Chapter 13 Unit 9: Entering into the 21st Century (1980–Present)
Late 1970s in America:
Many Americans grew tired of conflicts from previous decade
Uncomfortable with growing cynicism towards political leaders
Jimmy Carter's "crisis of confidence" speech (referred to as "malaise speech") disturbed many Americans
Ronald Reagan:
Saw nation was ready for change
1980 presidential campaign: presented himself as Washington "outsider" & Carter's opposite
Emphasized positive aspects of America vs. Carter blaming American self-indulgence and consumerism
Many voted for Reagan because of his "can-do" attitude, regardless of politics
1980 Election:
Reagan won by landslide
John Anderson's third-party candidacy attracted "protest vote" that might have gone to Carter
Ronald Reagan's Economic Policies:
Applied theory of supply-side economics
Believed reducing corporate taxes would lead to greater profits, job creation, and wealth trickle down
Large-scale deregulation in banking, industry, and environment
Across-the-board tax cut for all Americans
Effects of Reagan's Policies:
Little effect initially, country continued in recession for two years
Results mixed: inflation subsided, but criticism that rich getting richer and poor getting poorer
Rich used money saved on taxes to buy luxury items, rather than reinvesting in economy as suggested by supply-side economics
Ronald Reagan Administration
New Federalism Plan
Shift power from national government to states
States take complete responsibility for welfare, food stamps, and other social welfare programs
National government would assume entire cost of Medicaid
Goal was never accomplished
States feared increase in cost of state government
Military Spending Increase
Funded research into space-based missile shield system (Strategic Defense Initiative or SDI)
Escalated arms race with USSR
Historians debate contribution to end of Cold War
Increased Deficit
Tax cuts, increased military spending, and failure of New Federalism led to increase in federal budget deficit
Government spending increased, government revenues shrank
Government had to borrow money
Congress blamed deficit on tax cuts
Reagan blamed Congress for refusing to decrease funding for social welfare programs
Federal deficit reached record heights during Reagan administration
Foreign Policy Under Reagan
Ending the Cold War
Supported repressive regimes and right-wing insurgents
U.S. military led international invasion of Grenada
Priority: support for Contras in Nicaragua
Contras known for torturing and murdering civilians
Congress cut off aid, Reagan administration funded through other channels (Iran-Contra affair)
Constitutional crisis, debate over power of the purse and checks and balances
Marines sent to Lebanon as part of UN peacekeeping force
Suicide bomb killed 240 servicemen
Eventual pullout of troops
U.S.-Soviet Relations
Reagan's hard-line anticommunism initially led to deterioration in relations
Rhetorical war and escalated arms race
Adversaries eventually brought to bargaining table due to high cost
Gorbachev rose to power in Soviet Union
Economic policy of perestroika, social reforms of glasnost
Loosened Soviet control of Eastern Europe, increased personal liberties, allowed free-market commerce
Reagan and Gorbachev negotiated withdrawal of nuclear warheads from Europe
.Election of 1988
George Bush defeats Michael Dukakis
Bush calls for "kinder, gentler nation"
"Read my lips: No new taxes"
Progressive liberalism destroyed
"Liberalism" becomes "L word"
Feminism becomes "F word"
Conventional wisdom holds Americans returned to traditional values
Moral majority appeared to have spoken
Presidency of George Bush
End of Cold War
Berlin Wall dismantled, Soviet Union breakup
Bush sets course for US foreign policy into 21st century
Persian Gulf War
Persian Gulf War
Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait
Washington reacts immediately
Bush builds consensus in Congress and assembles international coalition
Operation Desert Storm - massive air strikes against Iraqi targets
War ends quickly, few American casualties
Iraq required to submit to UN inspectors for WMD and chemical warfare production
Saddam Hussein remains in power
U.S. foreign policy focus on political stability in Middle East and human rights
Key Vocabulary
Progressive liberalism
"L word"
"F word"
Moral majority
Cold War
Containment
Soviet Union
Persian Gulf War
Operation Desert Storm
UN inspectors
Post-Cold War Era
Political stability
Human rights
Immigration has significantly affected the shape and tenor of American society
From the 1970s to today, the fastest-growing ethnic minorities are Hispanics and Asians
Hispanics now outnumber African Americans as the largest minority in the US
Growth of Asians and Hispanics fueled by immigration
The Immigration Act of 1965 contributed to the increase of immigration by relaxing restrictions on non-European immigration
Hispanics: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Asians: Philippines, China, South Korea, India
Settled mostly in California, Texas, Florida, Southwest
Reasons for Immigration
Reuniting families
Employment of skilled workers (scientists) and political refugees
Employment of Cuban and Southeast Asian refugees from Fidel Castro’s revolution and the Vietnam War
