Warm Up
• Rachel Carson’s highly influential environmental
book?
• A = Silent Spring
• Controversial Supreme Court era that handed
down many liberal decisions from 1954-1970s.
• A = Warren Court
1970s-1980s
Review
• What is the term used to describe making decision
based on what is realistically good for your country
rather than decisions based on ideology?
• A = realpolitik
• What was the highly controversial policy that many cities
turned to in order to desegregate their schools?
• A= busing
• What was the term used to describe Nixon’s
policy of trying to shift power away from the
federal govt. and give more power to the states?
• A = New federalism
• What communist country did Nixon try to reach
out to through “Ping Pong” diplomacy?
• A = China
• At which college were four students killed in
1970 during a protest of the bombing of
Cambodia?
• A = Kent State
• What was the term used to describe Nixon trying
to appeal to white conservative blue collar racist
in the South who had previously been voting for
the Democrats called?
• A = Southern strategy
• What were the three causes of social turmoil in the US
during the 1960s?
• A = Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the counterculture.
• Whom did Nixon claim to represent while he was running
for President?
• A = Silent Majority
• What incident caused Nixon to resign as President?
• A = Watergate
• Nixon’s plan to give more power to the
states at the expense of the federal govt.
• A = New Federalism
• Govt. commission that looked into why
there were so many riots in the 1960s.
• A = Kerner Commission
• What were some of the problems in
America during the Carter presidency?
• A = bad economy, high gas prices, US
hostages in Iran.
War Powers Act
• Because of Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution)
• War Powers Act passed by congress in 1973.
• Reaffirms congresses right to declare war.
• President can only send troops somewhere for
60-days and then needs congressional approval.
America in the Early 1970s
• Rise in conservatism (amongst whites).
• Concerns over “activist” Warren Court.
• Affirmative Action & Busing
• Women’s Rights (ERA and Abortion)
Economic Problems
• Economy begins to falter
• Energy prices go up (OPEC)
because of Yom Kippur war
in 1973
• Foreign competition in other
businesses
• “Stagflation”
Stagflation
• By the end of 1960s, US economy starts to decline.
• Deficit spending (social programs and Vietnam War).
• Foreign Competition in manufacturing (Japan)
• Dependency of foreign oil.
• High inflation & unemployment = “Stagflation.”
• For most of 1970s.
After Nixon
• Gerald Ford (Nixon’s 2nd
V.P.) becomes Pres.
Aug. 1974
• 1st person to become
Pres. who as not elected
either Pres. or VP.
• Pardons Nixon and many
feel they had made a
deal.
Jimmy Carter
• Democrat wins
• Defeats Ford in 1976
• Former Governor of
Georgia.
• Born-Again Christian
• Seen as an “outsider.”
Problems in Carter’s Presidency
• Stagflation continues
• Energy Crisis (oil prices keep going up)
• Alienates Congress = difficulty getting
much done.
• Gives “Crisis of Confidence “ speech
(“malaise” speech).
Carter and Foreign Affairs
• Success = Peace agreement between Israel and
Egypt (Camp David Accords).
• Problem = Hostage Crisis--Islamic revolution in
Iran results in US embassy staff taken hostage.
• Calls for US boycott of 1980 Olympics in
Moscow because of Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan.
Ronald Reagan
• Republican
• Former actor
• Oldest man elected president
(69).
• Conservative former governor
of California.
• Old but optimistic—promises a
“new morning in America”
• Also viewed as an outsider to
Wash. D.C.
The Reagan Revolution
• The “new” Right
• White demographic shift to the “Sunbelt” from
the “rustbelt” (northeast).
• Many of these people are hostile to federal
regulations and social programs.
• Ex = “Sagebrush Rebellion” people opposed to
environmental regulations.
Sun Belt Migration
“New” Right
• A. Economic conservatives
• B. Cultural conservatives
Rise of the Evangelical Right
• Big part of Reagan Revolution (the New Right).
• “Born Again” Christians
• Beginning in 1970s, largest religious revival
since 2nd Great Awakening
• Begin to become involved in politics.
