Mrs. Knapp
US History
Unit 14: Contemporary America
SOL Review
STANDARD VUS.133
The student will demonstrate knowledge of United States foreign policy since World War II by
e) explaining the impact of presidents of the United States since 1988 on foreign policy.
Essential Understanding
With the end of the Cold War, the United States changed its goals and policies.
Involvement in conflicts in other areas of the world have been an integral part of United States
foreign policy in the modern era.
Essential Knowledge
Selected post-Cold War era goals and policies
 Foreign Aid
 Humanitarian Aid
 Support Human Rights
George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
 Fall of communism in Eastern Europe
o Reunification of Germany
o Collapse of Yugoslavia
o Breakup of the Soviet state
 Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)
o First war where American women served in combat roles
o Operation Desert Storm
William J. Clinton (1993-2001)
 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
 Full diplomatic relations with Vietnam
 Lifted economic sanctions against South Africa when its government ended its policy of apartheid
 NATO action in former Yugoslavia
George W. Bush
 Terrorist attacks on United States soil (9-11)
 War in Afghanistan
 War in Iraq
STANDARD VUS.15a
The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic, social, cultural, and political developments in recent
decades and today by
a) examining the role the United States Supreme Court has played in defining a constitutional right to
privacy, affirming equal rights and upholding the rule of law.
Essential Understanding
The membership of the US Supreme Court has changed over time.
The decisions of the US Supreme Court have expanded individual rights in the years since Brown v.
Board of Education of Topeka (1954).
Essential Knowledge





The membership of the US Supreme Court has included women and minorities such as Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth
Bader Ginsburg, and Clarence Thomas.
The civil rights movement of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s provided a model that other groups have used to extend
civil rights and equal justice.
The US Supreme Court protects the individual rights enumerated in the Constitution of the United States.
The US Supreme Court identified a constitutional basis for a right to privacy that is protected from government
interference.
The US Supreme Court invalidates legislative acts and executive actions that the justices agree exceed the authority
granted to government officials by the Constitution of the United States.
STANDARD VUS.15b
The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic, social, cultural, and political developments in recent
decades and today by
b) analyzing the changing patterns of immigration, the reasons new immigrants choose to come to this
country, their contributions to contemporary America, and the debates over immigration policy.
Essential Understanding
Rising immigration has increased American diversity and redefined American identity.
Essential Knowledge
New and increasing immigration to the United States has been taking place from many diverse countries, especially Asian
and Latin American countries.
Reasons for immigration
 Political freedom
 Economic opportunity
Issues related to immigration policy
 Strain on government services
 Filling low paying jobs in the United States
 Border issues
 Pathway to citizenship
 Bilingual education
 Increasing cultural diversity
Contributions of immigrants
 Diversity in music, the arts, and literature
 Role in labor force
 Expanded source of scientists and engineers
STANDARD VUS.15c
The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic, social, cultural, and political developments in recent
decades and today by
c) explaining the media influence on contemporary American culture and how scientific and technological
advances affect the workplace, health care, and education.
Essential Understanding
Dramatic advances in technology have affected life in America in many significant areas.
The American space program was a triumph of American technological prowess.
Technology can make communication and information more accessible.
Essential Knowledge
In the early 1960s, President John Kennedy pledged increased support for the American space program. The race to the
moon continued through the 1960s. U.S. astronaut John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth. In 1969,
American astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first person to step onto the moon’s surface. He proclaimed, “That’s one
small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Sally Ride was the first female astronaut in the United States.
Over the past three decades improved technology and media have brought about better access to communication and
information for rural areas, businesses, and individual consumers. As a result, many more Americans have access to
global information and viewpoints.
Examples of technological advances
 Cable TV/24-hour news (CNN)
 Personal computers
 Cellular phones
 World Wide Web
Changes in work/school/health care
 Telecommuting
 Distance learning
 Growth of service industries
 Breakthroughs in medical research, including the development of the vaccine for polio by Dr. Jonas Salk
 Outsourcing and offshoring
STANDARD VUS.15d
The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic, social, cultural, and political developments in recent
decades and today by
d) examining the impact of the “Reagan Revolution” on federalism, the role of government, and state and
national elections since 1988.
Essential Understanding
Ronald Reagan’s policies had an impact on the relationship between the federal and state
governments.
The conservative political philosophy of President Reagan prompted a re-evaluation of the size and
role of government in the economy and society of contemporary America.
Essential Knowledge
President Regan and conservative Republicans advocated for
 Tax cuts
 Transfer of responsibilities to state governments
 Appointments of judges/justices who exercised “judicial restraint”
 Reduction in the number and scope of government programs and regulations
 Strengthened American military
The “Reagan Revolution” extended beyond his tenure in office with
 The election of his vice president, George H.W. Bush
 The election of a centrist Democrat, William Clinton
 The Republican sweep of congressional elections and state houses in the 1990s
 The election of George W. Bush
STANDARD VUS.15e
The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic, social, cultural, and political developments in recent
decades and today by
e) assessing the role of government actions that impact the economy.
Essential Understanding
The federal government has the ability to influence the United States economy. It bases its decisions
on economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product, exchange rates, inflation, and
unemployment rates.
Essential Knowledge
Government promotes a healthy economy characterized by full employment and low inflation through
actions of


