Final answer:
The New Right movement in the 1980s sought to reshape American politics by advocating for smaller government, lower taxes, and traditional values, amidst criticism of the previous liberal agenda. It attracted support by blending economic conservatism with social issues and advocated for a brand of compassionate conservatism. This movement was influential in shaping domestic and economic policies of the era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The New Right movement of the 1980s emerged as a response to what many conservatives perceived as the shortcomings of liberalism. Its members aimed to decrease federal government size, lower taxes, and cut spending on social welfare programs—excluding the military—while seeking to restore America's economic strength and global reputation. Despite supporting the end of segregation and wanting to end employment discrimination, the New Right criticized affirmative action and other methods designed to achieve racial balance. This period witnessed a rise in conservative populism, blending pro-business policies with conservative social issues, which successfully attracted a diverse core of supporters and wealthy donors.
Women played an influential role within the New Right, with organizations like Women Who Want to be Women (WWWW) and Happiness of Motherhood Eternal (HOME) emphasizing traditional family and gender roles. The New Right sought to project a message that resonated with those leaning towards traditional values, such as adherents of traditional Judaism and evangelical Christianity, who felt under threat from the changing societal norms.
Characteristic of the era was the attempt to distance from the 'old right' by promoting a version of compassionate conservatism that endeavored to assist the needy without the pitfalls of direct welfare payments. The New Right aimed to restructure the tax code to favor entrepreneurial reinvestment, hoping to stir economic growth and self-reliance among the populace.