Final answer:
Conservatives in the late 20th century opposed the counterculture by advocating for a return to traditional American values and social structures, often viewing government power and liberal social movements as threats to these ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the late 20th century, conservatives voiced strong opposition to the counterculture which they felt threatened traditional American values. They believed that themes of the counterculture challenged the structure of the typical American family, patriotism, and long-standing societal norms. In response to these shifts, Conservatives of the New Right aimed to curtail these changes by advocating for a return to what they viewed as traditional family values and societal structures. This often involved opposition to affirmative action, feminism, abortion, and other liberal movements of the time.
During the 1980s, with the election of Ronald Reagan, conservatives saw an opportunity to dismantle the perceived liberal establishment and replace it with policies that emphasized limited government, particularly in social realms. However, their efforts were not without contention, and their backlash against multiculturalism and the counterculture at times belied undertones of racism and a desire to revert to pre-civil rights era policies.
Overall, the conservative movement during this period can be characterized by its attempts to conserve or restore what they considered the core values and customs of American society, often by interpreting increasing governmental power and liberal social changes as threats to individual liberty and traditional social order.