Notes on Units 9 (1980 to Present)

The Election of Ronald Reagan and the Shift to Conservatism

• The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked a significant shift in American politics from liberalism to a new form of conservatism.
• Reagan's campaign promises:
  • Reduce taxes.
  • Cut government spending.
  • Increase military resources.
  • Appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court.
• Reaganomics (Supply-Side Economics):
  • Belief: Economic growth occurs when taxes are decreased and business regulations are removed.
  • Consumers benefit from lower prices due to increased availability of goods.
• Government Spending:
  • Cuts were made to welfare programs.
  • Significant increase in military spending.
• Deregulation of Industry:
  • Cuts in the auto industry.
• Appointments of Conservative Judges:
  • Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy.
  • Impact: Restricted the scope of affirmative action and made abortion more difficult.

Ronald Reagan and the End of the Cold War

• Reagan's approach to ending the Cold War:
  • Speeches, diplomatic efforts, and military buildup.
• Military Interventions:
  • Iran-Contra Affair:
    • The U.S. secretly sold weapons to Iran to support them in the war between Iran and Iraq (1980s).
    • Profits from these sales were used to aid Nicaraguan Contras who were fighting against the socialist government.
    • This was an illegal diversion of funds, as Congress has budgetary authority.
    • Reagan faced no significant consequences.
• Buildup of Nuclear Weapons:
  • Reagan increased military spending, including programs like the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, or "space lasers").
  • The Soviet Union increased its deployment of missiles in response.
• End of the Cold War:
  • George H.W. Bush oversaw the end of the Cold War after being elected in 1988.
  • The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 due to internal problems.
• Diplomatic Agreements:
  • START I: Agreement between the U.S. and Russia to reduce nuclear warheads, initially to 10,000 apiece, and later to 3,000.

Economic Changes in the 1990s

• Bill Clinton's presidency (elected in 1992) coincided with significant economic changes.
• Longest Peacetime Economic Boom:
  • Driven by technological advancements in digital communications (like the Internet).
  • Increased productivity in industrial and agricultural sectors through mechanization and efficiency.
• Technological Innovations:
  • Digital mobile technology (cell phones) and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter) transformed daily life.
• Transition to a Service-Based Economy:
  • Manufacturing work was increasingly outsourced to other nations where labor was cheaper.
  • The U.S. economy shifted towards service-oriented industries.

Migration and Immigration After 1980

• Sunbelt Migrations:
  • A significant portion of the growing population was immigrants.
• Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986:
  • Created a process for immigrant entry into America.
  • Drew criticism for granting amnesty to some Mexican immigrants who had entered illegally.
• Demographic Shifts:
  • Hispanic immigrants became the largest minority in the U.S.
  • The Asian American population reached approximately 10 million.

September 11th and Climate Change

• September 11, 2001 (9/11) Attacks:
  • Attacks in New York and Washington D.C. by Al Qaeda.
• War on Terror:
  • President George W. Bush led the U.S. into the "War on Terror".
  • The U.S. sent troops into Afghanistan after the Taliban government refused to hand over Osama bin Laden.
  • The U.S. found itself in a difficult battle, similar to the Vietnam War.
• Patriot Act (2001 and 2003):
  • Increased government surveillance powers, including phone calls and emails.
  • Sparked debate over potential violations of Fourth Amendment rights to privacy.
• Environmental Concerns:
  • Renewed debate over America's dependence on fossil fuels.
  • Iraq's invasion of Kuwait (1990) highlighted the U.S.'s need for oil and led to war with Iraq.
• Climate Change:
  • Al Gore brought attention to climate change, arguing that fossil fuel usage was increasing greenhouse gases and causing disastrous effects.
• The U.S. continued as the world's leading superpower in the 21st century.