In a Nutshell
Period 9: 1980 to the Present
As the United States transitioned to a new century filled with challenges and possibilities, it
experienced renewed ideological and cultural debates, sought to redefine its foreign policy, and
adapted to economic globalization and revolutionary changes in science and technology.
Key Concepts
Part 1
A.
A newly ascendant conservative movement achieved several political and policy goals
during the 1980s and continued to strongly influence public discourse in the following
decades. (9.1)
B. Conservative beliefs regarding the need for traditional social values and a reduced role for
government advanced in U.S. politics after 1980. (9.1-I) (POL-1.0) (POL-2.0) (POL-3.0)
(WXT-2.0)
Part 2
C. Moving into the 21st century, the nation experienced significant technological,
and demographic changes. (9.2)
D.
economic,
New developments in science and technology enhanced the economy and transformed
society, while manufacturing decreased. (9.2-I) (WXT-1.0) (WXT-2.0) (WXT-3.0)
E. The U.S. population continued to undergo demographic shifts that had significant cultural and
political consequences. (9.2-II) (NAT-4.0) (CUL-3.0) (MIG-1.0) (MIG-2.0)
Part 3
F. The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership forced the nation to redefine
its foreign policy and role in the world. (9.3)
G.
The Reagan administration promoted an interventionist foreign policy that continued in
later administrations, even after the end of the Cold War. (9.3-I) (WOR-2.0)
H.
Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. foreign policy efforts focused on
fighting terrorism around the world. (9.3-II) (NAT-2.0) (NAT-3.0) (GEO-1.0) (WOR-2.0)
Significant Topics
1. *Reagan’s Conservative “Revolution” and Policies that Followed Ronald Reagan’s victory in
the presidential election of 1980 represented an important milestone, allowing conservatives to
enact significant tax cuts and continue the deregulation of many industries. (9.3-IA)
Conservatives argued that liberal programs were counterproductive in fighting poverty and
stimulating economic growth. Some of their efforts to reduce the size and scope of government
met with inertia and liberal opposition, as many programs remained popular with voters. (9.3-IB)
Policy debates continued over free-trade agreements, the scope of the government social
safety net, and calls to reform the U.S. financial system. (9.1-IC)
Conservative Movement (POL,CUL)
a. Religious fundamentalism- The moral majority attacked any & all that they perceived to be a
godless creed, wanted prayer in schools, and very upset by the Roe v. Wade supreme court
decision that decided a woman’s abortion decision is the woman’s privacy issue. The religious
fundamentalists believed in the right of the unborn.
Reagan Revolution (POL,WXT)
b. Reaganomics also known as supply-side economics- advocated tax cuts & reduced govt.
spending would increase private investment to lead to increased production, jobs, and
prosperity. Critics claimed it ‘trickle-down’ economics which they claimed only improved the
wealthy with little to no trickle-down.’ Huge budget deficits resulted.
c. Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981)- Include a 25% reduction in personal income tax rates
phased over a three year time period. Cuts in corporate income taxes and in inheritance and gift
taxes benefitted the wealthy.
d. Sandra Day O’Connor-First woman nominated and confirmed as a Supreme Court justice.
2. The End of the Cold War and the Events that Followed President Reagan asserted U.S.
opposition to communism through speeches, diplomatic efforts, limited military interventions,
and a buildup of nuclear and conventional weapons. (9.3-IA) Increased U.S. military spending,
Reagan’s diplomatic initiatives, and political changes and economic problems in Eastern Europe
and the Soviet Union were all important in ending the Cold War. (9.3-IB)
Reagan Foreign Policy (WOR)
a. Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)-Part of an overall defense build-up, military
spending was increased as a rejuvenation of the Cold War defense needs. Star-Wars Defense
was a ‘concept’ that satellites could be used as a deterrent threat.
b. Iran Contra Affair- Scandal in which it was later revealed that the U.S. sold arms to Iran
(possibly as thanks for the hostages being released.) the profits from these illegal sales were
then said to be funding the contras in Nicaragua to overthrow their government. President
Reagan claimed he did not know of the plan.
c. Mikhail Gorbachev, glasnost & perestroika- glasnost= Soviet openness to western ideas,
perestroika=restructure of the soviet economy. The U.S.S.R. fell and abandoned cold war during
this time. President Reagan met with Gorbachev numerous times on good terms, famous line=
“Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall,” 1988 re: Berlin Wall.
d. INF agreement- agreement between the U.S. and Russia to remove/destroy all intermediate
range missiles.
