Period 9 Flashcards
Reagan Revolution
The policies of the first Reagan administration; based on “supply side” theory of growing the economy.
Included:
Increased defense spending
Reduced social programs
Tax cuts
Supply-side economics
An economic theory, first applied during the Reagan administration, holding that the key task for fiscal policy is to stimulate the supply of goods, as by cutting tax rates.
Morning Again in America
The campaign slogan of Ronald Reagan’s reelection effort in 1984
The Evil Empire
Ronald Reagan’s description of Soviet Union because of his fierce anti-communist views and the USSR’s history of violation of human rights and aggression.
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
Popularly known as “Star Wars,” President Reagan’s SDI proposed the construction of an elaborate computer-controlled, anti-missile defense system capable of destroying enemy missiles in outer spaced.
Boland Amendment
1982 act of Congress prohibiting direct aid to the Nicaraguan Contra forces
Iran-Contra
During the second term of the Reagan administration, government officials sold missiles to Iran (hoping that this would help free American hostages held in Lebanon); money from this sale was used to aid anti-communist Contra forces in Nicaragua. Iran was a country that was supposed to be on the American “no trade” list because of their taking of American hostages, and congressional legislation had been enacted making it illegal to give money to the Contras. A major scandal for the Reagan administration.
Perestroika
A policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev that involved restructuring of the social and economic status quo in communist Russia towards a market based economy and society
Glasnost
A policy of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev which called for more openness with the nations of West, and a relaxing of restraints on Soviet citizenry.
Tiananmen Square (1989)
Young Chinese students tried to protest and reform the Chinese communist government. They built a statue honoring the Statue of Liberty in the US. The Chinese troops sent in to crush their rebellion and arrest the leaders.
Operation Desert Storm
the United States and its allies defeated Iraq in a ground war that lasted 100 hours (1991)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Agreement that created a free-trade area among the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Clean Air Act
(CAA, 1970) set emission standards for cars and limits for release of air pollutants
Americans with Disabilities Act
Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commerical buildings.
Defense of Marriage Act
1996, Declares that states are not obligated to recognize any same sex marriages that might not be legally sanctioned in other states, defined marriage and spouse in heterosexual terms for federal law
Oslo Accords
An agreement in 1993 in which Israeli prime minister Rabin granted Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Dayton Peace Accords
A November 1995 agreement that began the process to bring peace to the former Yugoslavia
Good Friday Accords
A 1998 peace agreement to bring a peaceful settlement to the long-standing battles between Catholic and Protestant factions over the government of Northern Ireland
Internet
A global network connecting millions of computers, making it possible to exchange information.
World Wide Web
an information system on the Internet that allows documents to be connected to other documents by hypertext links, enabling the user to search for information by moving from one document to another.
No Child Left Behind
Holds states, schools, and school districts more accountable for their standardized tests scores. The wanted outcome was better tests scores all around and overall a smarter and better population of young people that would positively contribute to a growing America.
9/11 Attacks
the U.S. was attacked by the Al Qaeda which resulted in the War on Terrorism and the Patriot Acts
USA Patriot Act
Act that gives federal officials greater authority to take measures to combat terrorism.
Abu Ghraib prison
A detention facility near Baghdad, Iraq. Under Saddam Hussein, the prison was the site of infamous torturing and execution of political dissidents. In 2004, during the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the prison became the focal point of a prisoner-abuse and torture scandal after photographs surfaced of American soldiers mistreating, torturing, and degrading Iraqi war prisoners and suspected terrorists. The scandal was one of several dark spots on the public image of the Iraq War and led to increased criticism of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