The Moral Majority
• Jerry Falwell (1979)
• Christian political
group
• Against gay rights
and abortion
• “pro-life, pro-family,
pro-morality, proAmerican”
Televangelists
• Pat Robertson
(Christian Broadcast
Network)
• Jim Bakker (PTL
Club)
Culture Wars
• Cultural issues replace economic or class issues
• Response to counterculture & liberal Supreme
court decisions.
• Issues= abortion, Gay rights, prayer in school,
etc.
• Helps to attract white blue-collar voters who had
previously supported the Dems.
Opposition to Taxes
• Rather than attack social programs
directly, rail against taxes.
• Regan lowered tax rates (especially for the
wealthy).
Reaganomics
• “supply side economics”
• Believe tax cuts for wealthy would cause
more investments. Wealthy see tax rate
go from 70% (1981) to 35%
• Bush, Sr. calls “Voodoo economics.”
Defense Spending
• Greatly opposed to communism
• Called the Soviet Union the ‘evil empire.”
• Greatly increased defense spending.
• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) “Star
Wars”
Huge Debt
• Under Reagan, the federal govt. ran up
the largest debt ever.
• Because of Tax cuts and increased
defense spending.
Deregulation
• Greatly cuts back on government
regulations on industries.
• FCC—end “Fairness Doctrine.” Gives rise
to right-wing talk radio and Fox News.
• Savings and Loans (S&Ls).
Reducing Govt.
• When running for pres.
Said he would abolish
the Dept. of Education.
• James Watt =
controversial sec. of
interior.
• Didn’t want Beach boys
to perform at Mall on 4th
of July.
Assassination Attempt
• 1981
• John Hinkley, Jr.
Random Stuff
• Survives attempted
assassination
• Wins re-election in
1984.
• Defeats Walter
Mondale (Carter’s VP)
and Geraldine Ferraro
(1st woman to run for
VP on a major ticket).
Fighting Communism in the 3rd
World
• Reagan Doctrine – support for opponents
of communism everywhere.
• El Salvador, Nicaragua, Grenada.
Iran-Contra Scandal
•
Sold Weapons to Iran and used
$ to give secret aid to Contras.
•
Contras are right-wing
counterrevolutionaries in
Nicaragua who were trying to
overthrow the Sandinistas.
•
Marine Lt. colonel Ollie North
was at center.
•
Congressional Hearing were
held.
•
Reagan denied knowing
anything about it.
•
Some talked of trying to
impeach him.
Beirut, Lebanon
• US embassy is
bombed by
terrorists.
• 241 marines are
killed.
• Reagan removes
troops.
Review
• What were the sources of tension in the
1960s?
• Why were many people upset with the
Warren Court?
• What were some controversial supreme
Court decisions In the 60s and 70s?
MO Rev
• Explain Nixon’s “New Federalism”
• What were some of Nixon’s foreign policy
accomplishments?
• What was historic about Gerald Ford
becoming president?
• What action did Ford take that led to many
people being mad at him?
Mo Mo
• Explain the demographic shift that took place
in the last part of the 20th century in the U.S.
Where was the area In the U.S. that most
people moved to?
• What was the appeal of Jimmy Carter?
• What were some of the problems Carter had
as president?
• Explain why Ronald Reagan was an
appealing figure to many voters?
• Discuss Reagan’s domestic policies?
• What controversial event led to talk of
impeaching Reagan?
• What role did the religious Right play in
the country’s move towards conservatism
in the 1980S?
• Why did Bush I send troops to Iraq in the
1st Gulf War?
G. Bush 1st
• Had been Regan’s VP
• 1988-1992
• “Read my lips: No New
Taxes.”
• Fall of Soviet Union
• Iraq War I
Michael Dukakis
• Dem. From Mass. Who ran against Bush I
Willie Horton Ad
Clarence Thomas Hearings
• Bush nominee to the
Supreme Court to
replace Thurgood
Marshall
• Anita Hill accuses of
Sexual harassment.
• Thomas calls it a
“High tech lynching.”
Problems with the Democratic
Party in 1970s-80s
• Terrible divisions within the party.
– Older v. younger
– Moderates v. far-left.
• Younger people upset with traditional elder
Dems. who had supported the Vietnam war.
• Many on the far left see compromise as
selling out and corrupt.
Bush 1
• Seems out of touch with regular people.