Federal Reserve – monetary policy decisions control the supply of money and credit to expand or contract economic
growth
President and Congress – fiscal policy decisions determine levels of government taxation and spending; government
regulates the economy
STANDARD VUS.15f
The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic, social, cultural, and political developments in recent
decades and today by
f) assessing the role of the United States in a world confronted by international terrorism.
Essential Understanding
The United States formulates domestic and international policy in an effort to confront terrorism.
Essential Knowledge
United States responses to terrorism
 Heightened security at home (Patriot Act)
 Diplomatic and military initiatives
Presidents
George H.W. Bush
 Fall of ______________
in ___________ Europe
o Reunification of
_____________
o Collapse of
______________
o Breakup of the
_________ state
 Persian Gulf War (19901991)
o First war where
American
________ served
in ________ roles
o Operation
________ Storm
William J. Clinton
 North American Free Trade
Agreement (__________)
 Full ______________
relations with
___________
 Lifted _________ sanctions
against ____________
when its government
ended its policy of
___________
 _______ action in former
_________________
George W. Bush
 ___________ attacks on
United States soil (9-11)
 War in _____________
 War in ________
Role of the US Supreme Court
 The membership of the US Supreme Court has included ____________ and ___________
such as ___________________, _________________________, and
_____________________.
 The civil rights movement of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s provided a _________ that other
groups have used to extend civil rights and ____________ justice.
 The US Supreme Court protects the ______________ rights enumerated in the
_____________ of the United States.
 The US Supreme Court identified a ____________________ basis for a right to ________
that is protected from ____________________ interference.
 The US Supreme Court _________________ legislative acts and ____________ actions that
the justices agree ____________ the authority granted to government officials by the
_____________________ of the United States.
Immigration
Reasons
 ______________
freedom
 ____________
opportunity
Issues
 Strain on government
____________
 Filling ________ paying
jobs in the United States
 ___________ issues
 Pathway to
______________
 _______________
education
 Increasing _____________
diversity
Contributions
 Diversity in _________,
the ______, and
literature
 Role in ________ force
 ______________ source
of scientists and
engineers
Examples of Technological
Advances
1960s brought race
 Cable TV/24 hour news
to the moon and
(_______)
increased support for
 Personal ___________
American space
 Cellular phones
program by
 World Wide Web
President
______________
US astronaut
____________ was
the first American to
orbit the Earth
American astronaut
Neil Armstrong was
the first person to
step onto the moon’s
surface in ______
Who said, “That’s
one small step for a
man, one giant leap
for mankind”?
______________
_____________ was
the first female
astronaut in the
United States
Changes in
Work/School/Healthcare
 Telecommuting
 Distance learning
 Growth of service
industries
 Breakthroughs in
medical research,
including the
development of the
vaccine for polio by
________________
 Outsourcing and
________________
Technology
Space Program





Effects of Reagan Revolution
Reagan and Conservative Republicans
advocated for
 ________ cuts
 Transfer of responsibilities to __________
governments
 Appointments of judges/justices who
exercised “_____________________”
 Reduction in the ____________ and scope
of government programs and
________________
 Strengthened American ______________
Extended beyond Reagan’s tenure in
office with
 The election of his vice president,
___________________
 The election of a centrist Democrat,
___________________
 The Republican sweep of
______________________ elections and
state houses in the 1990s
 The election of ___________________
Role of Government in the Economy
Government promotes a healthy economy characterized by full employment and low
inflation through actions of
 ______________________ – monetary policy decisions control the _______ of money and
_________ to expand or contract economic ______________
 President and Congress – ____________ policy decisions determine ____________ of
government _____________ and ________________; government regulates the
_______________
Role of United States in International Terrorism
United States responses to terrorism
 Heightened ____________ at home (___________ Act)
 __________________ and _____________ initiatives