Political and Foreign Policy Adjustments in a Globalized World (1980-Present) Flashcards
Three Tendencies of the Conservative Movement
Cold War, Pro-business, and religious/cultural wing
Cold War Conservatives
Focused on containing/rolling back Communist regimes abroad.
Pro-business Economic Conservatives
Argued for lower corporate taxes, deregulation, and an atmosphere friendly to business.
Religious and Cultural Conservatives
Identify:
- Origin
Greatest grassroots support and helped fuel victories for Reagan, HW Bush, W Bush, and Trump. It stemmed out of the counterculture of the 1960’s.
Reagan’s Political Views Before Presidency
Originally started as a New Deal Democrat. In the 1950’s, he became anti-Communist and became the face of the New right movement after his election.
Reasons for Ronald Reagan’s Electoral Victory
People were disappointed at the seemingly ineffective release of the Tehran hostages by Jimmy Carter. Reagan projected a sense of hope and optimism.
Reaganomics
Favored big business. He believed in supply side economics, which drove his economic policy. He cut taxes and reduced regulations on industry.
Historical Policy Similar to Reaganomics
Herbert Hoover’s approach to the Great Depression.
Supply-side Economics
Helping manufacturers, banks, insurance corporations (supply) would stimulate general economic growth, and the benefits of the growth would reach everyone.
Demand-side Economics
Focuses on workers’ wages and expands social programs such as welfare and unemployment benefits.
James Watt
Identify:
- Criticisms
Secretary of Interior under Reagan, criticized for dismantling or weaking environmental legislation established in the 70’s.
Republicans during Presidency of Bill Clinton
Gained control over the House and Senate in 1994 midterms. The Republicans had not controlled the House since 1954.
Newt Gingrich
Minority leader of the House Republicans in 1994. He signed the “Contract with America”.
Contract with America
Call to arms for Republicans and a specific blueprint for legislative action.
Impeachment Proceedings against Bill Clinton
Demonstrated the growing strength of more conservative elements within the Republicans, and was important in the deterioration of relations between the two parties. Starr was not able to tie Clinton to the Whitewater case, but Clinton did deny the Lewinsky affair to a federal grand jury. In the end, he was found not guilty by the Senate.
Clinton emerged largely unscathed. While many Americans disapproved of his personal misconduct, they resented the attempt by Republicans to remove him from office.
Kenneth Starr
Independent council to investigate the Clinton’s participation in the Whitewater case.
Whitewater Case
A failed and fraudulent real estates project in Arkansas that happened in 1978, when Clinton was governor.
Election of 2000
R: George W. Bush
D: Al Gore
Electoral vote split almost completely evenly, and neither side had 270. It went down to Florida, where votes were almost split completely evenly. The US Supreme Court ultimately reversed an order by the Florida Supreme Court to do a hand recount of certain counties, resulting in Bush’s victory
Bush v. Gore
2000 decision that stopped the recount in Florida, marking a break by conservative members of the Court of their previous tendency to assert the power of states within the federal system.
No Child Left Behind Act
- One of W. Bush’s major accomplishments, and extended the reach of the federal government into education, which was traditionally a state responsibility. It set learning standards, but was criticized for not providing funds to meet these goals.
Every Child Succeeds Act
- Replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. It gave more flexibility to developing systems of standards and accountability
Reasons for Obama’s Victory
Held off Hillary Clinton’s bid for the nomination. He harnessed the power of the internet and his own charisma to build a large base.
Tea Party Movement
Identify:
- Major player
Opposed Obama’s presidency. To some extent the movement was a creation of the media, and used hyperbolic language. It was promoted heavily by Fox News.
Election of Donald Trump
Identify:
- Factors Contributing to Victory
Demonstrated the continued strength of the Conservative movement. However, it split the Republican Party, as mainstream Republicans felt uncomfortable with the anti-establishment populist wing of the party.
He was seen to speak his mind rather than following “political correctness”, and many voters were stunned by his comments and actions. For example, he questioned the status of McCain as a war Hero.
