Period 9 Reading Guide Notes (Ch. 30-31)

Key Concept 9.1: Conservative Movement and its Influence

  • A newly ascendant conservative movement achieved several political and policy goals during the 1980s and continued to strongly influence public discourse in the following decades.
  • Conservative beliefs regarding the need for traditional social values and a reduced role for government advanced in U.S. politics after 1980.

Conservative Agenda in the 1980s

  • 1980s - conservative agenda: lower taxes, changed morals, reduced emphasis on affirmative action.
  • 1978 - Taxpayers’ Revolt in California.

Role of Religion

  • Religion became an instrument for electoral politics (Moral Majority).

Business Influence

  • 1970s - businesses launched campaigns to influence governments to curtail regulations, lower taxes, and weaken labor unions.

Political Shifts

  • 1980 election ended Democratic dominance of Congress.

Fiscal Issues

  • Federal budget deficits.

Social Issues

  • Clinton created “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule for gays in the military.

Clinton's Policies

  • Clinton: decreased government spending, budget surpluses, welfare reform.

Campaign Finance

  • Citizens United - corporations can fund political elections.

Trump Administration

  • Trump Administration: deregulation and tax cuts, return of populism.

Key Concept 9.2: Challenges and Changes in the 21st Century

  • Moving into the 21st century, the nation continued to experience challenges stemming from social, economic, and demographic changes.
  • New developments in science and technology enhanced the economy and transformed society, while manufacturing decreased.

Technological Advancements

  • Tech improvements in personal computers, software, Internet, cable, and wireless communications.
  • E-commerce became a part of everyday life.

Income Trends

  • Average and lower-income Americans experienced first real income gains since 1973.

Globalization

  • Process of globalization included surging increases in trade, communications, and the movement of capital around the world.
  • WTO, IMF, NAFTA were key components of Globalization.

Decline in Manufacturing

  • Decline in American manufacturing had the largest effect on blue-collar workers.

Demographic Shifts

  • The U.S. population continued to undergo significant demographic shifts that had profound cultural and political consequences.
  • Most Americans lived in suburbs.
  • The Hispanic population was the fastest-growing segment of the US population.
  • Immigrants were a key stimulus to economic growth.
  • There was a decline in traditional families.
  • The distribution of income varied widely based on race, gender, and education.

Healthcare

  • Affordable Care Act “Obamacare” - reform to health insurance.

Immigration

  • DACA - illegal child immigrants can stay in the US legally (“dreamers”).

Key Concept 9.3: Foreign Policy Redefined

  • The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership forced the nation to redefine its foreign policy and role in the world.
  • The Reagan administration promoted an interventionist foreign policy that continued in later administrations, even after the end of the Cold War.

Reagan's Policies

  • Reagan’s tax cuts benefited upper-income taxpayers.
  • There was a dramatic increase in military spending.
  • A recession occurred in 1982, leading to bank failures and rising unemployment.
  • The recovery widened the income gap between rich and poor.
  • Reagan’s policies contained New Deal and Great Society programs.
  • Reagan supported right-wing dictators in the Americas.

International Agreements

  • INF agreement - Soviet Union and US destroy all intermediate-range missiles.

Military Interventions

  • Invasion of Panama.
  • Persian Gulf War - stop Iraq from invading Kuwait.

Middle East

  • Violence in Israel provoked anti-American sentiment in the Islamic world.

Trade

  • Trade agreements with China.

Nuclear Issues

  • Nuclear proliferation.

Post 9/11 Foreign Policy

  • Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. foreign policy efforts focused on fighting terrorism around the world.
  • Before: 1993 - world trade center bombed & 2000 - bombing of USS Cole.

War in Afghanistan

  • The US attempted to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan through bombings, special forces, and Afghan troops in the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.

Domestic Security

  • Patriot Acts - gave the government power to obtain information, expand surveillance and arrest powers.
  • The Department of Homeland Security was created.

Bush Administration

  • Bush was sometimes uncooperative in international affairs.
  • The US invaded Iraq without proof of weapons of mass destruction, and there was barbaric treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.