietnam War’s unpopular conduct and revelations (My Lai, Pentagon Papers) undermined confidence in leaders; the Watergate scandal showed presidents could hide crimes and lie, producing widespread cynicism (see CED keywords: Vietnam War protests, Watergate scandal). Economic troubles—stagflation and the 1973 oil crisis—made people doubt government competence to manage the economy. Cultural conflicts (debates over Roe v. Wade, affirmative action) and rising conservative critiques that the Great Society had overreached also sharpened distrust and fueled demands to limit federal power. These combined political scandals, foreign-policy crises, and economic failures explain the drop in public confidence noted in the CED (KC-8.2.III.E). For a focused review of Topic 8.14, see the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history) to prep for exam-style prompts.

After the 1960s the federal government’s role became hotly contested because big new expectations met growing frustration. Liberal programs (the Great Society, civil-rights laws, affirmative action, the Warren Court’s decisions) expanded federal power to address poverty and inequality. At the same time the Vietnam War, rising antiwar protests, the 1973 oil crisis and stagflation, and Watergate eroded public trust in government (CED KC-8.2.III.E). Conservatives—Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan, and later the Moral Majority—argued these federal actions overreached, pointed to cultural “decline” (Roe v. Wade was a flashpoint), and pushed for smaller federal government and stronger states’ or individual authority (CED KC-8.2.III.C, KC-8.2.III.E; KC-8.3.II.C). That clash produced the New Right, neoconservative ideas, and policy shifts in the 1980s. This debate shows up on AP prompts about continuity/change and policy causes—review Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Conservatives in the 1970s wanted government scaled back: fewer federal programs, lower taxes, more power for states, tougher stances abroad, and a rollback of what they saw as cultural decline. Think Goldwater/Reagan/New Right—they pushed against Great Society programs, opposed expansive civil-rights/affirmative-action policies, and appealed to religious conservatives (Moral Majority). Liberals wanted the federal government to stay active in solving social and economic problems—funding welfare, civil-rights enforcement, protections from discrimination (Roe v. Wade era), and regulatory responses to issues like stagflation and the oil crisis. On the AP exam, link this to Learning Objective J (debates over federal power) and KC-8.2 developments: causes (economic crises, Watergate) and effects (declining trust, political realignment). For a focused review, see the Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

In simple terms: evangelical Christians got more political because they felt the country was changing in ways they didn’t like and that courts and federal policy weren’t protecting their values. Key triggers: the cultural shifts of the 1960s–70s (sex revolution, feminism, Roe v. Wade in 1973), liberal Supreme Court decisions, and perceived moral decline. Leaders like Jerry Falwell and groups such as the Moral Majority organized voters, tying social issues (abortion, school prayer, family values) to elections and pushing the New Right. They also wanted a smaller federal role on economics but a stronger moral voice in public life, so they backed conservative politicians (e.g., Reagan) who promised to limit liberal policies and restore traditional values. For AP exam connections, this fits KC-8.2.III.C and KC-8.3.II.C—good to review the Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Religious movements—especially the rapid growth of evangelical churches and organized conservative groups in the 1960s–70s—moved from private worship to public politics. Leaders like Jerry Falwell and groups such as the Moral Majority mobilized voters around cultural issues (opposition to Roe v. Wade, perceived moral decline), linking social conservatism to calls for smaller federal government on some issues and stronger action on others (tougher foreign policy). That activism helped build the New Right coalition behind Barry Goldwater and later Ronald Reagan, shifting party coalitions and policy debates over federal power, civil rights, and social policy (CED KC-8.2.III.C, KC-8.3.II.C). For exam prep, these connections are useful in DBQs/LEQs that ask about causes/effects or changing federal roles—use evidence about Moral Majority, Reagan, Roe v. Wade, and Nixon to connect religion to politics (see Topic 8.14 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd). For more practice, try the 1,000+ AP-style questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The big political scandals that wrecked confidence in government in the 1970s were mainly Watergate and a string of related exposures that showed misuse of power. Watergate (1972 break-in, Nixon’s cover-up, and his 1974 resignation) is the headline event—prosecutors, taped conversations, and the “Saturday Night Massacre” made people doubt leaders. Other revelations added fuel: the Pentagon Papers (1971) showed deception about Vietnam; the Church Committee (mid-1970s) exposed CIA and FBI abuses (surveillance, COINTELPRO); ABSCAM (1978–79) revealed bribery of some members of Congress; and Gerald Ford’s 1974 pardon of Nixon deepened distrust. These scandals, plus economic problems (stagflation, 1973 oil crisis) and Vietnam fallout, fit the CED’s KC-8.2.III.E cause of declining public trust. For quick review on Topic 8.14 and exam connections, see Fiveable’s study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Pick a clear, arguable thesis that answers how and why attitudes about federal power changed (for example: “From the 1960s to 1980, growing distrust—fueled by Vietnam, Watergate, and economic trouble—shifted public support from Great Society–style expansion to limits on federal power and a conservative revival”). Put it up front, then contextualize briefly (postwar liberal consensus, civil rights, Great Society). Use documents to support sub-claims: protests and Roe v. Wade spurred calls for rollback of federal power on cultural grounds; stagflation, 1973 oil crisis, and Watergate eroded trust; conservatives (Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan, Moral Majority) pushed for smaller government and aggressive foreign policy. Quote/paraphrase at least four docs, and for two explain POV/purpose/audience. Add one piece of outside evidence (e.g., Proposition 13, Reagan’s 1980 campaign, or the rise of the New Right). Earn complexity by showing continuity and change (some federal programs stayed) or by comparing economic vs. cultural causes. For more tips and sample practice, see the Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and 1000+ practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The rapid growth of evangelical Christianity after WWII shifted religion from mostly personal faith to organized political force. Evangelicals formed groups like the Moral Majority (Jerry Falwell) and allied with the New Right to mobilize voters, boosting conservative candidates (e.g., Reagan) and helping realign the Republican Party. They pushed policy goals: oppose abortion after Roe v. Wade, restore school prayer and traditional family values, and roll back liberal social programs—arguing for less federal activism on moral/cultural issues. That activism intensified 1970s–80s clashes over culture, helping fuel neoconservative ideas and debates about the federal government’s role (CED LO J & P). For AP prep, practice explaining both social and political effects and use evidence linking evangelical organizations to election outcomes and policy shifts (see the Topic 8.14 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd). For extra practice, try problems at https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history.

