Unit 9: Entering into the 21st Century (1980-present) Flashcards
the malaise speech
a speech by Jimmy Carter that complained that people were letting themselves by overtaken by a crisis of confidence
Ronald Reagan
former actor and gov of Ca, presented himself has Carter’s opposite, stressed positive aspects of America
–> won 1980 election
supply-side economics
Reagan believed that if corporate taxes were reduced, those corporations would earn greater profits which would be used to buy equipment and hire more employees –> wealth would trickle down and reinvigorate the economy
+ large-scale deregulation of banking, industry, and environment
opposition to Reagan’s tax cut
it hurt the poor who depended on federal enfranchisement programs to survive
Results of supply-side economics
initially nothing happened –> decreased inflation but rich still getting richer and using it for luxury items
New Federalism
Reagan’s plan to decrease the size of the federal govt: goal was to shift power from national govt to the states
national govt fund social welfare programs while states pay for all of Medicaid
–> never accomplished
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
a space-based missile shield system to increase military spending
Reagan and SU
Reagan escalated arms race –> bankrupt SU = end to Cold War
Federal budget deficit
govt spending increased while govt revenues decreased, forcing govt to borrow money –> no one would compromise on either increasing taxes or decreasing social welfare funding
Foreign policy under Raegan
Sought to end Cold War by winning it on every front possible: supported repressive regimes and right-wing insurgents in El Salvador, Panama, Philippines, and Mozambique because they opposed communism; led invasion of Grenada to topple communist govt
Iran-Contras Affair
Congress cut funding of Nicaraguan insurgents called Contras for murdering civilians –> Reagan committed to supporting them so they secretly sold weapons to Iran and used income to buy guns for contras
–> member of Security Council took full credit
Reagan and Lebanon
Reagan sent marines to Lebanon as part of a UN peacekeeping force
–> suicide bomb killed 240 servicemen –> pulled out troops
Reagan and SU
initially deteriorated - Reagan called SU “evil empire”
–> arms race forced negotiations to avoid high costs
Mikhail Gorbachev
reformer who rose to power in SU: loosened control, increased personal liberties, and allowed free-market commerce
negotiated withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Europe
perestroika / restructuring
Gorbachev’s economic policy
glasnost / openness
Gorbachev’s social reforms:
George H. W. Bush
elected 1988: called for “a kinder, gentler nation”
–> traditional America (family and abstinence)
Persian Gulf War (August 1990)
Saddam Hussein (leader of Iraq) invaded oil-rich Kuwait –> Bush built UN coalition against Iraq when it seized and threatened oil supply
End of Cold War
Ended during Bush’s presidency with dismantling of Berlin Wall = no containment policy because SU is no longer a threat
Operation Desert Storm
massive air strikes against strategic Iraqi targets
–> ended quickly with few US casualties
End of Persian Gulf War
Iraq required to submit inspections that there were no weapons of mass destruction production facilities, and Saddam Hussein remained in power
post-Cold War foreign policy
focused on political stability in Middle East and defending human rights
Immigration from 1970s
fastest-growing: Hispanics and Asians
Immigration Act of 1965
phased out all national quotas and set annual limits on immigration from W. hem, relaxing restrictions on non-European immigration
gave priority to reuniting families, certain skilled workers, and political refugees (Cuba and SE Asia)
