The document discusses the erosion of consensus assumptions in America from the 1950s through the present. It outlines various consensus views from the 1950s including that the free enterprise system is just, natural resources are unlimited, and America can solve all its problems. However, over subsequent decades, events like Watergate, economic issues, and loss of faith in leaders challenged these assumptions. By the 1980s, the consensus had collapsed, as shown by Reagan's campaign theme of it being "Morning in America" again, implying things had been dark before.

1. The Collapse of the Consensus?
American Flag, Robert Mapplethorpe, 1977

2. Consensus Assumptions

4. The American free
enterprise system is a
fundamentally just system
which will help the country to
always remain prosperous.

5. We have unlimited
natural resources.

6. America can solve or
is already solving all
of its problems.

7. We have faith in our
leaders and our superior
political institutions.

8. We must act to stop Communism
and we have the right to do this,
everywhere in the world.

9. 1952

10. “If you give
me a week,
I might think
of one.”

11. 1960

12. “The Silent Majority”
1968

14. “the unblack, the unpoor,
and the unyoung”
The Real Majority, 1970

15. 1968

16. Watergate
June 17, 1972

17. “If I walk out of this
office, you know, on this
[expletive] stuff, why, it
would leave a mark on the
American political system.”

18. Voter Turnout
1976, 1980, 1984

19. Gerald Ford

20. Jimmy Carter:
An Age of Limits?

21. “The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary
ways. It is a crisis of confidence…that
strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit
of our national will.
We can see this crisis in the growing
doubt about the meaning of our own lives
and in the loss of a unity of purpose for
our nation.”

22. 1979

23. 444 days

24. 444 days

25. April 24, 1980

26. The Collapse of
the Consensus?

27. The American free
enterprise system is
a fundamentally
just system which
will help the country
to always remain
prosperous.

28. We have
unlimited
natural
resources.

29. America can solve
or is already solving
all of its problems.

30. America can solve
or is already solving
all of its problems.

31. We have faith in
our leaders
and our superior
political institutions.

32. We have faith in
our leaders
and our superior
political institutions.

33. We must
act to stop
Communism
and we
have the
right to do this,
everywhere
in the world. April 29, 1975

34. We must
act to stop
Communism
and we
have the
right to do this,
everywhere
in the world.

35. 1981

36. “It’s Morning Again in America”
1984

37. 2016

38. “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.”