End of Cold War (WOR)
a. Tiananmen Square 1989- Pro-democracy Chinese students protested in Tiananmen Square
wanting democracy, the government responded with military tanks that killed hundreds of
protestors.
b. Fall of the Berlin Wall 1990- Both NATO and the Soviet Union approved the tearing down of
the Berlin Wall finally Berlin was reunited after 45 years.
Breakup of the Soviet Union/Boris Yeltsin
c. START I & II- START = strategic arms reduction treaty. START I= agreement with the
U.S. (Pres. Bush) and the Soviets (Gorbachev) to limit the number of nuclear warheads to under
10,000 on each side. START II= Pres. Bush and Soviet Yeltsin agreed to a further reduction of
nuclear weapons to 3,000 on each side.
George H.W. Bush (POL, WOR)
a. Fall of the Soviet Union 1991 Due to the Soviet Governments inability to stop the rise of
nationalism and the independence of Soviet republics, the Soviet Union formally ceased to exist
on December 26, 1991.
b. Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm 1991- Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded and
captured neighboring Kuwait which threatened western oil production and reserves in Kuwait.
The congressionally approved military campaign of U.S. and 28 other nations, lasted 5 weeks and
resulted in Iraq defeat.
c. Clarence Thomas- nominee to the Supreme Court to replace Thurgood Marshall, however the
confirmation hearings involved accusations of workplace sexual harassment against Thomas,
even so his nomination was confirmed and he became the 2nd black supreme court justice.
d. American with Disabilities Act 1990- prohibits discrimination against persons with physical or
mental disabilities in hiring, transportation, and public accommodation ( access into
buildings/handicap restrooms. handicap parking.)
Clinton Era Politics (POL, WXT)
a. NAFTA= north America Free Trade Association- agreement between Canada/U.S. and Mexico
to become a ‘free-trade zone.’
b. Brady Bill- named after James Brady who was shot when President Reagan was shot, required
a five day waiting period and a back ground check before a person could buy a hand gun. The
shooter in the assassination attempt had been found mentally insane at trial. This bill was an
effort to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.
c. The Third Way= a Centrist approach to governance advocated by Bill Clinton to achieve liberal
objectives (equal opportunity and pay) through conservative means (minimal government
regulation and governmental support of business).
d. Deficit reduction budgets/balanced budgets- deficit reduction meant government spending
reductions and income tax increases. By 1996 thanks to an improved economy/budget
cuts/increased taxes the budget was balanced.
e. Clinton impeachment- A special prosecutor was appointed to investigate allegations of
improper Presidential behavior with a Whitehouse intern, impeachment hearings were held on
charges of with-holding evidence & perjury (lying under oath.) The Senate vote did not remove
Clinton from office.
3. The War on Terrorism In the wake of attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,
the United States launched military efforts against terrorism and lengthy, controversial
conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. (9.3-IIA) The war on terrorism sought to improve security
within the United States but also raised questions about the protection of civil liberties and
human rights. (9.3-IIB)
a. Al Qaeda Terrorist network established by Saudi Osama bin Laden in 1989 that organizes
militant Islamic groups that seek to remove foreigners from Islamic holy land and to
unite all Islamic lands.
b. Taliban Organization of Muslim fundamentalists that gained control over Afghanistan in 1996
after the Soviet Union withdrew, established a strict Islamic government.
c. ✓Attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, September 11, 2001 Attacks on the
World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., that killed
3000 people and started the U.S. War on Terrorism.