Statistics
Number of foreign-born people living in the US went from 10 million to 31 million from 1970 to 2000
51% of foreign-born people were from Latin America, 27% from Asia
Impact on American Society
Heated debates on immigration policy, bilingual education, affirmative action
Discussions centered on illegal immigration, impact on the economy, reshaping society by new cultures, attitudes, and ideas
Tensions have led to measures to curb illegal immigration, abolish bilingual education, allow low-skilled and high-skilled workers on a temporary basis
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act in 1986 outlawed the employment of illegal immigrants and granted legal status to some illegal aliens
Guest worker programs like the Bracero program (1942-1964) aimed to curb illegal immigration by offering temporary employment to migrant farm workers
Unresolved Problems
Issues persist with illegal immigration
Guest worker programs face pressure to end from organized labor frustrated at decrease in wages
Demographic Changes in the US
Major demographic changes underway in the US
New waves of immigration leading to ethnic enclaves
Examples: Little Italy, Chinatown, Little Havana, Little Saigon
Increase in multilingual services and media catering to specific ethnic groups
Specifically, Hispanics and Asians
Political parties targeting Hispanics for potential political influence
Impact of Demographic Changes
Impact will be felt for generations to come
Ethnic Enclaves in the US
Little Italy in New York City
Chinatown in San Francisco
Little Havana in Miami, Florida
Little Saigon in Orange County, California
Services Catering to Ethnic Groups
Multilingual services
Media catering to Hispanics and Asians
William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States and the first Democrat to be elected after Jimmy Carter.
During his two terms, significant changes occurred in the way Americans do business due to the impact of globalization and advancements in digital technology.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed into law by Clinton in 1993, which aimed to eliminate trade barriers among the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The 1994 Congressional Election saw the Republicans take back control of Congress, but their power was limited by Clinton's executive power.
The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal resulted in Clinton's impeachment, but he was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office to finish his second term.
Clinton's foreign policy aimed to protect human rights around the world, although he faced criticism for defending capitalism over democracy and turning a blind eye to human rights violations in China.
In 1999, Clinton supported a NATO bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia against Slobodan Milosevic, who was eventually tried and convicted for crimes against humanity.
Other events that took place during Clinton's presidency include his "Don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military, appointments of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court, and the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
2000 Presidential Election
A candidate must win a majority of electoral votes to win the presidency according to the Constitution
"Winner-take-all" system in most states
Possibility of winning popular vote nationwide but losing the presidency
Mishaps with voting procedure in Florida
Al Gore challenged the results
Supreme Court prevented a formal recount of the vote
George W. Bush elected
George W. Bush Administration
Rise in neoconservatism
Sharp opposition to paleoconservatism
Spread democracy and put American corporate interests first through military actions abroad
Global trade and open immigration seen as net positive
Criticized by both staunch liberals and paleoconservatives
Staunch liberals: excessive corporate power and global imperialism
Traditional conservatives: cost of military adventures, loss of domestic jobs, and unrestricted immigration
Loss of faith in the ability of the federal government to solve social and economic problems
Key Players
George W. Bush
Al Gore
John Quincy Adams
Samuel J. Tilden
Rutherford B. Hayes
Dick Cheney
Donald Rumsfeld
Paul Wolfowitz
Patrick J. Buchanan
Voting Rights Act and Amendment Ban Measures
Voting rights for African Americans improved dramatically
Increase from 20% registered to vote in 1960 to 62% by 1971
Elected Officials
African American mayors elected in cities in the 80s
Virginia elects first African American governor in 1990
First African American governor: P.B.S. Pinchback (LA, 15 days in 1872)
African American Representation in Congress
Shirley Chisholm was first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968
First African American to run for president: Shirley Chisholm (1972)
Jesse Jackson ran for Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988
In 2000, 1,540 African American legislators (10% of total)
Powerful African American Political Figures
Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice: Secretaries of State under George W. Bush
Thurgood Marshall appointed to Supreme Court by Lyndon Johnson in 1960s
Historic Election: Barack Obama as President
Elected in 2008 as first African American president of the United States
