Presidential Elections and US Political History: 1980 to 2020

The period between the $1960s$ and the $1980s$ is characterized by a significant conservative backlash in the United States.
This backlash developed as a direct reaction to the rapid societal changes that occurred during the $1960s$ , specifically focusing on the Civil Rights movements of the $1960s$ and $1970s$ .
Ronald Reagan successfully channeled the anger of mainstream America directed against the counterculture movements.
This political shift is referred to as the Reagan Revolution, which eventually led to his victory in the presidential election of the $1980s$ .
The electoral victory in $1980$ is described as a political landslide, visually represented by large areas of red on the electoral map.

Under the Reagan administration, the United States intensified "low-intensity" proxy wars and warfare against left-wing and leftist movements in Latin America.
Specific countries involved in these conflicts include:
- Nicaragua
- Salvador (El Salvador)
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Peru
The United States provided backing to counter-insurgencies and military forces in these nations, which resulted in devastating civil wars.
A major consequence of these conflicts was a substantial increase in the migration of Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States.
Initially, the United States government denied political asylum to these Central American migrants because granting it would require the administration to officially confirm that proxy warfare was occurring in those regions.
Eventually, many Central Americans were forced to fight through the United States court system to secure some form of legal asylum.

In $1986$ , under the Ronald Reagan administration, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).
This act is recognized as the largest amnesty program in the history of the United States.
Key provisions of the IRCA included:
- Pathway to Citizenship: Immigrants could qualify for a pathway to citizenship if they could provide proof that they had been residing in the United States for the previous $5$ years.
- Employer Sanctions: The law implemented sanctions against employers who knowingly hired undocumented immigrant workers.
- Border Enforcement: The act provided for increased enforcement and security along United States borders.
Reagan maintained a personal belief in the concept of amnesty for individuals who had "put down roots" and lived in the country for a significant period, even if their initial entry into the United States had been illegal.

In $1988$ , George H.W. Bush was elected to the presidency, continuing the momentum of the Reagan Revolution.
His campaign also resulted in a political landslide, represented visually by blue on the electoral maps of the time.
In $1992$ , Bill Clinton, a Democrat, challenged George H.W. Bush.
Bill Clinton won the election, effectively rendering George H.W. Bush a one-term president.

In the year $2000$ , George W. Bush (the son of George H.W. Bush) ran for the presidency.
George W. Bush won a narrow and contested election against the Democratic candidate, Al Gore.
Significant events of the George W. Bush presidency include:
- September 11, 2001 (09/11/2001): Specifically, terrorist attacks against the United States occurred during his first term.
- The Iraq War (2003): The Bush administration connected the $9/11$ attacks, Osama Bin Laden, and Al-Qaeda to Iraq and the regime of Saddam Hussein.
- This connection served as the primary justification for the United States entering the Iraq War in $2003$ .
However, it was later determined that there were no actual ties or links between the $9/11$ attacks, Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and the nation of Iraq or Saddam Hussein.
The Iraq War is noted to have concluded only within the last year (relative to the lecture timing).

In $2008$ , Barack Obama was elected as the President of the United States.
This election was historically significant for the African American community, which had historically faced political disenfranchisement.
During the $2008$ election, unprecedented long lines of African Americans were seen waiting to cast their votes in favor of candidate Barack Obama.
Barack Obama was subsequently re-elected to a second term in $2012$ .

In $2016$ , Donald Trump won the presidency following a highly contested election.
The year $2020$ was marked by several major national crises:
- COVID-19 Pandemic: The virus took "major precedence," leading to nationwide shutdowns.
- The pandemic resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths in the United States under the Trump administration.
- Social and Political Unrest: The death of George Floyd sparked mass protests across the country.
- These protests called for justice and highlighted significant civil unrest regarding systemic issues.

In $2020$ , Joe Biden won the presidential election against Donald Trump.
On January 6, 2021 ( $01/06/2021$ ), an act of civil unrest or "insurgency" occurred at the United States Congress.
This event was carried out by individuals who believed that Donald Trump had actually won the election, leading to a temporary takeover of the Capitol building.
Moving through $2021$ , $2022$ , and $2023$ , the lecture concludes by stating that history is now in the hands of the current generation to determine the future direction and how history will be written.