In 1979, Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority – a political organization that sought to preserve and promote American values such as keeping the family’s structure, staying close to Christianity, and defending America from communism. The Moral Majority thrived particularly in the Sunbelt, where the area experienced a big shift that happened thanks to industrialization, U.S. defense and army spending in the Midwest—all that contributed to economic growth.
Falwell was a principal actor in the Christian Right. He was a megachurch pastor but also an entrepreneur who had a message and knew how to convey it to people. He was able to target conservative Americans with his views and the way he was able to blend religion with politics.
Initially, Falwell used to support Southern Democrats, but he later shifted his support to Republicans. He did so because he was resonating more and more with the Sunbelt’s vision—one that valued economic growth, strong families, and less government interference. In 1976, Falwell endorsed President Gerald Ford and secured a taped broadcast from the president for his church’s Fourth of July celebration (Article page 139).
He had a stand on opposing abortion and defending family values and promoting having prayer rooms in schools, meaning traditional values, while he was also encouraging new techniques to boost the economic growth. For instance, he was advocating for tax cuts, less governmental intervention, and more national defense. The Christian Right became an ardent defender of the GOP’s proposals for tax cuts and increased defense spending ( Article).
Falwell saw the private sector and military funding as ways to uplift communities, and he did not think that it was the government’s job to provide social services, but rather it was the job of the churches and local organizations.
Will Wright 