Cultural issues became so divisive in the 1970s because rapid social change from the 1960s (civil rights, feminism, antiwar protests, Roe v. Wade) collided with economic and political stress (stagflation, 1973 oil crisis, Watergate) that eroded trust in government. Conservatives saw liberal reforms and court decisions as moral decline and government overreach; they mobilized through the New Right, evangelical activism (Moral Majority, Jerry Falwell), and figures like Reagan and Goldwater to push back. Liberals defended expanded individual rights (affirmative action, Roe) and federal remedies from the Great Society. The result: cultural issues (race, gender, abortion, school prayer) became proxies for debates over the federal government’s role and national identity. For AP prep, connect these causes/effects to KC-8.2 and KC-8.3 (religious growth) in essays or DBQs—use the Topic 8.14 study guide for targeted review (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Several high-profile foreign-policy crises in the 1970s helped erode Americans’ confidence in government. Key ones: the continuing fallout from the Vietnam War (including the Pentagon Papers in 1971 and the chaotic U.S. withdrawal and fall of Saigon in 1975), the 1973 OPEC oil embargo and energy crisis that triggered stagflation, and the Iran Revolution plus the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis (52 Americans held for 444 days). Late-decade events—especially the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979—also made the U.S. look less able to manage global threats. These crises reinforced KC-8.2.III.E in the CED: they exposed deception (Pentagon Papers), policymaking failures, and limits on U.S. power, fueling declining trust in government. For targeted review on Topic 8.14, see the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Movements for individual rights in the 1970s—women’s liberation (ERA push, Roe v. Wade, reproductive rights), gay-rights activism, and Native American and disability rights campaigns—clashed with growing conservative resistance that framed these changes as moral and cultural decline. Conservatives (New Right, Moral Majority, figures like Phyllis Schlafly) pushed back by challenging liberal laws and court decisions, promoting state control, and mobilizing voters and religious networks to limit federal power and protect traditional values (CED: KC-8.2.III.C; KC-8.3.II.C). That clash showed up in court fights (Roe v. Wade), ballot initiatives and tax revolts (e.g., Proposition 13 as part of broader antitax sentiment), and in politics as declining public trust after Watergate and economic troubles made federal solutions less popular (KC-8.2.III.E). For quick review tied to the AP framework, see the Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd). Practice questions are at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

“Assertive foreign policies” for 1960s conservatives meant pushing for a tougher, more active U.S. role overseas rather than restraint. Practically that looked like: stronger military spending and readiness; willingness to use force or covert action to roll back communism (not just contain it); insisting on U.S. global leadership (naval/strategic buildup, bases, alliances); and backing anti-communist regimes even if they were authoritarian. Think Goldwater’s hawkish rhetoric and later Nixon/early Reagan emphasis on strength—conservatives linked a smaller domestic welfare state with a firmer international posture. This shift is in the CED under KC-8.2.III.C and shows up on AP questions that ask you to explain causes/effects of changing federal roles or ideological debates (short answers/LEQs/DBQs). For a quick review, see the Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and try practice sets (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

After the 1970s drop in public trust—driven by Watergate, Vietnam, stagflation, and energy crises—long-term consequences included: rising skepticism about federal power and promises, growth of conservative movements (New Right, Moral Majority) pushing to shrink government and roll back Great Society programs, and increased emphasis on personal responsibility over collective solutions. Politically this helped elect Reagan in 1980 and produced more polarized, suspicious electorates that made bipartisan policy compromise harder. Policy-wise, there was a turn toward deregulation, tax cuts, and reliance on markets (neoconservative and neoliberal ideas). Institutional effects included more oversight demands, transparency reforms, and voters turning to outsider candidates. For the AP exam, connect these causes and effects to KC-8.2.III.E and KC-8.3.II.C (use specific examples like Watergate, Roe v. Wade backlash, Moral Majority). For review, see the Topic 8.14 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-8/society-transition/study-guide/XwxV2oK2ulyRH0YxkAZd) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).