Key Notes on the End of the Cold War and the Reagan/Bush Years

The End of the Cold War

• Presidency of Ronald Reagan

  • Swept the 1984 presidential election, adapting to domestic troubles while improving relations with the Soviet Union.
  • Despite failing to implement promised changes regarding the budget deficit and productivity, maintained approval due to economic boom.

• Economic Conditions

  • Tax cuts initiated by Reagan, often referred to as "Reaganomics", were controversial but contributed to a significant economic boom, where the U.S. gross national product reached 5 ext{ trillion} (almost double that of the Soviet economy).
  • Wealth concentration grew; major cultural icons emerged, including sports figures and business moguls (e.g., Donald Trump).
  • Reagan's tax cuts were believed to encourage investments, termed trickle-down economics, but results showed that rich individuals primarily consumed luxury goods instead of investing in job growth.

• Socioeconomic Disparities

  • Poverty: By the end of Reagan's presidency, 31.5 ext{ million} (about 12 ext{ ext{%}}) Americans lived at the poverty level.
  • Despite soaring spending on military and entitlement programs (e.g., Social Security, Medicaid, military doubled to 300 ext{ billion}), economic growth was uneven.

• Foreign Debt

  • U.S. became the world's largest debtor by 1986, owing 0.5 ext{ trillion} by the end of the decade. American consumer demand led to significant borrowing from foreign nations, particularly in purchasing imports over exports.

Reagan's Foreign Policy

• Reagan Doctrine

  • Advocated support for democratic allies globally. U.S. engaged in Cold War tactics, including constructive engagement in South Africa to reform apartheid slowly.
  • Faced pushback as South African apartheid resistance intensified, leading to global sanctions against the regime.
  • Nelson Mandela's release signified a breakthrough toward dismantling apartheid.

• AIDS Crisis

  • Early AIDS cases linked to various risk factors leading to social stigma; public awareness escalated through activism.
  • Surgeon General C. Everett Koop emphasized educational campaigns regarding AIDS prevention, despite initial resistance from conservative sectors.

• Crack Epidemic

  • Crack cocaine's rise in the 1980s prompted severe societal issues, leading to harsh punitive measures and a societal divide in drug sentencing based on race.
  • Increase in arrests and sentencing for drug-related offenses, raising critiques about systemic racism in drug policy.

George H.W. Bush Presidency

• Transition of Power

  • Bush, Reagan's vice president, succeeded him amid shifting geopolitical landscapes with the Cold War's end leading to foreign policy challenges.

• The Persian Gulf War

  • Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 led to U.S. military intervention justified as a defense of Saudi Arabia and international stability.
  • U.S. military operations utilized advanced technology and garnered broad media coverage, contrasting with previous conflicts like Vietnam.

• Economic Effects

  • Criticism arose over the destruction caused in Iraq, even questioning the motives of the U.S. military engagement, focusing on restoring a non-democratic regime in Kuwait.
  • Military actions led to significant approval ratings for Bush but also debates over the morality of past U.S. foreign policy decisions.

Conclusion

• End of the Cold War

  • The disintegration of the Soviet Union officially occurred in 1991, ending a critical chapter in global politics, facilitated by Gorbachev's reforms.
  • The rise of new European political structures presented both challenges and competitive pressures, particularly with emergence of the European Union.

• Future Challenges

  • As the complexities of a globalized economy and rising Asian markets presented threats, American leadership under Bill Clinton would need to adapt to these new realities.