Jerry Falwell was a key figure in launching the Christian Right, especially through his role in founding the Moral Majority. The moral majority was founded in 1979 to entice christians to vote. It focused on issues like opposition to abortion, promotion of school prayer, support for traditional family values, and resistance to what it saw as secular influences in government.
Initially avoiding politics, Falwell changed course in the 1970s as he saw cultural shifts—like secularism, abortion rights, and restrictions on Christian schools—as moral threats. His activism tapped into the values of conservative evangelicals, particularly in the Sunbelt, who felt culturally under siege but economically optimistic. Regarding the restrictions on christian schools, a turning point came when the IRS targeted Christian schools over issues like racial segregation, which Falwell and others viewed as an attack on religious freedom. These concerns pushed him to political activism. Where he found his support for Ronald Reagan. Falwell viewed Reagan as a defender of Christian morals and American exceptionalism, making him a natural ally for the growing Christian Right.
Jerry Falwell’s support for tax cuts and military expansion was deeply connected to his broader beliefs about individual responsibility, the importance of maintaining moral order, and the necessity of a strong national defense. From Falwell’s perspective, tax cuts were not just economic policy; they were a moral issue. He believed that reducing taxes would promote individual freedom and personal responsibility, key tenets of his Christian values. For Falwell, a free-market economy allowed people to exercise their God-given ability to prosper, and tax cuts would encourage self-reliance rather than dependence on government welfare. This idea resonated with his evangelical followers, who valued individual autonomy as part of their spiritual and social commitments.
Will Wright 
I agree with you on what you said about the Moral Majority being a key figure in launching the Christian Right. While you did mention the functions of Moral Majority, your blogpost would have benefited from a detailed review of how Jerry Falwell used Moral Majority to enforce his Christian beliefs. Furthermore, I also agree with you on how Falwell became deeply involved in politics and I really liked your example of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) attacking schools on issues like racial segregation (especially his school in Lynchburg) triggered him and others to view this as an attack on religious freedom.
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