U.S. History II - Unit 4

Flashcards about recent US History

Wage Gap (1980s–Present)

The gender wage gap persisted despite advances in civil rights; women earned ~60% of what men did in the early 1980s; By 2020s, the gap narrowed to ~82%, but disparities remain larger for women of color; Causes include occupational segregation, discrimination, motherhood penalty, and lack of paid family leave.

Immigration Trends (1980s–Present)

Increased immigration from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Tenets of Immigration Reform

Pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, strengthening border security, employment verification systems (e.g., E-Verify), visa reform to support economy and reunify families.

Immigration: Conservative vs. Liberal Views

Conservatives: Tougher border control, limit legal immigration; Liberals: Pathways to citizenship, protect DREAMers.

Abortion: Conservative vs. Liberal Views

Conservatives: Pro-life, support restrictions; Liberals: Pro-choice, support Roe v. Wade, reproductive rights.

Gay Marriage: Conservative vs. Liberal Views

Conservatives: Traditionally opposed (though changing); Liberals: Support equal marriage rights.

New (Religious) Right

Coalition of evangelical Christians and conservatives in the late 1970s–1980s; Opposed abortion, feminism, gay rights, and secularism; Influential in electing Reagan; emphasized “family values.

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)

Conservative icon; “Reaganomics” (tax cuts, deregulation), Anti-communism; ended Cold War tensions, criticized for ignoring AIDS crisis, cutting social programs.

George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)

Managed Cold War’s end and Gulf War (1991), signed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), lost reelection due to economic downturn and broken “no new taxes” pledge.

U.S.–U.S.S.R. Relationship at Cold War’s End

Shifted from hostility to cooperation in late 1980s, Gorbachev’s reforms (glasnost, perestroika) and Reagan-Bush diplomacy eased tensions, 1991: U.S.S.R. collapsed; U.S. emerged as sole superpower.

Political Structure of Europe (Cold War & After)

Cold War: Eastern Europe under Soviet communist regimes; Western Europe democratic & capitalist; Post-Cold War: Former Soviet states became independent; many joined NATO or EU.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Nicknamed “Star Wars” (1983), Reagan’s plan to develop space-based missile defense, controversial, never fully realized, but pressured U.S.S.R. economically.

Glasnost

“Openness”: Gorbachev’s policy to allow freer press, speech, and government transparency; Aimed to reduce corruption and rebuild public trust.

Perestroika

“Restructuring”: Economic and political reforms to decentralize Soviet economy; Encouraged limited capitalism and reduced state control.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

Cold War doctrine: Full-scale nuclear war would destroy both sides; Prevented direct conflict between U.S. and U.S.S.R.

Israel vs. Palestine & U.S. in the 1990s

U.S. supported peace efforts: Oslo Accords (1993) under Clinton; Recognized Israel’s right to exist and pushed for two-state solution; Maintained strong military and diplomatic support for Israel.

Bill Clinton (1993–2001)

Democrat; economic boom and tech growth, signed NAFTA and Welfare Reform Act, impeached over Monica Lewinsky scandal but acquitted, promoted centrist “Third Way” politics.

Causes of the Great Recession (2007–2009)

Housing market crash due to subprime mortgage lending, risky banking practices and deregulation, collapse of major financial institutions (e.g., Lehman Brothers), triggered global economic downturn.

Legislation to Combat the Recession

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (TARP): Bank bailout; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009): Obama’s stimulus plan to boost jobs and infrastructure.

9/11 (2001)

Terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, nearly 3,000 deaths; triggered War on Terror, heightened security, national unity, and foreign policy shifts.

Al-Qaeda

Islamist terrorist group founded by Osama bin Laden, responsible for 9/11, anti-U.S. for its presence in Middle East and support of Israel.

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)

Radical jihadist group; grew from al-Qaeda in Iraq, established a “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq (2014–2019), known for brutality, terror attacks, and use of social media.

Taliban

Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan (1996–2001), gave sanctuary to al-Qaeda, regained power in 2021 after U.S. withdrawal.

Causes of the War in Iraq (2003)

Claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and ties to terrorism, no WMDs found; war seen as controversial, aimed to oust Saddam Hussein and promote democracy.

Causes of the War in Afghanistan (2001)

Direct response to 9/11, goal: eliminate al-Qaeda and overthrow Taliban, U.S.’s longest war; ended in 2021.

Office of Homeland Security

Created in 2001 to coordinate anti-terror efforts, became Department of Homeland Security (2002), focus: border security, emergency response, counterterrorism.

Gay Rights Legislation (Clinton, Bush, Obama)

Clinton: Signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (1994); banned openly gay military service; Signed Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); defined marriage as man-woman; Bush: Supported constitutional ban on gay marriage; little federal action; Obama: Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2011); Opposed DOMA; supported marriage equality.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, based on 14th Amendment equal protection and due process clauses.

George W. Bush (2001–2009)

Republican; presidency shaped by 9/11, launched Iraq and Afghanistan wars, signed No Child Left Behind Act, criticized for handling of Hurricane Katrina and financial crisis.

Barack Obama (2009–2017)

First African American president, passed Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), repealed DADT, supported same-sex marriage, ordered bin Laden raid (2011), focused on climate change, healthcare, and economic recovery.