Very interesting theory, but the Waltons debuted that year, and Little House on the Prairie was soon to follow. It probably was a contributory factor, but really it was more of a symptom of the demographic changes across America, not the cause if you ask me.

That’s why we saw Buddy Ebsen transplanted from Beverly Hillbillies to Barnaby Jones. The country was moving to the city at the time, and TV just replicated that. Rural life became Idealized historic drama (Waltons, Little House on the Prairie) and transplants from country to city were featured. (McCloud anyone?) CBS & other Networks still follow that pattern (NCIS - Gibbs, Leverage - Eliott, CSI - Nick, CSI NY - Lindsay, etc.) because it works to keep that demographic locked in.

It helped, but it really wasn’t until the 90’s that this fish lipped Christian Tribalist wrote his separatist manifesto and started building the other institutions. (If you look back you will also see that Heritage & FCF started before your timeline too)