d. Patriot Act, 2001 Law that reduced constraints on the Justice Department and other lawenforcement agencies in dealing with individuals who were suspected of being linked to
terrorists.
e. Department of Homeland Security, 2001 Cabinet-level department created after the attacks
of September 11 to protect the United States and its territories from to terrorist
attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters.
f. War in Afghanistan, 2001 After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, NATO forces
led by the United States entered Afghanistan to dismantle al-Qaeda and eliminate its
safe haven by removing the Taliban from power.
g. Iraq War, 2003-2011 Invasion of Iraq led by the United States, followed by a longer phase
of fighting, in which an insurgency emerged to oppose the occupying forces and a newly
formed Iraqi government.
h. weapons of mass destruction Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that have the
potential to kill large numbers of people. The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 saying that Iraqis had
weapons of mass destruction. The weapons were never found.
4. Changes in the American Economy Economic productivity increased as improvements in
digital communications enabled increased American participation in worldwide economic
opportunities. (9.2-IA) Employment increased in service sectors and decreased in
manufacturing, and union membership declined. (9.2-IC) Real wages stagnated for the
working and middle class amid growing economic inequality. (9.2-ID)
5. Technology, Energy, and the Environment Technological innovations in computing, digital
mobile technology, and the Internet transformed daily life, increased access to
information, and led to new social behaviors and networks. (9.2-IB) Conflicts in the
Middle East and concerns about climate change led to debates over U.S. dependence on
fossil fuels and the impact of economic consumption on the environment. (9.3-IIC)
a.
information technology The management and processing of information with computers
and other forms of telecommunications. Created an economic boom in the 1990s,
providing the United States with the longest period of economic expansion it its
history.
b.
Kyoto Agreement, 1997 United Nations agreement to reduce emission rates of carbon
dioxide and other industrial- produced gases linked to climate change.
c.
global warming The gradual warming of the surface of the Earth that could case major
ecological changes.
6. Immigration and Domestic Migration After 1980, the political, economic, and cultural
influence of the American South and West continued to increase as population shifted to
those areas. (9.2-IIA) International migration from Latin America and Asia increased
dramatically. The new immigrants affected U.S. culture in many ways and supplied the
economy with an important labor force. (9.2-IIB)
7. The Transformation of American Society Intense political and cultural debates continued
over issues such as immigration policy, diversity, gender roles, and family structures. (9.2-IIC)
a. cultural pluralism The coexistence of many cultures in the United States without any one
culture dominating a locality or region. The idea of cultural pluralism seeks to reduce
racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.
b. glass ceiling Term used to describe the barrier within in company that prevents women or
minorities from rising to upper-level positions.
c. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, 1994 Policy prohibiting military personnel from discriminating against
or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while
barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service.
d. Defense of Marriage Act, 1996 Federal law that defined marriage as a legal contract
between a man and a woman.
e. Nancy Pelosi First woman to become Speaker of the House of Representatives (2007)
f. Barack Obama First African American to become president of the United States. (2009)
g. United States v. Windsor, 2013 The Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for the federal
government to deny federal benefits of marriage to married same-sex couples, if the
marriage is recognized or performed in a state that allows same-sex marriage.
h. Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015 The Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50
states.
i.
8. The United States in the Early 21st Century Despite economic and foreign policy
challenges, the United States continued as the world’s leading superpower in the 21st century.
(9.3-IID)
Globalization- (WOR)
a. European Union (EU)- First steps in the 1990s to form an economic partnership of European
countries for the purpose of bolstering their economic position in the world as an alliance of
countries rather than individual.
b. World Trade Organization 1994- established to oversee trade agreements, enforce trade
rules, and settle disputes with member nations.
c. World Bank/ G-8- The World bank was established to make loans and supervise the economic
policies of poorer member nations. G-8= the world’s largest industrial powers (1994) Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United kingdom, & the U.S. who controlled two-thirds
of the world’s wealth.