Presidency of Donald Trump
Welcomed by his supporters, who hoped he would shake up the establishment. However, his impulsive/ad hoc approach also sowed doubts about his ability to effect meaningful change.
Trump on the Affordable Care Act
Tried to roll it back, but failed to win congressional support.
Trump on Taxes
Overhauled the tax code, enacting major cuts to corporation taxes and reductions of tax to the wealthiest.
Trump on Environment
Rolled back regulations.
First Impeachment of Donald Trump
Charged with abusing the powers of the presidency for allegedly enlisting Ukraine to announce investigations into a political rival. He was also charged with obstruction of Congress when he tried to defy subpoenas and aimed to control the impeachment process. He was found not guilty by the Republican-dominated Senate.
Election of 2020
R: Donald Trump
D: Joe Biden
Highest voter turnout since 1900. Democrats gained control of the Senate and maintained control of the House, but lost seats. It gave the party unified control of the government for the first time since 2008.
The election was marked with accusations of voter fraud by Trump and a refusal to accept election results.
Attorney General William Barr (2020 election)
Said that US attorneys and FBI found no evidence of substantial voter fraud.
Chris Kebs, direct of Department of Homeland Security (2020 election)
Said that the 2020 was election was the most secure in American history.
Second Impeachment of Donald Trump
Charged with incitement of insurrection following the Jan 6 Capitol attack. He was acquitted by the Senate.
Save America Rally
House argued that Trump in this rally incited the Jan 6 riots.
Senator Mitch McConnell (Second Impeachment of Donald Trump)
Senate Republican leader who acknowledges Trump’s culpability, but votes to acquit because he believed that it was unconstitutional to impeach an official already out of office.
Medicare and Medicaid in the 21st Century
Funding has increased and programs expanded, despite Republican efforts to reduce the program.
Graying of America
Identify:
- Cause
The phenomenon of people in America living longer. Much of this is attributed to Medicare and Medicaid
Ronald Reagan on Medicare and Medicaid
Led the effort to pass a social security reform bill designed to ensure the long term solvency of the program and supported expansion of Medicare to protect elderly and disabled.
Debt under Ronald Reagan
Nearly doubled from 1980 to 1986. Reaganomics had cut government revenues due to tax cuts, and he had increased military spending.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Identify:
- Sitting President
- Spot on the Political Spectrum and Significance
Promoted by Bill Clinton and eliminated all trade barriers and tariffs among the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The NAFTA signified Clinton’s shift from its liberal traditions, as the agreement broke from the wishes of organized labor and environmental groups. His shift toward the right frustrated Republicans, whose momentum was stolen by Clinton, especially during re-election.
General Agreement of Trade and Tariffs (GATT)
International trade agreement that aimed to encourage trade by reducing barriers.
World Trade Organization
Founded in 1995 by the GATT. It was a global trade referee committed to reducing barriers to trade.
Globalization
Identify:
- Arguments on each side
Proponents argued that elimination of trade barriers would lower prices and stimulate global economy.
Labor organizations argued that eliminating trade barriers would lead to a loss of American jobs as businesses gravitate toward countries where labor is cheap. Environmentalists also argued that free trade would prevent countries from enacting strong environmental protections.
Seattle Protests
Environmentalists and Labor organizations protested in 1999 at a WTO meeting.
Clinton on Welfare
Ended welfare as a federal program and returned it to the states.
Workfare
Reform that called for recipients to being work after 2 years.
Clinton on Health Care
Put forward the idea of a federal plan that would provided subsidized insurance to many of the 39 million uncovered Americans.
Hillary Clinton led the task force on this issue
Baby Boomers and Social Security
The large amounts of now retiring citizens created a strain on Medicare and Social Security.
Republicans argued for privatization, while Democrats argued for more funds.
George W. Bush on Social Security
Pushed unsuccessfully for a combination of a government-funded program and personal accounts.