• Rodney King riots
• Visit to Japan—throws up on Prime
Minister.
• Brakes pledge not to raise taxes.
• Economy starts to go down (recession).
• Huge national debt continues
Rodney King
Beating
1992 Election
• Bush I (Rep)
• Clinton (Dem)
• H. Ross Perot (Indep)
William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton
• 5-time gov. of Ark.
• 1st Baby Boomer Pres.
• “New Democrat” (DLC)
• Didn’t Inhale
• Didn’t serve in Vietnam
• Many scandals
– Tavelgate
– Whitewater
– Lots of women.
1992 Election Results
• Clinton—43%
• Bush—37%
• Perot—19%
• Perot’s total is the most by a 3rd party
candidate except for TR in 1912.
Health Care Fiasco
• Appoints wife to oversee
effort to get national health
care.
• Doesn’t get it passed.
• Hillary becomes very
controversial.
Newt Gingrich
• Republicans win majority
of House in 1994.
• Gingrich becomes
Speaker of House
• Has program called:
“Contract with America.”
• Resigns in 1998.
Republican “Contract With
America” 1994
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will
immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith
and trust of the American people in their government:
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply
equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a
comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by
one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by
implementing zero base-line budgeting.
Budget Crisis
• Gingrich and Republicans overstep
themselves.
• Won’t compromise with Clinton over
budget and force Govt. Shutdown.
• Backfires—most people blame Gingrich
and Repubs.
1996 Clinton Reelected
• Ran against Bob Dole
Lewinsky Scandal
• She was a White
House Intern.
• They had an affair
during the govt.
shutdown.
• Special prosecutor in
Whitewater case—
Starr—uncovers this.
IMPEACHMENT
• Clinton lies under
oath.
• Is only second pres.
Impeached.
• Is NOT removed from
office.
Clinton Presidency
• Vetoes many of Republicans bills.
• Great Economic Times
• When he leaves office, there is a budget
surplus.
NAFTA
Gore v. Bush
• Al Gore was Clinton’s VP.
• W—former gov. of Texas runs for
Repubs.
• Questions about who won in Ohio and
FLA.
• W’s brother Jeb. was gov. of Florida.
• Supreme Court decides Bush won FLA
and the election.
• Gore had more popular votes but lost in
electoral college.
• Bush 50,456,002
• Gore 50,999,897
Ralph Nader
• Former consumer advocate
• Very liberal but thinks
Democratic Party had become
too moderate.
• Claims there is no difference
between the Democrats and
Republicans.
• Runs for president as Green
candidate.
• Takes votes away from Gore.
Bush Stuff
• 9/11
• Tax cuts
• Desert Storm
• Deregulation of
Housing industry
• War on Terror
• Economy plummets
Obama
• Democrat
• 1st African American
president
• Defeats John McCain
(and Sarah Palin)
List the presidents and their
political party (and the years
they served) since 1932.
•
•
•
•
•
•
FDR (Dem) 1932-1945
Truman (Dem) 1945-1952
Ike (Rep.) 1952-1960
Kennedy (Dem.) 1960-1963
LBJ (Dem.) 1963-1968
Nixon (Rep.) 1968-1974
• Ford (Rep.) 1974-1976
• Carter (Dem.) 1976-1980
• Reagan (Rep.) 1980-1988
• Bush (Rep.) 1988-1992
• Clinton (Dem.) 1992-2000
• Bush W (Rep.) 2000-2008
• Obama (Dem.) 2008-
Review
• What was the “New South”?
• What were the main events in Jefferson’s
presidency in the realm of foreign policy?
• What ways did the Adams administration
try to stifle dissent?
• How did the Democratic-Republicans
respond?
• Explain the causes and outcome of the War
of 1812.
• What were the significant foreign policy
events during the presidency of Jimmy
Carter?
• Why was Jimmy Carter an appealing
candidate?
• What were the forces of the “New Right” that
propelled Reagan to victory in 1980 and
1984?
• Explain the main events of the Reagan
presidency.
• Why did America’s involvement in WWI
lead to strong anti-war sentiment
afterwards and how was this an obstacle
towards the beginning of WWII?
• Discuss the policies and actions of E
isenhower’s foreign policy.
New Deal Coalition
• National Health Insurance