Urban Migration and Trends in the 1950s and 1960s
People moved to cities for employment and cheaper housing
African Americans moved to northern and western cities, like during WWI and II
Other minorities, including Latin American immigrants, drawn to cities for similar reasons
Urban problems like overcrowding, high crime, inadequate housing and commercial areas
White Flight in the 1970s and 1980s
Trend of mostly white, middle-class Americans leaving cities for suburbs
Attracted by open spaces, shopping malls, and better-funded schools
Businesses and industries followed, leading to insufficient funds for cities
Poor people and racial minorities remained in cities
Urban Riots and Racial Tensions
Televised urban riots in the 1960s heightened racial tensions (LA, Chicago, NY after MLK Jr. assassination)
Worst urban riot occurred in 1992 in South Central LA after acquittal of white police officers in beating of Rodney King
Tensions between urban and suburban areas highlighted racial and class animosity
Forced busing of students in 1974-1975 resulted in violence in South Boston
Contemporary Urban Trends
Both violent crime and property crime have plunged since early 1990s
Crime reached lowest level in 40 years in 2010
Drop in crime even more pronounced in large urban areas
Affluent young professionals have returned to city centers
Debate on Crime Reduction Causes
Active debate over what caused drop in crime
One theory credits falling levels of lead in environment due to legislation in early 1970s
Lead poisoning linked to criminal activity
Revitalization of American Cities
Dramatic drop in crime has led to revitalization of American cities over past 20 years
Foreign Policy Shift after 9/11
9/11 Attacks
Al Qaeda (Osama bin Laden) attacks World Trade Center and Pentagon
Fourth plane crashes in Pennsylvania
Almost 3,000 civilian casualties
Response to 9/11
Support from NATO allies for attack on Taliban government in Afghanistan
Removal of Taliban and restoration of democracy in Afghanistan
Invasion of Iraq
Allegations of Saddam Hussein's involvement in 9/11
Human rights violations and rumors of weapons of mass destruction
Quick seizure of Baghdad and power vacuum
Establishment of provisional government
Prolonged American occupation due to tensions between political and religious factions
Evangelical Christians in Politics
Right-wing Evangelical Christians were instrumental in energizing conservatives during the 1970s and 1980s
Evangelicalism became increasingly prominent in political life from the 1970s through the 1990s
Fundamentalist sects emphasized a “born-again” religious experience and strict standards of moral behavior from the Bible
Fundamentalists denounced moral relativism of liberals and believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible
Evangelical groups became increasingly political
Key Figures in the New Right
Conservative Evangelicals and fundamentalists such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson helped to mobilize like-minded citizens to support the Republican Party
The strength of the New Right was evident in the key role it played in electing Ronald Reagan in 1980 and recapturing control of Congress under Bill Clinton in 1994
Evangelical Support for Republicans
Evangelical Christians continued to support Republicans with the election and re-election of George W. Bush
Increased access to digital technology like personal computers and cellular phones
Increased data storage in new devices
Exponential increase in the use of technology for personal and business purposes
Dot-Com Bubble
Speculation on the value of internet-based companies in the late 1990s
Created first wave of Internet millionaires
Bubble burst by 2001
Employment Changes in the US
Decreased manufacturing jobs (by a third) from 1990 to 2010
Replaced by retail jobs around the turn of the century
2008-2009 recession reduced retail employment
Many Americans found new work in the booming healthcare industry
Unions faced decline throughout the second half of the 20th century, particularly in its final three decades
Factors contributing to decline:
The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 restricted the ability to strike and preferential hiring of union members
Union busting, exemplified by President Reagan's firing of 3,000 striking air traffic controllers in 1981
Generational divide, with younger generations not experiencing the struggles and benefits of unions
Effects of Decline
Income inequality has grown, with consolidation of wealth in the upper echelon of American earners
Stagnation of wages, due to decrease in collective bargaining power
Union membership decreased from 34% in 1979 to 10% in 2010
Background: signed by President Roosevelt in 1933, response to bank instability leading up to Great Depression
Provisions: banks forced to choose between commercial or investment operations, prohibited from participating in both
Glass-Steagall repealed: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 did away with provisions
Consequences: Critics argue that repeal of Glass-Steagall contributed to the 2008 recession, caused by banks offering speculative home loans
Key Players: Joseph Stiglitz, among economists, is critical of the repeal of Glass-Steagall.