Savings and Loan Associations (S&L’s) in 1980’s
Suffered a spate of irresponsible and risky investments and a downturn in a housing market. Deregulation also worsened the situation, since it allowed for more risky speculative investments.
George H. W. Bush on S&L Crisis
Signed a bailout bill that extended billions of dollars to the industry at the cost of taxpayer money.
Moral Hazard (S&L Crisis)
Critics of Bush’s bailout bail suggested that it created a situation in which actors are more willing to take risk knowing that the costs will be borne by others.
Great Recession
Identify:
- Leading cause
Most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. From late 2007 to 2009, there was high unemployment, falling wages, and a housing crisis.
A major cause was the crisis of the housing market, partly due to the revoking of the Glass-Steagall Act, leading to easier borrowing of money.
Great Recession on 2008 Election
Despite Bush’s efforts, people were not content, so elected Obama.
Subprime Mortgages
Banks lured first-time home buyers to take out mortgages that were beyond their means. These high-interest loans with unfavorable terms, often extended to those with low credit ratings, would be sold to Wall Street. Eventually, this led to the mortgage going into the stock market, and the risk was spread throughout the economy.
Underwater (2008 Recession)
Subprime borrowers found that the value of their homes sank below the amount they owed to their mortgages. In this way, they could neither sell their homes or afford to pay their mortgage. As a result, many walked away and defaulted on their loans, leading to widespread foreclosures.
Toxic Assets
Investors who had invested in subprime mortgages. When these foreclosed, investors felt the impact as well.
Dow Jones Industrial Average (Great Recession)
Lost half its value. It serves as a major indicator of the health of the stock market.
Federal Reserve Bank Response to Great Recession
Outlined a loan program for the country’s largest banks to borrow Treasury securities at discounted rates.
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
Identify:
- Criticisms
2008 W. Bush program that purchased “troubled mortgage-related assets” from financial firms in an attempt to strengthen the financial sector and restore confidence in the securities market.
Critics argued that the government did not tie this money to new rules and guidelines, so the money was often being used for irresponsible practices (eg. raising salary of CEO).
Automobile Industry during Great Recession
Due to rising fuel prices and reduced consumer spending, the sales of sport utility vehicles went down. General Motors and Chrysler got funds from W. Bush under the TARP. The bailout proved to be successful, and the industry recovered and paid back most its loans.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Identify:
- Sitting president
- Inspiration
Passed the bill in 2009. It provided money to state and local governments for infrastructure projects. It took inspiration from Keynesian economics.
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Identify:
- Sitting president
- Purpose
- Significance
Passed by the Obama administration to regulate financial markets and protect consumers. It was the most comprehensive financial reform since the Glass-Steagall Act.
It was designed to end the concept of “too big to fail”. Certain institutions were described to be so large that a failure would have devastating consequences. People were concerned of moral hazard.
Too Big to Fail
Belief that some institutions were so large that a failure would have devastating consequences on the economy. The Dodd-Frank Act aimed to prevent this belief.
Trump on Dodd-Frank Act
Repealed much of its provisions.
Obama on health care
Made health care reform a major domestic initiative, including an attempt to pass a public option to health care.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Expanded healthcare coverage to more Americans. In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld its major aspects after a constitutional challenge from federal courts.
Basic Health Program
Part of the Affordable Care Act that allowed one million people to be eligible for Medicaid.
Medical Insurance under Trump
Rose by over two million.
Covid-19 on Medical Insurance
Due to increased unemployment, many people lost employer sponsored insurance.
Biden on Medical Insurance
Congress lowered insurance costs and increased promotion of Affordable Care Act.
Feminist Movement on Workplace
Pushed for government funded day care and greater participation by men in childcare.
Women’s March on Washington
Protested Trump’s inauguration, signifying the feminist movement as the lead of the opposition to Donald Trump.
Harvey Weinstein
Movie producer convicted of sexual abuse, contributing to a rise in the metoo movement.
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
2022 decision that reversed Roe v. Wade
ACT-UP
Gay community group that staged militant protests in NY and San Francisco, mainly protesting the lack of AIDS treatment.
