The 1970s: Political Shifts and Social Movements

Question 1

Southern Strategy

Answer 1

A Republican strategy aimed at attracting Southern white voters, capitalizing on their opposition to Civil Rights legislation and the Democratic Party’s support for desegregation.

Question 2

Ronald Reagan

Answer 2

U.S. President (1981–1989), known for his conservative economic policies (Reaganomics), his role in ending the Cold War, and for promoting a strong anti-communist stance.

Question 3

The War on Drugs

Answer 3

A campaign launched in the 1980s, primarily targeting drugs like cocaine and crack. It led to harsh sentencing laws and disproportionate incarceration of minorities.

Question 4

Mass Incarceration

Answer 4

A term describing the dramatic increase in the U.S. prison population from the 1980s onward, disproportionately affecting Black Americans and other people of color, largely due to the War on Drugs and “tough on crime” policies.