unit everything

Conservatism

Reagan's presidency symbolized a shift to conservative economic, social, and foreign policies.

Moral Majority

Evangelical Christian group that supported Reagan's conservative agenda.

Reaganomics

Supply-side economic policies: tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending.

Iran-Contra Affair (1985-1987)

Illegal arms sales to Iran to fund Nicaraguan rebels; scandal led to investigations.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Proposed space-based missile defense system to protect U.S. from nuclear attack.

Cold War

Reagan's hardline stance against the Soviet Union (e.g., "Evil Empire" speech, arms buildup).

No New Taxes

Bush broke his promise by raising taxes to address the national deficit.

Desert Storm (1991)

U.S. led coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq invaded.

End of Cold War

Bush presided over the collapse of the Soviet Union, marking the end of the Cold War.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Policy allowing gay individuals to serve in the military without disclosing their sexual orientation.

NAFTA (1994)

North American Free Trade Agreement; created a trilateral trade bloc between U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Budget Reform

Clinton balanced the budget and created a surplus after decades of deficits.

Impeachment (1998)

Clinton impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice related to Monica Lewinsky scandal; acquitted.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Supreme Court decision that settled the contested 2000 election, giving Bush the presidency.

Recession (2007-2009)

The 2008 financial crisis, triggered by the housing bubble, led to a severe recession.

No Child Left Behind (2002)

Education reform focused on standardized testing, accountability, and improving education for disadvantaged students.

9/11 (2001)

Terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center and Pentagon; over 3,000 killed.

PATRIOT Act (2001)

Expanded government surveillance powers to combat terrorism; controversial for civil liberties violations.

Homeland Security (2002)

Department created to coordinate national security efforts, focusing on counterterrorism.

Axis of Evil (2002)

Bush identified Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as nations threatening global security.

Iraq War (2003-2011)

U.S. invasion of Iraq based on claims of WMDs (weapons of mass destruction), no WMDs were found.

Afghanistan War (2001-2021)

U.S. fought Taliban forces in Afghanistan after 9/11; longest war in U.S. history.

Obamacare (Affordable Care Act)

Healthcare reform aimed at expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving the system.

Opposition to Obama

Republican resistance, particularly to healthcare reform and economic policies, led to political polarization.

Economic Recovery

Obama's stimulus package helped recover from the Great Recession, reducing unemployment.

Death of Bin Laden (2011)

U.S. Navy SEALs killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Troop Removal from Middle East

Obama oversaw the end of combat operations in Iraq and a reduction of troops in Afghanistan.

Globalization

Increased interdependence of world economies; U.S. outsourcing, rise of multinational corporations.

Manufacturing Loss

Decline of U.S. manufacturing jobs due to automation and outsourcing to cheaper labor markets.

Rust Belt/Sun Belt

Rust Belt: Industrial decline in the North; Sun Belt: Growing Southern and Western economies.

Effect on Politics

Globalization and the economic shift led to political debates on trade policies, job losses, and inequality.

Rise of Computers

Personal computers became commonplace in the 1980s and 1990s.

Internet

Revolutionized communication, business, and culture starting in the 1990s.

Dot Com Boom (1990s)

Rapid growth of internet companies, followed by the crash in 2000.

Rise of Cell Phones

Cell phones became widely used in the 2000s, later evolving into smartphones.

Social Media

Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram transformed social interaction and business.

Latinos & Asians

Major demographic shifts with increased immigration from Latin America and Asia.

Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986)

Granted amnesty to undocumented immigrants who arrived before 1982, but failed to control future illegal immigration.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Program that provides temporary relief from deportation to undocumented immigrants brought as children.

Ronald Reagan

Conservative president; oversaw the end of the Cold War and massive economic changes.

George H.W. Bush

Led U.S. through Gulf War and the end of the Cold War.

Bill Clinton

Presided over economic growth, welfare reform, and a controversial impeachment.

George W. Bush

Presidency marked by 9/11, Iraq War, and the Great Recession.

Barack Obama

First Black president; major accomplishments in healthcare reform, economic recovery, and foreign policy.

Cause and Effect

Effects of Reagan's economic policies on income inequality and the global economy.

