Why did Americans believe the US was in decline? (4)
We lost the Vietnam War
Watergate scandal caused Nixon to resign
Energy Crisis
Iran Hostage Crisis
1976 Election
Democrat Jimmy Carter defeated Republican Gerald Ford
What is the promise President Carter made to Americans?
to be honest with them
What was the name of Carter’s group of advisors?
The Georgia Mafia
What caused gas prices to skyrocket during the Carter presidency? (3)
OPEC price increase (expensive oil imports)
Yom Kippur War (oil shortage)
Iranian Revolution
Gas Rationing Programs
restrictions were made to preserve fuel
The Malaise Speech
Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence” Speech
What sparked the Iran Hostage Crisis?
Carter allowed the Shah of Iran in the US for cancer treatment — made Ayatollah Khomeini angry
What did Ayatollah Khomeini call the US?
“The Great Satan”
Operation Eagle Claw
Carter’s unsuccessful plan to rescue Iran hostages
Ronald Reagan’s Nickname
“The Great Communicator”
How does Reagan win the support of the Religious Right?
Against abortion, gay rights, and sex-ed in schools AND agreed that the government was a problem (the government forced private segregated schools to pay taxes)
How does Reagan win the support of blue-collar workers?
Against affirmative action (policy that favored black candidates over white)
How does Reagan win the support of southerners?
Civil Rights laws were previously passed by a Democratic president
Reagan’s two main goals…
cut taxes & beat communism
“Government is not the solution to your problems…
…Government is the problem.”
Reaganomics
trickle-down or supply-side economics
Why do critics call Reagan’s plan Voodoo Economics? (3)
IT DIDN’T WORK!
Increases the national debt
No tax revenues
Money did not trickle down to the poor
Economic Recovery Tax Act
Reagan requested a 30% tax cut on the rich
How did Reagan convince Congress to allow a 23% tax cut on the rich?
He was nearly assassinated, so people rallied around him (and the economic recovery tax act idea)
How did cable tv contribute to culture wars?
the fairness doctrine was removed as more channels developed… channels could tailor to specific beliefs (MTV, FOX, CNN)
What are the Brat Pack movies Captain told us to remember? (2)
The Breakfast Club & Sixteen Candles
What are the main Brat Pack movie themes? (2)
Class conscientiousness (rich vs. poor) and alienation
Who is “the pretty girl”
Molly Ringwald
Who is “the nerdy boy”
Anthony Michael Hall
Who is “the weird girl”
Ally Sheedy
Who is “the heartthrob”
Andrew McCarthy
Name three Religious Right groups
Moral Majority (MM)
Focus on the Family (FOF)
American Family Association (AFA)
Founder of the Moral Majority
Jerry Falwell
AIDS Acronym
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
How did AIDS contribute to culture wars?
Save Our Children — group who viewed AIDS as a gay disease (God is punishing the gays)
What did Dan White do?
Killed two local officials for supporting gay rights — later pleaded insane due to his extensive sugar intake (The “Twinkie Defense”)
What did the Religious Right think about Reagan researching AIDS to find a cure?
He was defending the gays and wasting American money
Why does Reagan attempt to mandate school prayer?
He wanted more support from the Religious Right
Engle v. Vitale
Supreme Court case ruled that people can’t be forced to pray in schools
Creationism
the biblical belief of how Earth came into existence
Reagan believed that science curriculums should teach…
both science and creationism
Edwards v. Aguillar
Supreme Court case ruled that teaching creationism is against the Establishment Clause
What amendment did Reagan promise to gain more support from the Religious Right?
banning abortion — unless the woman was going to die
14th Amendment: Due Process Clause
women have a fundamental right to privacy (abortion)
Nancy Reagan’s Anti-Drug Slogan
“Just Say No”
NCEE Acronym
The National Commission on Excellence in Education
What was the name of the NCEE report in 1983?
“A Nation At Risk”
What did A Nation At Risk recommend?
students should go to school more (200-220 days/yr.)
How long did the Cold War last? Who was it between?
40 years; USSR vs. US
Why did they call it The Cold War?
there was no direct fighting
What was the goal of The Cold War?
both governments wanted to expand their influence and prevent the other from expanding theirs (capitalism vs. communism)
What are the major conflicts of The Cold War? (3)
Korean War
Vietnam War
Cuban Missile Crisis
Who was the Russian leader Ronald Reagan befriended?
Mikhail Gorbachev
East Germany is losing their youngest, smartest, most productive citizens because they are fleeing from communism. What is this issue known as?
“The Brain Drain”
What is the USSR’s solution to The Brain Drain?
The Berlin Wall
Where was the Berlin Wall located?
It circles West Berlin
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
to keep young people in West Berlin (old people are $$$)
What resulted in the fall of the Berlin Wall? (2)
East Germans can have free elections
Germany was unified
What led to the end of the USSR? (3)
Satellite nations declared independence
Non-communist parties could share ideas
Soviet troops were reduced to save money
___________ marked the end of The Cold War
the disbanding of the USSR