🦅 APUSH Unit 9 Notes

1980-Present

The first and last topics of each unit are just reviews so there are no note for them. These notes are based on Heimler History videos with some additions.

9.2 - Causes of the Conservative Movement

Presidential Elections

• Barry Goldwater's 1964 Presidential Campaign: Marked as the beginning of the New Right.

• Failures under Jimmy Carter: Economic turmoil (stagflation), Iran hostage crisis, and energy crisis due to Middle East oil supply cut-offs, setting the stage for the conservative rise.

Election of Ronald Reagan

• Reagan, with his background as an actor, had a significant advantage in media savviness, making him highly likable to the public.

• Victory: Reagan's win in the 1980 election with 489 electoral votes against Carter's 49 highlighted a major shift towards conservatism.

Three Prongs of the New Right

• Cold War Conservatism was aimed at resisting communism abroad.

• Pro-Business Economics:

  • Desire to roll back regulations on businesses.

  • Decrease corporate taxes to boost the economy.

• Moral and Religious: Reacting against the 60s and 70s cultural movements like counterculture, women's liberation, Roe vs. Wade, and gay liberation.

Reaganomics (Supply-Side Economics)

• Reaganomics: A policy of tax cuts and decreased federal spending intended to spur private sector investment.

• Key Points:

  • Opposed to Keynesian economics which emphasized government spending.

  • Evident through the Economic Recovery Act of 1981 cutting various taxes.

• Impacts:

  • Wealthy benefited disproportionately.

  • Trickle-down effect hypothesized but debated.

Federal Spending and Deregulation

• Military Spending: While welfare spending was cut to save 40 billion, military spending increased by 150 billion.

• Deregulation:

  • Aimed to reduce government intervention in industries.

  • Reduced car emissions and safety regulations, allowed coal mining and timber extraction on federal lands, and advocated for offshore oil drilling.

Moral and Religious Aims Achieved

• Supreme Court Appointments: Reagan appointed four judges, significantly impacting issues like affirmative action and abortion regulations.

• Reagan's actions deeply resonated with conservatives, marking a significant era of conservative policy and ideology.

9.3 - End of the Cold War: Causes, Effects, and Legacy

Speeches

• Ronald Reagan utilized speeches as a strategic tool to hasten the end of the Cold War.

• 1982 Speech to British Parliament: Reagan famously stated that the "forward march of freedom and democracy will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history."

• Reagan referred to the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" in 1983, showcasing his stance against it unequivocally.

Diplomatic Efforts

• Following a period of détente initiated by Richard Nixon in the 1960s, Reagan engaged in significant diplomatic efforts with Mikhail Gorbachev, the reform-minded leader of the Soviet Union, focusing on easing tensions.

• Glasnost: Attempt to bring more political freedom to Soviet citizens.

• Perestroika: Introduction of limited free-market practices in the Soviet economy.

• Major agreements include:

  • INF Agreement: Destruction of all intermediate-range missiles.

  • Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Gorbachev agreed to remove Soviet troops.

Limited Military Interventions

• Reagan Doctrine: U.S. would support any regime that was anti-communist, regardless of its approach to democracy or human rights.

• Nicaragua: Attempt to overthrow the communist Sandinista government through the support of the Contras.

• Iran-Contra Affair: Secret sale of weapons to Iranian "contras" to fund efforts in Nicaragua, resulting in several convictions but not implicating Reagan directly.

Buildup of Nuclear and Conventional Weapons

• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), dubbed "Star Wars," aimed at developing space-based missile defenses.

• Significant escalation of U.S. military capabilities:

  • Introduction of B-1 bomber and MX missile.

  • Expansion of the U.S. Navy from 450 to over 600 ships.

  • Defense budget increased from 170 billion in 1981 to over 300 billion by the mid-1980s.

Fall of the Soviet Union and Legacy

• George H.W. Bush, Reagan’s successor, witnessed the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the official end of the Cold War.

• 1989: Poland elected a non-communist leader, followed by other Eastern European nations.

• Berlin Wall Fall: In 1989, symbolizing the end of oppressive communist regimes in Europe.

• Post-Cold War Diplomatic Efforts:

  • START I Treaty: Agreement between the U.S. and Russia to reduce nuclear arsenals to 10,000 warheads, later reduced to 3,000.

  • START II Treaty: Provided funds to Russia to help stabilize its post-Cold War economy.