Women's Role in Professional Settings
Increased role in 21st century
Glass ceiling remains a concern
Average age for first marriage increased, women prioritizing careers
2008 recession affected jobs held by men more
Women as primary breadwinner for families
Increase in women elected to political office
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016
Geraldine Ferraro in 1984
Sarah Palin in 2008
Historic levels of women elected to Congress
Changes in Family Structures
Decrease in two-parent households (87% in 1960 to 69% today)
Increase in one-parent households (9% in 1960 to 26% today)
Elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump
unlikely to be tested on these elections
Financial Crash of 2008
Bush and Obama administrations responded by providing financial assistance to major banks (banker bailout)
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
most important piece of legislation under Obama's tenure
aimed to regulate the medical industry and provide subsidies to uninsured Americans
2016 Election
marked by ideological divisions within the Republican Party and a rivalry between Trump and Clinton
Trump won the Electoral College, Clinton won the national popular vote
emergence of a new populism of skepticism for established institutions and optimism for political outsiders
Trump Presidency
marked by increased division between Democrats and Republicans
claims of "fake media" and partisan politics
2020 Election
Joe Biden vs. incumbent Trump
greatest population turnout in U.S. history
driven by political polarization and economic collapse (COVID-19 pandemic)
Impact on U.S. History
long-term social and political implications of the Trump administration and pandemic remain unclear.
Late 1970s in America:
Many Americans grew tired of conflicts from previous decade
Uncomfortable with growing cynicism towards political leaders
Jimmy Carter's "crisis of confidence" speech (referred to as "malaise speech") disturbed many Americans
Ronald Reagan:
Saw nation was ready for change
1980 presidential campaign: presented himself as Washington "outsider" & Carter's opposite
Emphasized positive aspects of America vs. Carter blaming American self-indulgence and consumerism
Many voted for Reagan because of his "can-do" attitude, regardless of politics
1980 Election:
Reagan won by landslide
John Anderson's third-party candidacy attracted "protest vote" that might have gone to Carter
Ronald Reagan's Economic Policies:
Applied theory of supply-side economics
Believed reducing corporate taxes would lead to greater profits, job creation, and wealth trickle down
Large-scale deregulation in banking, industry, and environment
Across-the-board tax cut for all Americans
Effects of Reagan's Policies:
Little effect initially, country continued in recession for two years
Results mixed: inflation subsided, but criticism that rich getting richer and poor getting poorer
Rich used money saved on taxes to buy luxury items, rather than reinvesting in economy as suggested by supply-side economics
Ronald Reagan Administration
New Federalism Plan
Shift power from national government to states
States take complete responsibility for welfare, food stamps, and other social welfare programs
National government would assume entire cost of Medicaid
Goal was never accomplished
States feared increase in cost of state government
Military Spending Increase
Funded research into space-based missile shield system (Strategic Defense Initiative or SDI)
Escalated arms race with USSR
Historians debate contribution to end of Cold War
Increased Deficit
Tax cuts, increased military spending, and failure of New Federalism led to increase in federal budget deficit
Government spending increased, government revenues shrank
Government had to borrow money
Congress blamed deficit on tax cuts
Reagan blamed Congress for refusing to decrease funding for social welfare programs
Federal deficit reached record heights during Reagan administration
Foreign Policy Under Reagan
Ending the Cold War
Supported repressive regimes and right-wing insurgents
U.S. military led international invasion of Grenada
Priority: support for Contras in Nicaragua
Contras known for torturing and murdering civilians
Congress cut off aid, Reagan administration funded through other channels (Iran-Contra affair)
Constitutional crisis, debate over power of the purse and checks and balances
