APUSH summer assignment Conservatism, Reagan, and the end of the Cold war

which best describes the political shift of the 1980?

The rise of conservatism, emphasizing traditional values, limited government, and free-market economics.

Conservatives believed lower taxes would:

Encourage business investment, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.

“Free market economics” means:

An economic system where businesses operate with little government regulation, and supply and demand determine prices.

Which organization promoted conservative ideas during the 1980s?

The Heritage Foundation

The Moral Majority mainly focused on:

Promoting religious beliefs and traditional social values in politics.

Reaganomics is another name for:

Supply-side economics.

Supply side economics argues that economic growth comes from:

The idea that lowering taxes and reducing government regulation encourages businesses to invest, leading to economic growth.

which industries were deregulated under Reagan?

anking, telecommunications, and transportation.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986:

Simplified the tax code, lowered income tax rates, and eliminated many tax shelters.

Critics of welfare believed welfare programs:

Created dependency on government and discouraged personal responsibility.

Define limited government intervention.

The belief that the government should play a smaller role in the economy and people’s daily lives.

Define traditional Social Values.

Beliefs that support traditional family structures, religious values, and conservative moral principles

What were conservatives trying to restore in American society?

Individual freedom, traditional family values, religious values, and limited government.

Why did conservatives oppose abortion?

They believed in protecting unborn life and promoting traditional religious and family values

Why did many Americans oppose cuts to Medicare and Social Security?

Because many people depended on these programs for healthcare and retirement income.

What did the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 require welfare recipients to do?

It required many welfare recipients to work or seek employment and placed time limits on receiving benefits.

Why was the Welfare Reform Act considered a conservative victory?

It reduced long-term welfare dependence and emphasized work and personal responsibility.

What was the debate over NAFTA?

supporters believed it would increase trade and economic growth, while critics argued it would cause job losses in the United states

When was NAFTA signed?

1994.

How did conservatives generally view free trade?

They generally supported free trade because they believed it promoted economic growth.

What happened in 2008 that restarted debates about financial regulation?

The 2008 financial crisis (Great Recession).

What was the purpose of the Dodd-Frank Act?

To increase financial regulation and prevent another financial crisis.

why did conservatives criticize Dodd-Frank?

They argued it placed too many regulations on businesses and limited economic growth.

What debates surrounded immigration?

Debates over border security, illegal immigration, and whether undocumented immigrants should have a pathway to citizenship.

How did conservatives and liberals differ on immigration policy?

• conservatives favored stronger border security and stricter immigration enforcement.

• Liberals generally supported pathways to citizenship and protections for undocumented immigrants.

What is affirmative action?

Policies that consider race, ethnicity, or gender to increase opportunities in education and employment for historically underrepresented groups.

Why did affirmative action become controversial?

Supporters believed it promoted equal opportunity, while opponents argued it could result in unfair treatment based on race.

What was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)?

A 1996 law that defined marriage under federal law as between one man and one woman.

What happened to DOMA later?

key parts of the law were struck down by the Supreme Court, and same-sex marriage later became legal nationwide.

How did Reagan reshape the Republican Party for future generations?

He united conservatives around limited government, free-market economics, lower taxes, strong national defense, and traditional social values, shaping the party’s platform for decades.

What was Reagan’s main foreign policy goal?

To contain and defeat communism while strengthening U.S. influence around the world.

What did Reagan call the Soviet Union?

The “Evil Empire.”

What was Reagan referring to when he said “Tear Down This Wall”

The Berlin Wall.

Where was the Berlin Wall located?

Berlin, Germany, separating East Berlin (communist) from West Berlin (democratic).

Who was Reagan speaking to in that speech?

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Who were the Contras?

Anti-communist rebel groups fighting the communist Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

Why did Reagan support the Contras?

To stop the spread of communism in Central America.

What happened in Grenada in 1983?

The United States invaded Grenada to remove a Marxist government and protect American citizens.

What was the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)?

Reagan’s proposed missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming nuclear missiles before they reached the United States.

Why was SDI Important even though it was never fully built?

It increased pressure on the Soviet Union during the Cold War and influenced future missile defense technology.