Silence = Death
Slogan of ACT-UP
Gay and Lesbian Military Freedom Project
Founded in 1988 to advocated against “Homosexuality is incompatible with military service”.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Policy from 1994-2011 that forbid homosexuals from expressing their sexual identity.
Baehr v. Lewin
1993 Hawaii Supreme Court decision that ruled that a ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional. Many states proceeded to pass amendments to their constitution prohibiting same sex marriage.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Same-Sex Marriages
Ruled that the state could not prohibit same sex marriage in 2003.
Vermont on Same-Sex Marriages
First to allow it through legislative means rather than judicial means.
United States v. Windsor
2013 decision that struck down the section of DOMA that defined marriage as an act between man and woman. A majority of Americans opposed this in 1996, but in 2015 showed the opposite.
Obergefell v. Hodges
2015 decision that ruled that marriage is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed to same-sex couples.
Poverty Rates for African Americans
Declined in the 21st century, but remain a major issue.
Lyndon Johnson on Crime and Drugs
Urged Congress to engage in “an effective war against crime”
Tough on Crime
Nixon’s policies that further criminalized the possession and use of illegal drugs.
Reagan on Drugs
Launched the drug war through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1986)
Anti-Drug Abuse Act
Reagan’s 1986 bill that took a punitive stance toward drugs and enacted new mandatory minimum sentences.
Origin of Just Say No
First Lady Nancy Reagan.
Bill Clinton on Crime
Signed an anti-crime bill into law in 1994 that drastically increased the prison population, hitting the African-American community especially hard.
Michael Brown
African-American shot in 2014, starting protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
Eric Garner
African-American who died in 2014 in NYC after being arrested by police officers.
George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin
Zimmerman (white) shot Martin (black) and was acquitted, sparking the Black Lives Matter movement.
Obama on Racial Justice
Often intervened in conflicts between local police and community, finding a longtime pattern of discrimination.
Trump on Racial Justice
Dismissed defund the police, and was critical of racial justice protests.
Aurora, Colorado
Newtown, Connecticut
Charleston, South Carolina
Parkland, Florida
Las Vegas
Locations of mass shootings.
Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act
Passed in NY after the Sandy Hook Shootings to expand gun laws.
Glasnost
Dismantling of the repression of the USSR.
Perestroika
Introducing elements of capitalism into the USSR economy.
Operation Desert Storm
Coalition that drove Hussein out of Iraq, regarded as a major success for HW Bush, along with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Significance of Persian Gulf War for US Military
Significant amount of women served in combat roles for the first time.
US Intervention in Mogadishu, Somalia
Identify:
- Sitting president
Clinton deployed troops to Mogadishu, the capitol of Somalia. The troops were attacked, resulting in 19 deaths and US withdrawal from Somalia soon after.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Brought to power in Haiti democratically. He was ousted by a general, but was reinstated after negotiations with Jimmy Carter (after Clinton had threatened force).
Bill Clinton and Haiti
Clinton took the lead in ensuring democratic transition in Haiti
Dayton Agreement
Identify:
- Sitting president
Peace treaty between Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia in 1995. It was negotiated by Bill Clinton.
Yasser Arafat
Leader of Palestine when Bill Clinton began negotiations in Camp David.
Ehud Barak
Prime Minister of Israel when Bill Clinton began negotiations in Camp David.
HW Bush on Tiananmen
Protested the massacre but did not alter American policy nor did he enforce sanctions passed by Congress.
Clinton on China
Maintained friendly relations, despite the continued arrest of political dissidents in China.
Company to launch first personal computer
Apple
IBM
Launched by Apple after the personal computer.
Impact of Digital Revolution
Increase in productivity growth
Effect of productivity growth
Identify:
- 2 possible reasons why
Did not lead to expected increases in standards of living. Reasons include:
- Cost of replacing electronics
- Growing income gap
Origins of the Internet
1960’s by the Department of Defense.