Marines sent to Lebanon as part of UN peacekeeping force
Suicide bomb killed 240 servicemen
Eventual pullout of troops
U.S.-Soviet Relations
Reagan's hard-line anticommunism initially led to deterioration in relations
Rhetorical war and escalated arms race
Adversaries eventually brought to bargaining table due to high cost
Gorbachev rose to power in Soviet Union
Economic policy of perestroika, social reforms of glasnost
Loosened Soviet control of Eastern Europe, increased personal liberties, allowed free-market commerce
Reagan and Gorbachev negotiated withdrawal of nuclear warheads from Europe
.Election of 1988
George Bush defeats Michael Dukakis
Bush calls for "kinder, gentler nation"
"Read my lips: No new taxes"
Progressive liberalism destroyed
"Liberalism" becomes "L word"
Feminism becomes "F word"
Conventional wisdom holds Americans returned to traditional values
Moral majority appeared to have spoken
Presidency of George Bush
End of Cold War
Berlin Wall dismantled, Soviet Union breakup
Bush sets course for US foreign policy into 21st century
Persian Gulf War
Persian Gulf War
Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait
Washington reacts immediately
Bush builds consensus in Congress and assembles international coalition
Operation Desert Storm - massive air strikes against Iraqi targets
War ends quickly, few American casualties
Iraq required to submit to UN inspectors for WMD and chemical warfare production
Saddam Hussein remains in power
U.S. foreign policy focus on political stability in Middle East and human rights
Key Vocabulary
Progressive liberalism
"L word"
"F word"
Moral majority
Cold War
Containment
Soviet Union
Persian Gulf War
Operation Desert Storm
UN inspectors
Post-Cold War Era
Political stability
Human rights
Immigration has significantly affected the shape and tenor of American society
From the 1970s to today, the fastest-growing ethnic minorities are Hispanics and Asians
Hispanics now outnumber African Americans as the largest minority in the US
Growth of Asians and Hispanics fueled by immigration
The Immigration Act of 1965 contributed to the increase of immigration by relaxing restrictions on non-European immigration
Hispanics: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Asians: Philippines, China, South Korea, India
Settled mostly in California, Texas, Florida, Southwest
Reasons for Immigration
Reuniting families
Employment of skilled workers (scientists) and political refugees
Employment of Cuban and Southeast Asian refugees from Fidel Castro’s revolution and the Vietnam War
Statistics
Number of foreign-born people living in the US went from 10 million to 31 million from 1970 to 2000
51% of foreign-born people were from Latin America, 27% from Asia
Impact on American Society
Heated debates on immigration policy, bilingual education, affirmative action
Discussions centered on illegal immigration, impact on the economy, reshaping society by new cultures, attitudes, and ideas
Tensions have led to measures to curb illegal immigration, abolish bilingual education, allow low-skilled and high-skilled workers on a temporary basis
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act in 1986 outlawed the employment of illegal immigrants and granted legal status to some illegal aliens
Guest worker programs like the Bracero program (1942-1964) aimed to curb illegal immigration by offering temporary employment to migrant farm workers
Unresolved Problems
Issues persist with illegal immigration
Guest worker programs face pressure to end from organized labor frustrated at decrease in wages
Demographic Changes in the US
Major demographic changes underway in the US
New waves of immigration leading to ethnic enclaves
Examples: Little Italy, Chinatown, Little Havana, Little Saigon
Increase in multilingual services and media catering to specific ethnic groups
Specifically, Hispanics and Asians
Political parties targeting Hispanics for potential political influence
Impact of Demographic Changes
Impact will be felt for generations to come
Ethnic Enclaves in the US
Little Italy in New York City
Chinatown in San Francisco
Little Havana in Miami, Florida
Little Saigon in Orange County, California
Services Catering to Ethnic Groups
Multilingual services
Media catering to Hispanics and Asians
William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States and the first Democrat to be elected after Jimmy Carter.
