Reagan & The 1980s, 4.1 Nixon, Ford, & Carter Presidencies, 3.4 LBJ & The Great Society

Reaganomics

The economic policies of the former US president Ronald Reagan, associated especially with the reduction of taxes and the promotion of unrestricted free-market activity.

Trickle Down Economics

Economic theory that holds that money lent to banks and businesses will trickle down to consumers

Iran-Contra Affair

Scandal including arms sales to the Middle East in order to send money to help the Contras in Nicaragua even though Congress had objected

Sandra Day O'Connor:

O'Connor was the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice (1981-2006).

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A proposed defense system - popularly known as Star Wars - intended to protect the United States against missile attacks

Fall of the Berlin Wall

The removal of the wall that separated East and West Germany in 1989. Symbolized the end of the Cold War.

War on Drugs

In the late 70s and 80s, this campaign fought the new levels of poverty, crime, & drug addiction in the inner cities.

Evil Empire:

Ronald Reagan's description of Soviet Union because of his fierce anti-communist views and the USSR's history of violation of human rights and aggression.

Reagan Revolution

Reagan's policies which increased defense spending reduced social programs and cut taxes they were based on supply side theory of growing the economy by cutting government interference and taxes

Detente:

A policy of reducing Cold War tensions that was adopted by the United States during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Trianglar Diplomacy:

Foreign policy developed by Henry Kissinger, as a means to manage relations between contesting Communist powers, the Soviet Union and China.

SALT I Treaty

1972; Limited the nations' numbers of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched missiles.

Watergate:

1972; a political scandal involving abuse of power and bribery and obstruction of justice from Nixon Administration infultrating the DNC before the 1972 election.

Stagflation:

a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment (stagnation) while prices rise (inflation).

Soviet-Afghan War:

The Soviets invade Afghanistan, many people support Afghanistan through the context of the Cold War and to prevent the spread of Communism.

OPEC:

Beginning in 1961 a group of countries came up with a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum.

Oil Embargo 1973:

Arab oil-producing nations halted the flow of oil to nations that supported Israel including US. Severely threatened European and world economy.

Camp David Accords:

1978; A peace treaty between Israel and Egypt where Egypt agreed to recognize the nation state of Israel mitigated by President Carter.

Iran Hostage Crisis:

1979; revolutionaries stormed the American embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage.

The Great Society

a domestic program in the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson that instituted federally sponsored social welfare programs.

War on Poverty

President Lyndon B. Johnson's program in the 1960's to provide greater social services for the poor and elderly

Head Start

a preschool program for children from low-income families that also provides healthcare, nutrition services, and social services

Medicare/Medicaid

Great Society programs to have the government provide medical aid to the elderly (Medicare) and the poor (Medicaid).

Civil Rights Act of 1964

outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

Economic Opportunity Act of 1964

An economic legislation that was part of the Great Society. It created many social programs to help the poor.

Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965

Abolished the national-origins quotas and providing for the admission each year of 170,000 immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere and 120,000 from the Western Hemisphere

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

Extended federal aid to private and parochial schools in addition to public schools and based the aid on the economic conditions of students rather than the need of the schools.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting for those suffering discrimination.

Fair Housing Act 1968

Prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race