Comparison

Political polarization between conservative vs. liberal ideologies, especially post-Reagan.

Continuity and Change

Shifts in U.S. foreign policy after the Cold War, especially regarding terrorism and the Middle East.

GI Bill

Gave WWII veterans benefits for college, home loans—expanded the middle class.

Baby Boom

Massive rise in birth rates after WWII; fueled suburban growth.

Sunbelt Migration

People moved to the South and West for jobs, climate, and defense industries.

Interstate Highway Act (1956)

Created national road system; boosted suburbs and military readiness.

Levittown

Mass-produced suburbs; symbol of conformity and racial exclusion.

TV's Impact

Transformed politics, family life, and consumer culture.

Culture of Conformity

Emphasis on traditional roles and anti-communism.

Beats (Beatniks)

Writers who rejected 1950s norms and embraced nonconformity.

Rock & Roll

New music genre; popular among youth, challenged norms.

Long Telegram (1946)

George Kennan's memo advising containment of Soviet expansion.

Containment

U.S. strategy to stop the spread of communism.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

U.S. would aid countries resisting communism (Greece, Turkey).

Marshall Plan

Massive U.S. aid to rebuild Western Europe; blocked communism.

Korean War (1950-1953)

U.S. fought to defend South Korea from communism; ended in stalemate.

Eisenhower Doctrine

Pledged U.S. aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.

Brinkmanship

Eisenhower's policy of pushing threats to the edge of war.

Military-Industrial Complex

Eisenhower warned against defense industry's influence.

Cuba

Castro's communist rise led to Bay of Pigs (1961) & Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

2nd Red Scare

Fear of communists in government; led to McCarthyism.

Space Race

USSR launched Sputnik → U.S. created NASA; race for tech dominance.

Brown v. Board (1954)

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson; ended school segregation.

Little Rock Nine (1957)

Eisenhower sent troops to protect Black students integrating school.

Rosa Parks (1955)

Sparked Montgomery Bus Boycott led by MLK.

MLK Jr.

Nonviolent leader of civil rights movement; "I Have a Dream."

Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960)

College students protested segregated lunch counters.

Malcolm X

Advocated Black nationalism and self-defense before moderating views.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Banned segregation and job discrimination.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Outlawed literacy tests; expanded Black voter access.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one country fell to communism, others would follow.

TV War

Vietnam broadcasted into homes; undermined public support.

Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)

Gave LBJ broad war powers without a formal declaration.

Draft & Protests

Young Americans resisted the draft; campuses erupted in protest.

Counterculture

"Hippies" rejected materialism, war, and traditional values.

Tet Offensive (1968)

Surprise attack by North Vietnam; turned U.S. opinion against the war.

My Lai Massacre

U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of civilians; fueled antiwar anger.

Pentagon Papers (1971)

Leaked docs revealing U.S. government deception in Vietnam.

Vietnamization

Nixon's plan to withdraw troops and turn war over to South Vietnam.

"Peace with Honor"

Nixon's phrase for exiting war while preserving U.S. dignity.

War on Poverty

Programs like Head Start, Job Corps aimed to reduce poverty.

Medicare & Medicaid

Health insurance for the elderly and low-income Americans.

Detente

Nixon's policy of easing Cold War tensions (with USSR, China).

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

Treaty limiting nuclear weapons.

Oil Crisis (1973)

OPEC embargo caused gas shortages and inflation.

Watergate Scandal

Nixon resigned after cover-up of break-in was exposed.

Ford: Nixon Pardon

Controversial decision; hurt public trust in government.

Fall of Saigon (1975)

Marked end of Vietnam War; South Vietnam fell to communism.

Whip Inflation Now (WIN)

Ford's failed plan to curb inflation.

Carter: Camp David Accords (1978)

Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.

Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979)

U.S. embassy workers held hostage; damaged Carter's presidency.

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

Exposed dangers of pesticides; launched environmental movement.

Clean Air Act / Clean Water Act

Set pollution limits to protect environment.

EPA (1970)

Federal agency created to enforce environmental laws.

Earth Day (1970)

Nationwide celebration of environmental protection.