PERIOD 9 (1980-present)

THEMES:

AMERICAN/NATIONAL IDENTITY

• period of increasing conservatism in gov with a movement to reduce size of fed gov

• continuation of usa as worlds leading superpower

POLITICS & POWER

• republicans - conservatism - return to prominence

• shift in political power to south and west following population shift

WORK, TECH, EXCHANGE

• era of globalism - connected markets and people around the world

• internet and mobile phones changed information consumption and distribution

• decline of unions - stagnation of wages

CULTURE & SOCIETY

• vietnam syndrome

• culture wars over changing gender, race, family structure

• increasing diversity

MIGRATION & SETTLEMENT

• increased migration of people from latin america and asia

• movement to south and west for jobs

GEOGRAPHY/ENVIRONMENT

• wars in middle eat led to efforts to reduce dependence on oil

• growing movement of eco-consciousness in energy and food

AMERICA IN THE WORLD

• ussr collapses ending the cold war

• usa involved in conflict over culture and oil - gulf war, 9/11, war on terrorism

• era of globalization