APUSH Period 9 Notes (1980–Present)

Theme: Political shifts, social movements, and challenges from both foreign and domestic issues.

1. Ronald Reagan (1980–1988)

Reaganomics: Reagan cut taxes, reduced government spending, and focused on military buildup.
Cold War: Reagan took a strong stance against the Soviet Union, pushing for a bigger military and supporting anti-communist movements.
End of the Cold War: Later in Reagan’s presidency, the U.S. and the Soviet Union began improving relations, leading to the end
2. George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)

Gulf War (1990-1991): The U.S. led a coalition to remove Iraq from Kuwait.
End of the Cold War: The Soviet Union collapsed, marking the end of the Cold War.
Economic Recession: There was a brief economic downturn, contributing to Bush’s loss in the next election.
3. Bill Clinton (1993–2001)

Economic Growth: Clinton’s presidency saw strong economic growth and job creation.
Welfare Reform: Clinton passed laws to reduce dependence on government welfare.
Impeachment: Clinton was impeached for lying about an affair, but was not removed from office.
4. George W. Bush (2001–2009)

9/11 Attacks (2001): Terrorists attacked the U.S., leading to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Iraq War: The U.S. invaded Iraq, but no weapons of mass destruction were found.
Great Recession (2007–2009): A financial crisis led to massive job losses, foreclosures, and a global economic downturn.
5. Barack Obama (2009–2017)

Affordable Care Act (2010): Obama passed healthcare reform to expand insurance coverage.

Economic Recovery: Obama helped lead the country out of the Great Recession.
Osama bin Laden: U.S. forces killed bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, in 2011.
6. Donald Trump (2017–2021)

Tax Cuts: Trump passed tax cuts, mostly benefiting businesses and the wealthy.
Immigration Policies: Trump focused on building a wall and limiting immigration.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The U.S. faced a major health crisis, leading to shutdowns and economic instability.
7. Joe Biden (2021–Present)

COVID-19 Relief: Biden passed a major relief bill to help people and businesses during the pandemic.
Afghanistan Withdrawal: The U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, leading to the return of the Taliban.
Climate Change: Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and focused on environmental policies.
Social Movements: Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, and other social movements pushed for greater equality and justice.