9.1 Contextualizing Period 9

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain the context in which the United States faced international and domestic challenges after 1980

INTRODUCTION

• Ronald Regan signaled closing of the postwar era

  • US entered more conservative political period

    - divide increased between rural & urban areas (divide showed up in elections, federal court nominations, & gov shutdowns)

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

• Reagan combined agress anti-communist foreign policy w negotiations

  • Negotiated arms-reduction treaties

    - end of Cold War took away focus of US foreign policy

    - revealed political, ethnic, & religious conflicts in other countries

• US became quickly involved with endless wars in the Middle East

  • Terrorist threats & homland security became prioritized

GOVERNMENT

• Many lost faith in gov for solving social & economic issues

  • Conservativism was revivied

    - increased support for corporations (unregulated markets)

    - increased Republican involvement with evangelical Christians

    - growth of Sun Belt—→ Southern conservatives voting into party

    - economic problems—→ populist & autocratic movements

ECONOMY

• Globalization & financial mismanagement challenged US economy

  • Corporate capitalism & tax cuts mainly benefitted top 5%

    - income of lower & middle class stagnated

  • America faced industrial declines & downturns

    - many Americans lived in or on the edge of poverty

    - depression & drug use increased—→ decline in life span