9.4 - Americas Economy

Digital Revolution

• In 1964, computers were invented

• Other devices, such as microprocessors, make them more accessible

•  Email and file-sharing apps like Napster became widespread and replaced older alternatives

Effect on the Economy

• Amazon beat out brick-and-mortar businesses

• Productivity increased

  • This was likely due to easier communication

• However, these changes did not come with the expected increase in standard of living. Reasons for this include:

  • Changing nature of work

    • Less manufacturing

    • Manufacturing outsourced

    • More service sector

    • Lower-paying service sector jobs

  • The growing income gap

  • Less labor unions

9.5 - Migration Patterns in the 1990s and 2000s

Internal Migration in the US

• Migration is when people move around within a country.

• Sun Belt Migration:

  • Post-World War II, significant migration to the Sun Belt states due to defense industry jobs and warmer climates.

• Advent of Affordable Central Air Conditioning made these states even more attractive.

• Political Impact: Shift of population to the South and Southwest (which lean more conservative) led to these regions gaining seats in the House of Representatives, while the North and Midwest lost seats.

International Migration

• Immigration is when people move into a country from another place.

• Major Sources: Latin America, Asia, and Middle Eastern nations.

• Latin American Immigrants mostly moved to states like California for agricultural work.

• Economic Impact: Generally positive on the American economy. For instance, Mexican agricultural labor is crucial and has negligible negative impact on American job availability.

Legislation Influencing Immigration

• 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act & 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act: Enabled higher proportions of immigrants to enter the US.

  • Effect on Demographics: International immigration went from contributing 10% to American population growth before 1965 to about a third since then.

  • In the 1990s, over 9 million immigrants entered the US, many settling in the Sun Belt states.

• Demographic Shift: In the 1990s, white Americans composed about 75% of the population, which declined to a little more than 63% by 2011. Predictions suggest that by 2050, white Americans may no longer be the majority demographic.

Impact on Economy and Society

• Workforce and Economy:

  • Immigrants have taken a large portion of low-wage agricultural jobs, contributing positively to the economy.

  • Studies show Mexican agricultural labor has almost no negative effect on American job opportunities.

• Cultural and Demographic Changes:

  • Sharp increase in the immigrant population leading to a rapidly changing demographic landscape.

  • Predictions indicate significant demographic changes by 2050, with potential shifts in majority demographics.

9.6 - Challenges Facing America in the 21st Century

Major Events in Early 21st Century American Politics

• Disputed Election of 2000

  • Republican George W. Bush vs. Democrat Al Gore

  • Outcome settled by the Supreme Court in favor of Bush.

  • Gore was upset, but willingly and peacefully stepped aside.

• September 11, 2001 Attacks

  • Coordinated by al Qaeda using internet and cellular technology.

  • Attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and a failed attempt that led to a crash in the countryside due to passenger resistance.

  • Led to unanimous sentiment for justice, initiating the War on Terror.

War on Terror

• Afghanistan Invasion

  • Aim: To capture Osama bin Laden and overthrow the Taliban.

  • Outcome: Quick overthrow of the Taliban but failure to capture bin Laden initially. War extended into the wilderness of Afghanistan.

• Iraq Invasion (2003)

  • Justifications:

    • Dubious evidence linking Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks.

    • Claims (later disproven) of Hussein developing weapons of mass destruction.

  • Operation Iraqi Freedom: Aimed to install a U.S.-friendly government. Success in ousting Hussein but led to regional instability.

Legislative and Governmental Responses

• Patriot Acts of 2001 and 2003

  • Increased government surveillance including phone and emails.

  • Critics argue Patriot Acts infringe on basic constitutional rights to privacy.

• Department of Homeland Security

  • Largest government reorganization since the World War II era.

  • Combined over 20 federal agencies to protect against attacks.

Environmental Challenges and Climate Change

• Energy Crisis Replay

  • Discussion on dependence on Middle Eastern oil and alternative energy sources.

• Historical context reminded by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War under George H.W. Bush for oil resources.

• Climate Change Awareness

  • Propelled into the public eye by Al Gore.

• The Inconvenient Truth: Highlighted the dangers of fossil fuel usage and its impact on global warming.

• Democratically supported regulations vs. Republican skepticism of human-induced climate change.

• Reasons for environmentalism

  • Climate change

    • Desire for alternative energy sources

    • Desire for environmental protection laws

  • Dependence on Fossil Fuels

    • Led to wars

    • Renewed energy debated