The Pendulum Between Liberalism And Conservatism

During the latter part of the nineteenth century, presumably around the 1890's, it became known as the Progressive Era, a time of change, reform, and adaptation. As Vernon L. Parrignton put it, it was a "democratic renaissance" (Vernon L. Parrington in The Progressive Movement: Liberal or Conservative). So what was Progressivism? Well, its main goals were to curb corporate power, to end business monopolies, and to wipe out political corruption. They also wanted to democratize electoral procedures, protect working people, and bridge the gap between social classes. They called for reforms such as the referendum, initiative, and the recall. They wanted the Americanization of the immigrant and the

The battle for reproductive rights began well over a hundred years ago. At a time when families were producing more children than they could afford to feed, many women were seeking primitive forms of birth control and undergoing abortions. It was in the 1860s that a postal inspector turned politician named Anthony Comstock, in partnership with the Young Men’s Christian Association, set out on a crusade to condemn all forms of birth control and any kind of abortion by claiming they violated “anti-obscenity laws” (Baer). These men eventually succeeded and created the Comstock Laws in 1873 that prohibited all “sales, advertising, or information on birth control” (Baer).

Liberals had dominated American society for most of the 1900s. The 1960s was widely known for being the age of counterculture, social reforms, and liberals. The era witnessed many advancements like racial equality such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a strong advancement in political liberalism, and a significant increase in the power and influence of government-funded social programs as a result of Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society reforms. Beginning with the election of Nixon, however, followed a gradual return to conservatism whether religiously, politically, or economically. The resurgence of conservatism in American politics and government in the years 1964-2005, was caused in

Angus McLaren, author of “Illegal Operations: Women, Doctors, and Abortion” demonstrates the life of an abortionist in the late 1800’s to the mid 1900’s. McLaren explains a series of affairs in detail with many different abortionists. Since abortion was illegal at the time, many women consulted midwives, or took the procedure of abortion among themselves, this at times resulted in their death.

Although there have been many debates about abortion since the middle of the 1800’s, it is still a large problem in current times do to the question regarding women’s equality and freedom under the topic of abortion: pro-life or pro-choice? There have been many restrictions put on abortion clinics and doctors recently in attempts to put abortion clinics out of business, ultimately ending abortion in some areas and states. Many women, such as poor and minorities, are unable to get an abortion due to the location of the clinics. The inconveniences of location, laws, and protests have brought down several abortion providers, which makes abortions difficult to get. Due to abortion being a sensitive topic amongst debates, many voters will listen to the candidate’s view on the subject and what the candidate will do about abortion restrictions. Even though some abortions are conducted incorrectly now, there were more prevalent problems back when abortion became a major topic.

Women’s rights have always been underestimated. One aspect of women’s rights that receives a lot of attention is reproductive rights. Often times, people think of reproductive rights and automatically think of abortion, but, reproductive rights can include many things like abortion and birth control/ contraceptives, etc. Although reproductive rights are for both men and women, women often have a harder time exercising their rights. The famous 1973 case of Roe v. Wade made history in women’s reproductive rights by legalizing abortion, its efforts for abortion to not be criminalized were reached and allowed women to receive abortions without being criminalized. Yet, since 1973 there has been many efforts that set up undue burdens which have strained the rights of many women. There have been many social groups that work towards both side of the spectrum of reproductive rights like: Pro-Choice and Pro-Life. Campaigns, which work as political or social organizers that strive towards achieving a particular thing or area, have made the efforts to fight for the reproductive rights that they believe in. Furthermore, there are many key campaigns that work towards a specific aspect of reproductive rights. For example, Planned Parenthood Action typically fights for birth control, while NRLA usually fights for the rights of women to be able to decided if they want the abortion or not, the National Right to Life (NRLC) fights for abortions to be illegal and tries to influence people into

On January 23, 1973, the landmark case Roe v. Wade established a new law that would change women’s rights for years to come. This controversial case made it legal to have an abortion, which made it safer for women around the country. In 1972, a year before Roe v. Wade, there were approximately 587,000 illegal abortions performed (Roe v. Wade). These abortions were highly dangerous because they lacked medical equipment and a trained professional. In some instances, the mother could even die from the procedure. As a feminist, I believe women should have the right to their own body and therefore I believe the government should keep the decision of Roe v. Wade. In this paper, I will discuss the court case of Roe v. Wade, personal stories of

In The Myth of America's Turn to the Right, it is argued that the Democratic Party must move to the right on political issues. The argument examines the shift in political policy during the Reagan Administration. Notable changes include actions to decrease the deficit, increase in military spending and a increase of concern of affirmative action.

In July of 2015, Canada became the fifty-eighth country to legalize RU-486 (a.k.a. mifepristone or “the abortion pill”). Using a social feminist method and taking an informational/qualitative approach, I will ask and attempt to answer open-ended questions regarding the legalization of the drug in Canada from a feminist perspective. Why did it take so long for Canada to legalize the drug when it’s been available since the 80’s, the same decade in which Canada decriminalized abortion? What medical and ethical objections to RU-486 exist and who is raising them? What are the potential implications of introducing RU-486 into Canada? What other examples of the government stonewalling of women’s issues (pertaining to reproductive health and legal

Women’s reproductive rights have been endangered from early history. A woman’s job included housework and child birth. Around 1920, women started receiving their choices and rights. In the 21st century, women are looked at with fairness and receive equal opportunities, but there is one right being stripped from women: the choice of using birth control and aborting pregnancy. Society frowns upon aborting a fetus in the womb, but it fails to realize the circumstantial standing each woman is placed in and should accept the decision a woman decides for her future whether it is to use birth control or abort her pregnancy.

Through the last decades humanity has witnessed the heartbreaking and unsettling bloodshed with the legalization of abortion done within organizations such as Planned Parenthood. The beginnings of the largest abortion provider of the world was founded by Margaret Sanger, she opened America's first abortion clinic in 1916 but was jailed for 30 days for breaking the “comstock law”(dianedew.com). This law prevented people from talking and creating birth control back in her time. Her ultimate goal was to promote and legalize the usage of birth control so that minority races wouldn’t continue to “breed recklessly, spawning….human beings who shouldn’t have been born”, stated by Sanger. Through her persistence, Sanger was able to help promote and

In which ways did the Fifties and Sixties in the USA set the scene for the rise of conservatism in the Seventies and into the Reagan era? Was the rise of the right inevitable? Please explain your point of view.

There are many different viewpoints in American politics today. The main political parties that people affiliate with are either Democrat and Republican. There are also people who do not claim a certain political party; these people are known as Independents. The Republican Party is typically known as having very conservative views on how America should be run. The Democratic Party is typically known as having very liberal views on how they think the country should be run. I believe that the best way to run the United States of America is with a government having liberal views. Liberal ideals on social aspects, tax issues and regulated markets will make the American government the most successful in leading the people and our county fairly, and bringing liberty to

Liberalism and conservatism have been political ideas and thoughts from the very birth of our democracy. Their views and points of the government's role in a democratic society have changed over the years, but the basic ideas and principles have remained the same. There are many different degrees of liberalism and conservatism as almost anyone can be labeled. Some individuals are radical and extreme while others stand on more of a neutral territory, but the debates between the understood ideas of each group have continued throughout the history of the United States. We will take liberalism's Gary Doore and conservatism's Irving Kristol as modern day examples and compare and contrast the

Women’s reproductive rights are a global issue in today’s world. Women have to fight to have the right to regulate their own bodies and reproductive choices, although in some countries their voices are ignored. Abortion, sterilization, contraceptives, and family planning services all encompass this global issue of women’s reproductive rights.