Who was Soviet Leader Reagan worked with?

Mikhail Gorbachev.

What treaty reduced nuclear weapons?

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

What does INF stand for?

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces.

Why did the Soviet economy struggle?

High military spending, economic inefficiency, and the cost of competing with the United States.

What happened in Poland that weakened Soviet control?

The Solidarity labor movement challenged communist rule.

what happened to the Berlin Wall in 1989?

It fell, symbolizing the collapse of communist control in Eastern Europe.

when did the soviet union officially dissolve?

1991.

Why is Reagan’s partnership with Gorbachev considered important?

They negotiated arms reduction agreements that helped end the Cold War.

What happened at the Reykjavik Summit?

Reagan and Gorbachev discussed reducing nuclear weapons, laying the groundwork for future arms control agreements.

Name three causes of the end of the Cold War.

• Increased U.S. military pressure

• Soviet economic problems

• Gorbachev’s reforms and diplomacy

Why was the United States called of the world’s only superpower after 1991?

Because the Soviet Union collapsed, leaving the U.S. as the dominant military, political, and economic power.

What is unipolar World?

A world with one dominant global superpower.

Why did NATO expand after the Cold War?

To promote stability and security in Europe by admitting former communist countries.

What was the purpose of the Gulf War?

To force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait after its invasion in 1990.

Who invaded Kuwait?

Iraq under Saddam Hussein.

why did the U.S intervene in the Gulf War?

To defend Kuwait, protect international law, and maintain stability in the Middle East.

Besides the Gulf War, where did the U.S. carry out peacekeeping missions?

The Balkans and Somalia.

What debates did the Gulf War create?

Debates over when and how the U.S. should use military force around the world.

How did Reagan’s foreign policy influence later presidents?

It encouraged strong military spending, active U.S. involvement overseas, and efforts to promote democracy.

What debates continue today because of Reagan’s legacy?

Debates over military spending, U.S. intervention abroad, alliances like NATO, and America’s role in world affairs.

Conservatism

A political philosophy favoring limited government, free markets, traditional values, and individual responsibility.

Limited government

The belief that government should have a small role in the economy and society.

free-market economics

An economic system with little government regulation where supply and demand determine prices.

deregulation

Removing government rules and restrictions on businesses.

reaganomics

Reagan’s economic policy based on lower taxes, deregulation, and supply-side economics.

supply side econmics

The theory that lowering taxes and regulations encourages investment and economic growth.

heritage foundation

A conservative think tank that influenced Republican policies.

moral majority

A religious conservative political organization promoting traditional family values.

welfare

Government assistance programs for people with low incomes

medicare

Federal health insurance primarily for people age 65 and older.

social security

A federal program providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

welfare Reform act

A 1996 law requiring many welfare recipients to work and limiting how long they could receive benefits.

NAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement (1994), which reduced trade barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Dodd-Frank Act

A 2010 law that increased financial regulation after the 2008 financial crisis.

Great recession

The severe economic downturn caused by the 2008 financial crisis.

Affirmative action

Policies designed to increase opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.

Defense of marriage Act (DOMA)

A 1996 law defining marriage under federal law as between one man and one woman (later largely struck down).

Immigration reform

Changes to immigration laws concerning border security, undocumented immigrants, and legal immigration.

strategic Defense initiative (SDI)

Reagan’s proposed missile defense system, nicknamed “Star Wars.”

Contras

Anti-communist rebels supported by the U.S. in Nicaragua.

INF treaty

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which eliminated many U.S. and Soviet nuclear missiles.

reykjavik summit

The 1986 meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev that advanced nuclear arms reduction.

berlin wall

A wall separating East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989; a symbol of the Cold War.

dissolution of the ussr

The breakup of the Soviet Union into independent countries in 1991, ending the Cold War.

Gulf war

he 1990–1991 war in which a U.S.-led coalition forced Iraq out of Kuwait.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed to provide collective defense

unipolar world

A world dominated by one superpower.

superpower

A nation with dominant military, economic, and political influence around the world.

peacekeeping

Military or diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability in conflict areas.

government intervention

Government involvement in the economy or society through laws, regulations, spending, or programs.