globalization
actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope
neoconservative
conservative who favors strongly encouraging democracy and the U.S. national interest in world affairs, including through military means
religious fundamentalism
religious movement whose objectives are to return to the foundations of the faith and to influence policy
deregulation
policy promoting cutbacks in the amount of Federal regulation in specific areas of economic activity
big government
government programs in areas where conservatives believe government shouldn't be involved, especially those that spend money on social problems
Ronald Reagan
(1981-1989)"Great Communicator" Republican, conservative economic policies, replaced liberal Democrats in upper house with consevative Democrats or "boll weevils"; cut out many welfare and public works programs and used Strategic Defense Initiative to avoid conflict
Mikhail Gorbachev
head of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991; liberalization effort improved relations with the West, but he lost power after his reforms led to the collapse of Communist governments in eastern Europe
arms reduction
term for international restrictions upon the development, production, stockpiling, proliferation and usage of small arms, conventional weapons, and weapons of mass destruction (one of Wilson's fourteen points)
9/11 attacks
19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda hijack 4 airliners and carried out attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and other targets in the U.S. leaving many Americans dead and injured
war on terror
after 9/11, President George W. Bush declared a worldwide "war on terrorism" aimed at defeating international terrorist organizations, destroying terrorist training camps, and bringing terrorists themselves to justice
Afghanistan
this country has been a safe haven for terrorists like Bin Laden; Taliban government sponsored terrorist training camps and suppressed the people of this country; in response to September 11, 2001, President Bush (43) ordered the invasion of this country
Iraq Conflict
US put Sadaam Hussain into power to protect against socialists; turns out to be a major backfire and they needed to go in and take down his government
Free Trade Agreements
pacts between two countries or among a group of countries that make it easier to trade goods across national boundaries by reducing or eliminating restrictions on exports and taxes on imported goods and protecting intellectual property rights
climate change
any significant change in measures of climate, such as temperature, precipitation, or wind, lasting for an extended period of a decade or longer
fossil fuels
a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms
computer/internet revolution
1980's-1980's computers become more common in the home, but mostly just text; 1990's personal computers are universally at a generally low cost, accessible, and give instant communication