Period 9 (1980-present)

Key Concept 9.1 —A newly ascendant conservative movement achieved several political and policy goals during the 1980s and continued to strongly influence public discourse in the following decades.

I. Conservative beliefs regarding the need for traditional social values and a reduced role for government advanced in U.S. politics after 1980.   

• 1980s - conservative agenda: lower taxes, changed morals, reduced emphasis on affirmative action

  • 1978 - Taxpayers’ Revolt in California 

• Religion became a instrument for electoral politics (Moral Majority)

• 1970s - business launched campaigns to influence governments to curtail regulations, lower taxes, and weaken labor unions

• 1980 election ended Democratic dominance of Congress

• Federal budget deficits 

• Clinton created “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule for gays in the military

• Clinton: decreased government spending, budget surpluses, welfare reform

• Citizens United - corporations can fund political elections 

• Trump Administration: deregulation and tax cuts, return of populism

Key Concept 9.2 — Moving into the 21st century, the nation continued to experience challenges stemming from social, economic, and demographic changes.

I. New developments in science and technology enhanced the economy and transformed society, while manufacturing decreased.    

• Tech improvements in personal computers, software, Internet, cable, and wireless communications 

• E-commerce a part of everyday life

• Average and lower-income Americans experienced first real income gains since 1973

• Process of globalization - surging increases in trade, communications, and the movement of capital around the world 

  • WTO, IMF, NAFTA

  • Decline in American manufacturing - largest effect on blue-collar workers  

II. The U.S. population continued to undergo significant demographic shifts that had profound cultural and political consequences. 

• Most Americans lived in suburbs 

• Hispanic population fastest growing segment of US population

• Immigrants key stimulus to economic growth

• Decline in traditional families 

• Distribution of income varies widely based on race, gender, and education

• Affordable Care Act “Obamacare” - reform to health insurance 

• DACA - illegal child immigrants can stay in the US legally (“dreamers”)

Key Concept 9.3- The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership forced the nation to redefine its foreign policy and role in the world.

I. The Reagan administration promoted an interventionist foreign policy that continued in later administrations, even after the end of the Cold War. 

• Reagan’s tax cuts benefited upper-income taxpayers

• Dramatic increase in military spending 

• Recession in 1982 - banks failed & unemployment rose 

  • Recovery widened the income gap between rich and poor

• Reagan’s policies contained New Deal and Great Society programs

• Reagan supported right-wing dictators in the Americas 

• INF agreement - Soviet Union and US destroy all intermediate-range missiles

• Invasion of Panama

• Persian Gulf War - stop Iraq from invading Kuwait

• Violence in Israel provoked anti-American sentiment is the Islamic world 

• Trade agreements with China 

• Nuclear proliferation

II. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. foreign policy efforts focused on fighting terrorism around the world.

• Before: 1993 - world trade center bombed & 2000 - bombing of USS Cole 

• US attempted to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan through bombings, spical forces, and Afghan toops in the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance

• Patriot Acts - gave government power to obtain information, expand surveillance and arrest powers

• Created Department of Homeland Security

• Bush sometimes uncooperative in international affairs

• US invaded Iraq without proof of weapons of mass destruction and barbaric treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib