The Past, Present, and Future of the Religious Right in U.S. Politics
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M5 Essay Assignment: The Past, Present, and Future of the Religious Right in U.S. Politics
Newt Gingrich gestures while addressing the annual Christian Coalition conference in Washington Friday Sept 8 1995 Gingrich spoke about family values and the Republicans Contract with America AP PhotoDennis Cook

Newt Gingrich gestures while addressing the annual Christian Coalition conference in Washington, Sept. 8, 1995. Gingrich spoke about family values and the Republican’s “Contract with America.” (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Essay in 3 Parts
Compose a 7-10 page essay addressing the past, present and future of the Religious Right in American politics.

Use at least five (5) scholarly resources and use APA format for your paper format and citation. The following information resources are acceptable:

Web articles are acceptable if they are from an objective, reputable source. If you aren’t sure about the credibility of a resource, look for the “About” section of the website, which should give you some information about the authors, any bias, and other affiliations.
News sources are acceptable, but avoid highly biased opinion pieces and editorials.
Data resources such as those found at the Pew Research Center and the Association of Religion Data Archives are acceptable.
Articles in peer-reviewed journals from the ESC library are acceptable and highly preferred.
The course textbook and any assigned readings are acceptable.
Compose the paper with three distinct sections, and address each question in the sections outlined below. The questions require you to draw on the data resources you have used in this course so far, as well as draw connections and conclusions from the course readings and discussions.

Part 1: The Origins of the Religious Right in the United States
Who were the “Religious Right” in the 70s and 80s? What were the demographic characteristics of those who associated with the Religious Right?
What were the social, economic, political and cultural factors that gave rise to the “Religious Right” in American Politics?
Which theory (e.g., status politics or resource mobilization) of social movement organization do you think best applies to the rise of the Religious Right?
Part 2: The Religious Right in Contemporary American Politics
Who are the “Religious Right” now? What are the demographic characteristics of those individuals who are associated with the “Religious Right?”
Describe one controversial issue that the Religious Right has taken a public stance on in the last 2 years, and identify 3-5 strategies that the “Religious Right” has used to influence policy on this issue. Strategies could include grassroots actions, demonstrations, and direct lobbying activities.
How effective do you think the Religious Right has been on lobbying for their efforts on this issue?
Part 3: The Future of the Religious Right
How do you see the “Religious Right” playing a part in the 2016 Presidential election campaigns?
Do you think the “Religious Right” will become more or less influential in American politics over the next decade? Why?
What role do you think the Internet will play in the communication strategies of the Religious Right in the future?
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