II pt 4 Flashcards
Watergate Scandal
despite near-guaranteed second term, campaign workers burglarized Democratic offices, cover-up unsuccessful, resigned to avoid impeachment
Nixon pardoned by Ford to get country focused on more important matters
Energy Crisis, OPEC
increased already high rate of inflation by quadrupling the price of crude oil
Stagflation
Ford’s and Carter’s presidencies experienced a recession and inflation simultaneously, solved by Keynesian economics
President Jimmy Carter
Panama Canal Treaty, diplomacy with China, end of recognition of Taiwan; little accomplished domestically due to conservative opposition, foreign policy more successful; Washington outsider, Experienced high interest rates, inflation, increased government spending, rising unemployment, decreased union membership
Humanitarian diplomacy
fought for human rights in Africa, Panama Canal returned to Panama, relations with China resolved
Camp David Accords
A peace treaty between Israel and Egypt where Egypt agreed to recognize the nation state of Israel
Iran Hostage Crisis
the Shah of Iran (a US ally) came to US after a revolution in Iran and armed students took 52 American hostages. (contributed to the defeat of Carter in 1980 election)
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
despite CIA-sponsored Soviet resistance, Afghanistan taken by Soviet Union; ended detente between USSR and US
Deregulation
drastic cutbacks in regulation of business by the federal government (banks, transportation, communications
Election of 1980
decisive victory to Reagan due to his appeal over Carter (now unpopular due to lack of success in the presidency
President Ronald Reagan
offered a New Deal (reminiscent of FDR) of smaller government, reduced taxes, and free enterprise; Washington outsider
Conservatism
a belief that limited government ensures order, competitive governments, and personal opportunity
Religious Right
political action for religion justified by decreased presence of religion in society; Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition to expand national influence
Reaganomics
economic policy of president Ronald Reagon; known as “trickle down” economics or supply-side economics; based on major tax cuts for the rich from which money would “trickle down” to the poor and stimulate the economy/the job market; initially led to recession but later was beneficial; widened gap between rich and poor
Supply side economics,tax cuts
tax cuts to increase population spending (help economy), drastic cutting back on government programs due to lack of funds
Nicaraguan Contras
guerilla army sponsored by CIA to attack procommunist revolutionaries in Nicaragua; fear of another Vietnam
Evil Empire speech, “Star Wars”
Reagan called the Soviet Union an evil empire; Korean passenger plane shot down near Moscow (increased anti-Soviet rhetoric); Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) used space-based lasers as defense from nuclear attack
Mikhail Gorbachev
Soviet leader undergoing tensions on superpower and domestic level
Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty
(1987) Arms limitation agreement settled by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev after several attempts. The treaty banned all intermediate-range nuclear missiles from Europe and marked a significant thaw in the Cold War.
Fall of communism in Eastern Europe
(1989) - Gorbachevannounced Soviet withdrawal of power from all of Eastern Europe, including Berlin (wall torn down, free movement, etc.)
Graying of America
economic recession (collapse of savings-and-loan industry, increasing deficit due to Reagan tax cuts, retail decreased, higher crime rate)
Economic transition
to service economy in late 20 century (end of industrialism) - higher focus on services (esp. education) rather than material products
President H.W. Bush
carried on Reaganomics, Gulf War, Savings and Loan Scandal
Gulf War, “Operation: Desert Storm”
Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait in August, 1990.
Kuwait received independence in 1961.
Kuwait had the 4th largest oil reserves of any country.
1992 Election
Bush vs. Clinton vs. Perot; focus on stagnancy of economy and problems of middle class (Clinton)
President Bill Clinton
scholarly, welfare-reform, “Contract with America,” impeachment over Monica Lewinski Scandal, War in Kosovo
Gays in the military
ended exclusion of homosexuals from military; due to controversy, compromise of “don’t ask, don’t tell” instituted
North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA
Agreement that created an essentially free trade zone among Mexico, Canada, and the United States, in hopes of encouraging economic growth in all three nations; after difficult negotiations, went into effect January 1, 1994.
Contract with America
An economic plan supported and initialized by Newt Gingrich that, supposedly, promised downsizing of the government, a tax cut, lesser regulations, and a balanced budget. These promises sounded promising to Republican and Democratic voters, leading them to oust the Democratic-controlled Congress in favor of conservatism. (For now.)
Clinton impeachment
Result of a political sex scandal emerging from a sexual relationship between United States President Bill Clinton and a 22-year-old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.
Bush v. Gore
In the 2001 election, Gore earned more popular votes, but Bush won the vote of Florida by only 537 votes. The Democrats asked for a recount in the votes because some of the ballots had been undercounted, but the Supreme Court refused. Made Bush president.
9/11 Terrorist Attacks on NYC & DC
planes hijacked by terrorists for destruction; blame pinned on Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, sought out in attempt to completely destroy terrorism
Invasion of Afghanistan
Taliban sheltered Bin Laden and al Qaeda and refused to give him up, so US and NATO invade
Invasion of Iraq, removal of Saddam Hussein, 2003
Iran, Iraq, and North Korea designated as the “axis of evil,” institution of democratic government in Iraq to replace Hussein’s dictatorship (return to spread and protection of democracy throughout the world, moving beyond containment of communism)