During his two terms, significant changes occurred in the way Americans do business due to the impact of globalization and advancements in digital technology.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed into law by Clinton in 1993, which aimed to eliminate trade barriers among the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The 1994 Congressional Election saw the Republicans take back control of Congress, but their power was limited by Clinton's executive power.
The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal resulted in Clinton's impeachment, but he was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office to finish his second term.
Clinton's foreign policy aimed to protect human rights around the world, although he faced criticism for defending capitalism over democracy and turning a blind eye to human rights violations in China.
In 1999, Clinton supported a NATO bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia against Slobodan Milosevic, who was eventually tried and convicted for crimes against humanity.
Other events that took place during Clinton's presidency include his "Don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military, appointments of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court, and the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
2000 Presidential Election
A candidate must win a majority of electoral votes to win the presidency according to the Constitution
"Winner-take-all" system in most states
Possibility of winning popular vote nationwide but losing the presidency
Mishaps with voting procedure in Florida
Al Gore challenged the results
Supreme Court prevented a formal recount of the vote
George W. Bush elected
George W. Bush Administration
Rise in neoconservatism
Sharp opposition to paleoconservatism
Spread democracy and put American corporate interests first through military actions abroad
Global trade and open immigration seen as net positive
Criticized by both staunch liberals and paleoconservatives
Staunch liberals: excessive corporate power and global imperialism
Traditional conservatives: cost of military adventures, loss of domestic jobs, and unrestricted immigration
Loss of faith in the ability of the federal government to solve social and economic problems
Key Players
George W. Bush
Al Gore
John Quincy Adams
Samuel J. Tilden
Rutherford B. Hayes
Dick Cheney
Donald Rumsfeld
Paul Wolfowitz
Patrick J. Buchanan
Voting Rights Act and Amendment Ban Measures
Voting rights for African Americans improved dramatically
Increase from 20% registered to vote in 1960 to 62% by 1971
Elected Officials
African American mayors elected in cities in the 80s
Virginia elects first African American governor in 1990
First African American governor: P.B.S. Pinchback (LA, 15 days in 1872)
African American Representation in Congress
Shirley Chisholm was first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968
First African American to run for president: Shirley Chisholm (1972)
Jesse Jackson ran for Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988
In 2000, 1,540 African American legislators (10% of total)
Powerful African American Political Figures
Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice: Secretaries of State under George W. Bush
Thurgood Marshall appointed to Supreme Court by Lyndon Johnson in 1960s
Historic Election: Barack Obama as President
Elected in 2008 as first African American president of the United States
Urban Migration and Trends in the 1950s and 1960s
People moved to cities for employment and cheaper housing
African Americans moved to northern and western cities, like during WWI and II
Other minorities, including Latin American immigrants, drawn to cities for similar reasons
Urban problems like overcrowding, high crime, inadequate housing and commercial areas
White Flight in the 1970s and 1980s
Trend of mostly white, middle-class Americans leaving cities for suburbs
Attracted by open spaces, shopping malls, and better-funded schools
Businesses and industries followed, leading to insufficient funds for cities
Poor people and racial minorities remained in cities
Urban Riots and Racial Tensions
Televised urban riots in the 1960s heightened racial tensions (LA, Chicago, NY after MLK Jr. assassination)
Worst urban riot occurred in 1992 in South Central LA after acquittal of white police officers in beating of Rodney King
Tensions between urban and suburban areas highlighted racial and class animosity
Forced busing of students in 1974-1975 resulted in violence in South Boston
Contemporary Urban Trends
Both violent crime and property crime have plunged since early 1990s
Crime reached lowest level in 40 years in 2010
Drop in crime even more pronounced in large urban areas
Affluent young professionals have returned to city centers
Debate on Crime Reduction Causes
Active debate over what caused drop in crime
One theory credits falling levels of lead in environment due to legislation in early 1970s
Lead poisoning linked to criminal activity
Revitalization of American Cities
Dramatic drop in crime has led to revitalization of American cities over past 20 years
Foreign Policy Shift after 9/11
9/11 Attacks
Al Qaeda (Osama bin Laden) attacks World Trade Center and Pentagon