Howard Dean
Unsuccessfully campaigned in 2004, but showed the potential for the internet to raise money.
Obama Campaign and Internet
Embraced it in his campaign, contributing to his victory.
Trump Campaign and Internet
Primarily used Twitter to communicate.
Rust Belt in the 21st Century
Many factories have closed in favor of the South and similar areas, where wages are lower and labor movements are weak.
Industry in the 21st Century
Declined in the US, favoring relocating to less developed parts of the world. Many imports have increasingly come from China.
Significance of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers’ Organization (PATCO)
Union of air traffic controllers who went on strike in 1981. They were all fired by Reagan and the union was broken up, a major turning point in government policy toward unions. This marked the decline of strikes in general.
Right-to-work laws
Workers can opt out of paying union dues, even while being represented. This weakened the labor movement.
Governor Scott :Walker
Wisconsin governor that cut collective bargaining rights and benefits of public employees in 2011.
Service Sector in Modern Age
Has grown significantly starting 1980. It involves the production of services rather than end products.
Walmart, Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, KFC), McDonalds on Unions
Largest employers in the US who make it very difficult to unionize.
Occupy Wall Street
Movement that calls for a fundamental restructuring of the economy to challenge economical inequalities, especially with the growing wage gap.
Senator Bernie Sanders Campaigns for President
Similar motives as the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The Sunbelt in the 21st century
Identify:
- Party benefitted
Experienced significant growth, especially from Latin American immigrants. This has been good for the Republican Party.
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Forced employers to ensure that their workforce was composed of only legal immigrants, although it did allow for some illegal immigrants to achieve legal status.
Obama on Immigration
Pushed for reform, but was met with opposition by the Republican House. He achieved some success with DACA. He tried to push for pathways to legal status for illegal immigrants while increasing deportation, focusing on those who had recently crossed the border and those with criminal records.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
2012 bill that protected minors whose parents were illegal.
Muslim Ban
Trump’s 2016 executive order temporarily banned people from 7 predominantly muslim countries from entering the country, as well as indefinitely suspending the entry of Syrian refugees. Both parties criticized this and led to widespread protests.
In 2017, the ban was changed to make exceptions for green card holders and those who received visas before the ban, which was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Biden on Immigration
Reversed many of Trump’s actions. He stopped the wall and undid the Muslim ban entirely. He also revised the protections offered to individuals who qualified for DECA.
Trump on Afghanistan
Signed a conditional peace agreement in 2020 without the Afghan government present.
Patriot Act
Passed shortly after 9/131. It expanded the government’s authority to fight against terrorism. It has been criticized as an infringement on civil liberties.
National Security Letters (NSLs)
Allowed the FBI to search telephone, email, and financial records without a court order under the Patriot Act.
Origin of the Department of Homeland Security
Direct result of 9/11, absorbing the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Abu Ghraib Prison
2004 released photographs showed “enhanced interrogation” tactics (such as waterboarding) being used by US guards.
Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
2006 decision that ruled that W. Bush could not hold detainees indefinitely without due process and without the protection of the Geneva accords.
Military Commission Act
2006 law passed to address narrow concerns raised in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. However, it still allows for the removal of procedural safeguards ordinarily employed in judicial trials or in military courts-martial.
Consequence of Concerns over War of Terrorism
Republican party’s John McCain lost to Obama.
Obama on Terrorism
Continued many of Bush’s antiterrorism policies to the dismay of many of his supporters. For example, he allowed the extension of three controversial measures of the Patriot Act that were set to expire.
He is also criticized for the increased use of unmanned drone attacks on suspected terrorist targets, despite the UN calling it “extrajudicial killings” and “summary justice”.
Obama on Guantanamo Bay
In 2008, he called out reports of prisoner abuse and promised to close it down by 2009. From this time to leaving office, he had reduced number of prisoners from 242 to 41, but he had not closed it.
Trump on Guantanamo Bay
Favored maintaining the camp.
Biden on Guantanamo Bay
Expressed desire to close it, but has not as of 2022.
