Who founded the Moral Majority in 1979?

Who founded the Moral Majority in 1979?

• A. Jerry Falwell, to fight left-wing, social welfare bills.
• B. Ralph Nader, to fight for corporate responsibility.
• C. Former civil rights activists, who were dedicated to nonviolence.
• D. Advocates of expanding the nation's social welfare system.

Answer: (A)

Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority in 1979 to mobilize evangelical Christians to influence public policy and elections. He built a movement around conservative Christian values—opposing abortion, promoting school prayer, and backing pro-family, pro-life candidates. This effort aimed to turn religious conviction into political power and helped energize the rise of the Religious Right in American politics, contributing to the Reagan-era realignment. Ralph Nader is known for consumer advocacy and corporate responsibility, not for starting a religious-political movement. Former civil rights activists focused on nonviolence led campaigns from the 1950s–60s, not a late-70s religious-political organization. Advocates of expanding welfare align with liberal policy goals, while the Moral Majority advocated conservative social values and limited government, especially opposing certain welfare expansions.

Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority in 1979 to mobilize evangelical Christians to influence public policy and elections. He built a movement around conservative Christian values—opposing abortion, promoting school prayer, and backing pro-family, pro-life candidates. This effort aimed to turn religious conviction into political power and helped energize the rise of the Religious Right in American politics, contributing to the Reagan-era realignment.

Ralph Nader is known for consumer advocacy and corporate responsibility, not for starting a religious-political movement. Former civil rights activists focused on nonviolence led campaigns from the 1950s–60s, not a late-70s religious-political organization. Advocates of expanding welfare align with liberal policy goals, while the Moral Majority advocated conservative social values and limited government, especially opposing certain welfare expansions.