Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell (1933–2007) was an American Baptist pastor and conservative political activist who founded the Moral Majority and Liberty University.
Lyndon B. Johnson: Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th president of the United States and signed major civil-rights legislation. Falwell opposed Johnson-era federal desegregation efforts, including school integration.
Moral Majority: The Moral Majority was a conservative Christian political organization founded by Jerry Falwell in 1979. Falwell’s signature organization connected evangelical voters to conservative electoral politics.
Lynchburg, Virginia: Lynchburg is an independent city in central Virginia, home to Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University. Falwell built his church, university, and public base in Lynchburg.
1980 United States presidential election: The 1980 United States presidential election was won by Republican Ronald Reagan over incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter. Falwell’s organization backed Reagan and helped mobilize conservative Christian voters.
Francis Schaeffer: Francis Schaeffer was an American evangelical theologian and author who urged Christians to engage public life. Schaeffer’s arguments helped furnish religious justification for evangelical political activism.
Liberty University: Liberty University is a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, founded by Jerry Falwell in 1971. Falwell established it to educate students within an explicitly evangelical institution.
Thomas Road Baptist Church: Thomas Road Baptist Church is an evangelical congregation in Lynchburg, Virginia, founded by Jerry Falwell in 1956. Falwell’s ministry began with this congregation, which became the base of his local influence.
Religious right: The religious right is a political movement in which religious conservatives organize to influence public policy and elections. Falwell became one of its most visible organizers and public representatives.
Paul Weyrich: Paul Weyrich was an American conservative activist and co-founder of several political organizations. Weyrich worked with Falwell to organize the Moral Majority.
Old-Time Gospel Hour: The Old-Time Gospel Hour was a television and radio ministry hosted by Jerry Falwell. The broadcast gave Falwell a national platform before and during his political organizing.