Modern American

The New Right

opposed abortion, blocking equal rights amendments, opposed bussing, wants prayer in schools, criticizes affirmative action

Gloria Steinham

Feminist movement figure - Journalist and co-founded Ms. Magazine (platform for feminist voices)

Betty Friedan

Feminist movement figure - Author of Feminine Mystique and co-founded National Organization for Women

Phyllis Shlafly

Anti-feminist movement - "Stop ERA" campaign, conservative, feared ERA would lead to "parade of horribles" like drafting women, end of husband's responsibility to provide for family

Watergate

Nixon administration attempted to cover up a burglary of Dem. National Committee HQ @ Watergate office - they were trying to steal info to use to advantage in 1972 election. Led to public distrust of prez/government.

Gerald Ford

(1974-1977), Republican, non-elected prez, he pardoned Nixon and faced public distrust of office/gov, high inflation and unemployment

Economic solutions: Whip Inflation Now (cut back on gas), Tight Money Policy (cut gov spending)

- Cold War policy of Detente

- Helsinki Accords was his greatest accomplishment (35 European nations agree to cooperate)

Jimmy Carter

(1977-1981), Democratic, faced energy crisis and lack of oil due to war in Middle East (National Energy Act of 1979), economic crisis

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989,"Great Communicator" Republican, conservative economic policies, replaced liberal Democrats in upper house with conservative Democrats, led during worst recession since Great Depression / stagflation

Nancy Reagan

First Lady behind the "Just Say No" anti-drug program

George H. W. Bush/1988 Election

41st U.S. President. 1989-1993. Republican. Former head of CIA and VP for Reagan. Won 1988 Election

Busing Crisis

Happened due to school desegregation plan - people wanted integrated schools but not busing, lots of violence and protesting happened

Oil Crisis

Economic crisis of 1973 that occurred when OPEC (oil and petroleum exporting countries) nations refused to export oil to Western nations due to the US supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War (Between Israel+Egypt/Syria)

Iran Hostage Crisis

52 Americans are taken hostage from US embassy in Tehran during Carter's presidency, they're held for 444 days and are only released when Reagan is president out of spite

Conservative Movement

Nixon's New Conservatism wanted to decrease the size and influence of the fed. gov't. The government begin to sway towards conservative policies, Nixon wanted to appeal to the "Silent Majority".

Iran Contra

a political scandal in the United States which came to light in November 1986, during the Reagan administration, in which senior US figures agreed to facilitate the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo, to secure the release of hostages and to fund Nicaraguan contras.

Persian Gulf War

(1990 - 1991) Conflict between Iraq and a coalition of countries led by the United States to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait which they had invaded in hopes of controlling their oil supply. A very one sided war with the United States' coalition emerging victorious.

Women's Liberation Movement

1960s

*Spurred by increasing employment opportunities and increasing numbers of educated women

*The Movement questioned "traditional" definitions of women's roles

*There became increased opportunities for women in work, education, and business

*Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination by employers on the basis of gender

*National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded in 1966 to create equality between the sexes

Feminism

women should have economic, political, and social equality w/ men

Roe V. Wade

(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy

Equal Rights Amendment

proposed amendment to Constitution to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex (fell short of state ratification)

Affirmative Action

A policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities

Entitlement Programs

Government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need. People fraudulently using them caused resentment and fostered a strong resentment for civil rights

Reaganomics/Supply-Side Economics

Reaganomics was split into 3 parts:

1. Budget cuts in gov't

2. Supply-side economics: reduction in tax rates - increase in savings - increase in gov't revenue

3. Increased defense spending (Strategic Defense Initiative)

Gay Rights

backlash w/ AIDS epidemic, increase to gay rights activism and equal rights in workplace

End of the USSR/Cold War

Gorbachev takes power 1985, policies were "Glasnost" and "Perestroika" which encouraged openness and criticism of the USSR, worked towards better relationship w/ US, Berlin Wall came down, 14 non-Russian Soviet Countries declared independence and Cold War ends (1992)