APUSH Unit 9 Review (1980-Present)

Timeframe: Period 9 spans from 1980 to the "present-ish." - Start Date (1980): This year marks the election of Ronald Reagan and the official beginning of the conservative resurgence. - End Date (2001): While the period is listed as current, the specific curriculum for the course focuses on events through the year 2001.
Central Theme: The core theme of this era is how the United States positioned itself within a globalized world.

Political Shift: The beginning of Period 9 is dominated by a resurgence of conservative politics.
The Election of Ronald Reagan: Following his election, Reagan implemented several key policy shifts: - Tax Cuts: Enacted widespread policies focused on reducing taxation. - Deregulation: Focused on the deregulation of various industries to stimulate economic growth.
Treatment of Liberal Programs: - Conservatives attempted to "take an axe to" or significantly reduce the liberal programs previously enacted during the New Deal and the Great Society. - Voter Resistance: Despite the conservative momentum, a significant portion of the voting population resisted these moves to dismantle social safety nets and liberal programs.

The Collapse of the Soviet Union: The Cold War officially ended in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
US Global Positioning: The fall of the Soviet Union left the United States as the world's primary superpower.
Exercise of Power: The US had to determine the appropriate amount of power to assert on the world stage. - Strategic Conclusion: Generally, the US decided that "more power is always better" in maintaining its global influence.

Initial Economic Status: Near the beginning of this period, the economy was described as being "in the toilet."
Economic Recovery: Over time, economic conditions improved significantly.
Migration to the Sunbelt: Economic improvement triggered a significant internal migration of the American population. - Destination: Americans moved in large numbers to the "Sunbelt states." - Motivation: The primary driver for this migration was people searching for work and better economic opportunities.

Event: A major terrorist attack occurred on September 11, 2001.
Foreign Policy Consequences: The attacks led to the initiation of massive and costly wars in foreign nations, specifically in: - Iraq - Afghanistan
Domestic Policy Consequences: The event sparked intense national debates regarding domestic security and individual liberties, focusing on: - The right to privacy - Government surveillance