PRISM
Identify:
- Sitting president
Obama renewed this program that allowed the National Security Agency to conduct mass data mining of phone, internet, and other communications, including of US citizens.
Edward Snowden
Exposed PRISM in 2013.
Earth Summit
1992 Brazil, most countries agreed to adopt the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Agreed on in the Earth Summit. Set international agreement on combating climate change.
Kyoto Protocal
- Set binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses. The US signed the protocol, but did not ratify it.
Paris Agreement
Called for broad carbon dioxide reduction measures and was signed by 195 parties, including the US. Trump pulled out of it in 2017 effective 2020, leading to international criticism.
Biden on Climate Change
Rejoined the Paris Agreement first day in office. He also passed the largest investment in helping communities withstand the impacts of climate change. He did not embrace the Green New Deal
Green New Deal
Proposed by liberals of Congress in 2019. It was a sweeping environmental agenda.
Glasgow Climate Change Conference
- Nearly 200 countries, including the US, adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact.
Criticisms Glasgow Climate Pact
Critics claimed the agreement was half baked, with most hoping for more aggressive actions in regard to moving away from fossil fuels. Glasgow and other cities protested the pact.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
2020 report said that governments have perhaps 12 years to cut global emissions by 45 percent.
Bush on Kyoto Protocol
Withdrew from it.
Bush on Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
Withdrew to develop a space-based missile-defense system.
Bush on United Nation’s International Criminal Court
Withdrew from the treaty.
Bush Doctrine
Preference of pre-emptive strikes rather than the previous deterrence and containment.
Axis of Evil
Bush’s grouping of Iraq, Iran, and North Korea.
Obama Speech in Cairo, Egypt
Pledged to mend relations between the US and the Muslim world. He added troops to Afghanistan and withdrew troops from Iraq.
Obama on Arab Spring
Spoke favorably of the changes brought.
Arab Winter
Authoritarian regimes reasserted power.
Obama on Iran
Focused on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
2015 between Iran and the US. It removed sanctions against in Iran in exchange for measures to ensure that Iran would not produce the nuclear bomb. It was condemned by conservatives and Netanyahu.
Trump on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
Withdrew and reinstated sanctions.
Biden on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
Has attempted to rejoin, but with little progress.
Obama on Israel-Palestine
Increased military support for Israel.
Secretary of State John Kerry
Criticized Israeli policy in regard to the building of settlements in the West Bank.
Trump on Israel-Palestine
Moved away from the two state solution and recognized Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and moved the embassy there.
Abraham Accords
Identify:
- Sitting President
Trump mediated agreements to normalize relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain.
New START Treaty
2010 agreement that reduced nuclear warheads and launchers as well as increasing on-site inspections in the US and Russia.
Putin on Obama
Putin supported Trump in 2016.
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Declassified a report in 2017 outlining Russian actions to interfere in the 2016 election.
Robert Mueller
Special counsel who investigated Russian interference in 2016 election.
Attorney General William Barr and Mueller Report
Exonerated Trump, but the report identified links between the Russians and the Trump campaign. There were 34 indictments.
Obama on Russia
Imposed sanctions on several wealthy businessmen and advisors close to Putin.
Obama on Cuba
Resumed diplomatic relations in 2015, with an embassy being opened in Havana.
Trump on Cuba
Stopped granting Cuba relief from sanctions, but did not shut down relations.
Biden on Cuba
Kept sanctions in place, criticizing Cuba’s handling of political dissidents.
W. Bush on China
Relations were stable. China offered support for the war on terrorism and challenged the growing nuclear capabilities of North Korea.
Obama on China
Pursued a cooperative relationship, although expressing concern about imbalance in trade. He met with Xi Jinping in 2013 and found common ground in combating climate change and checking North Korea’s nuclear program.
Trump on China
Relations deteriorated, especially in regard to Taiwan. Trump imposed tariffs, and so did China. This is when some people began to remark that there was a new “cold war”.
Biden on China
Tensions remain high.