Fourth plane crashes in Pennsylvania
Almost 3,000 civilian casualties
Response to 9/11
Support from NATO allies for attack on Taliban government in Afghanistan
Removal of Taliban and restoration of democracy in Afghanistan
Invasion of Iraq
Allegations of Saddam Hussein's involvement in 9/11
Human rights violations and rumors of weapons of mass destruction
Quick seizure of Baghdad and power vacuum
Establishment of provisional government
Prolonged American occupation due to tensions between political and religious factions
Evangelical Christians in Politics
Right-wing Evangelical Christians were instrumental in energizing conservatives during the 1970s and 1980s
Evangelicalism became increasingly prominent in political life from the 1970s through the 1990s
Fundamentalist sects emphasized a “born-again” religious experience and strict standards of moral behavior from the Bible
Fundamentalists denounced moral relativism of liberals and believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible
Evangelical groups became increasingly political
Key Figures in the New Right
Conservative Evangelicals and fundamentalists such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson helped to mobilize like-minded citizens to support the Republican Party
The strength of the New Right was evident in the key role it played in electing Ronald Reagan in 1980 and recapturing control of Congress under Bill Clinton in 1994
Evangelical Support for Republicans
Evangelical Christians continued to support Republicans with the election and re-election of George W. Bush
Increased access to digital technology like personal computers and cellular phones
Increased data storage in new devices
Exponential increase in the use of technology for personal and business purposes
Dot-Com Bubble
Speculation on the value of internet-based companies in the late 1990s
Created first wave of Internet millionaires
Bubble burst by 2001
Employment Changes in the US
Decreased manufacturing jobs (by a third) from 1990 to 2010
Replaced by retail jobs around the turn of the century
2008-2009 recession reduced retail employment
Many Americans found new work in the booming healthcare industry
Unions faced decline throughout the second half of the 20th century, particularly in its final three decades
Factors contributing to decline:
The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 restricted the ability to strike and preferential hiring of union members
Union busting, exemplified by President Reagan's firing of 3,000 striking air traffic controllers in 1981
Generational divide, with younger generations not experiencing the struggles and benefits of unions
Effects of Decline
Income inequality has grown, with consolidation of wealth in the upper echelon of American earners
Stagnation of wages, due to decrease in collective bargaining power
Union membership decreased from 34% in 1979 to 10% in 2010
Background: signed by President Roosevelt in 1933, response to bank instability leading up to Great Depression
Provisions: banks forced to choose between commercial or investment operations, prohibited from participating in both
Glass-Steagall repealed: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 did away with provisions
Consequences: Critics argue that repeal of Glass-Steagall contributed to the 2008 recession, caused by banks offering speculative home loans
Key Players: Joseph Stiglitz, among economists, is critical of the repeal of Glass-Steagall.
Women's Role in Professional Settings
Increased role in 21st century
Glass ceiling remains a concern
Average age for first marriage increased, women prioritizing careers
2008 recession affected jobs held by men more
Women as primary breadwinner for families
Increase in women elected to political office
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016
Geraldine Ferraro in 1984
Sarah Palin in 2008
Historic levels of women elected to Congress
Changes in Family Structures
Decrease in two-parent households (87% in 1960 to 69% today)
Increase in one-parent households (9% in 1960 to 26% today)
Elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump
unlikely to be tested on these elections
Financial Crash of 2008
Bush and Obama administrations responded by providing financial assistance to major banks (banker bailout)
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
most important piece of legislation under Obama's tenure
aimed to regulate the medical industry and provide subsidies to uninsured Americans
2016 Election
marked by ideological divisions within the Republican Party and a rivalry between Trump and Clinton
Trump won the Electoral College, Clinton won the national popular vote
emergence of a new populism of skepticism for established institutions and optimism for political outsiders
Trump Presidency
marked by increased division between Democrats and Republicans
claims of "fake media" and partisan politics
2020 Election
Joe Biden vs. incumbent Trump
greatest population turnout in U.S. history
driven by political polarization and economic collapse (COVID-19 pandemic)
Impact on U.S. History
long-term social and political implications of the Trump administration and pandemic remain unclear.