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Important Items about the Late Twentieth Century You need to begin familiarizing yourself with these terms. You will be having an identification quiz at the halfway point of the Unit. Remember, the quiz has no word bank, you must know these terms. Chapter 20 (Reagan) 20. Nicaragua 1. Entitlement Program 21. U.S. Marines in Lebanon 2. Affirmative Action 22. Iran-Contra Scandal 3. Conservative Coalition 23. Persian Gulf War 4. Moral Majority 24. GATT 5. Televangelist Chapter 21 (Clinton) 6. Jerry Falwell 25. Perjury 7. Billy Graham 26. Ethnic Cleansing 8. Reaganomics 27. Refugee 9. Strategic Defense Initiative 28. Global Warming 10. Supply-side Economics 29. NAFTA 11. Peace Through Strength 30. Newt Gingrich 12. Sandra Day O’Connor 31. Contract with America 13. Deregulation 32. Welfare Reform 14. George H.W. Bush 33. Oklahoma City Bombing 15. Glasnost 34. Balkans Crisis 16. Perestroika 35. Election of 2000 17. INF Treaty 18. Tiananmen Square 19. Operation Desert Storm THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY 1975-2000 CHAPTERS 20-21 Essential Questions (you should be able to answer these by the time we finish the Unit) 1. Why is the Election of 1980 considered a turning point election in U.S. History? 2. What were some of the core ideas of conservatism? 3. Describe Ronald Reagan’s economic strategy: 4. Describe Reagan’s foreign policy strategy: 5. Why did Reagan build up the military? 6. How was new technology changing life in the 1980’s? 7. How did discount retailing and new forms of media contribute to the exonomic boom of the 1980s? 8. Where, when, and why did the Cold War end? 9. How did the end of the Cold War lead to more global U.S. military conflicts? 10. Why did the United States get into the Persian Gulf War? What was the outcome? 11. What major domestic policy changes happened during Bill Clinton’s presidency? 12. How did the Republican Party respond to victory in the 1994 midterm elections? 13. What were 2-3 major international events from Clinton’s presidency? 14. How did NAFTA and other regional trading blocs affect the global economy? 15. Why was the Election of 2000 a controversial election? The Conservative Tide, 1980-1992 Ronald Reagan's presidency embodied the rise of the conservative movement in the 1980s, which supported a smaller federal government, a reduction in taxes, and less government regulations. The fraught political landscape of the late 1960s and 1970s fueled growing rejection of expansive federal policies that encroached on all aspects of society, a precedent established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal during the Great Depression. Reversing the trend of "big government," the Reagan administration cut taxes as well as workplace and environmental regulations in an attempt to improve the U.S. economy. In addition, Reagan bolstered defense spending, reigniting the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union that would ultimately lead to the end of the Cold War in 1991. The Conservative Movement In response to the devastating impact of the Great Depression in the 1930s, President Roosevelt launched the New Deal, a set of extensive government programs and initiatives that greatly expanded federal power, in order to stabilize the economy and support the creation of jobs. Later successors to the presidency further built upon the framework established by the New Deal. For example, in the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson enacted a series of federal policies called the Great Society that aimed to eradicate poverty in the United States. However, by the 1970s, public discontent was building against the U.S. government. The decade was bogged down by inflation, or the increased prices of goods due to the dropping value of currency; an oil crisis spurred by a trading embargo against Iran; and the highly unpopular Vietnam War. The political turmoil of the era and, by extension, growing distrust in the federal government resulted in a newfound conservative movement that opposed big government policies. The Presidency of Ronald Reagan President Reagan, who was elected in 1981, implemented conservative principles into policy. In his inaugural address, Reagan boldly proclaimed that "government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem." The "Reagan Revolution" cut back on government programs and policies that have been enacted since the New Deal and, on a broader level, reduced the influence of the federal government. In his first year of presidency, Reagan enacted the Economic Tax Recovery Act, which reduced tax rates. The Reagan administration believed that reducing taxes would give Americans more spending power and in consequence, improve the productivity of companies in order to cater to eager consumers. The resulting economic growth would offset the loss of revenue due to the tax cuts. This economic policy was referred to as "supply-side economics," or more informally "Reaganomics." In addition, the Reagan administration reversed various regulations for workplace and environmental safety as a way to further encourage economic productivity and growth. End of the Cold War The relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1970s was defined by détente, or a policy that aimed to foster a peaceful coexistence between the two superpowers. However, following the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Reagan—who famously referred to the Soviet Union as "the evil empire"—heavily expanded military spending, reigniting the arms race. $1.5 trillion was dedicated to defense spending throughout Reagan's presidency. Reagan's heavy defense spending forced the Soviet Union to increasingly dedicate dwindling resources and funds into the military in order to remain competitive with the United States. Such unsustainable spending ultimately destabilized the Soviet Union's economy. Despite a series of reforms pursued by General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev that emphasized openness and increased cooperation with the United States, the influence of the Soviet Union continued to weaken over time, leading to its fall in 1991. The downfall of the Soviet Union brought an end to the imminent threat of nuclear warfare that loomed over the world for decades. Furthermore, the end of the Cold War also established the United States' position as the sole superpower on the world stage. While communist regimes in such countries as China and North Korea remained, the world was no longer strictly divided according to the ideologies of capitalism or communism. In place of the global threat of the Soviet Union, the United States utilized its influence to focus on smaller-scale, regional conflicts. In 1991, the United States led coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War in order to liberate Kuwait from invading Iraqi troops led by Saddam Hussein. The Reagan Revolution transformed the United States on both a domestic and international level. The Reagan administration overturned New Deal ideology and policy, curbing the wide-reaching influence of the federal government. In addition, Reagan's aggressive military policies helped turn the tide of the Cold War and bring about the end of the Soviet Union, ushering a new era for the United States. Lee, Deborah. "The Conservative Tide, 1980–1992." American History, ABC‐CLIO, 2017, americanhistory.abcclio.com/Topics/Display/10. Accessed 3 Apr. 2017. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Close of the 20th Century, 1992-2000 The end of the 20th century brought about political and economic developments in the United States that set the stage for the new millennium. On the domestic level, Bill Clinton, the first elected president following the end of the Cold War, became the second president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, an event that would become emblematic of the 1990s. In addition, the leadership of Republican House representative Newt Gingrich in opposition to Clinton cemented the influence of the Republican Party for future generations. On the international level, as more countries began to industrialize and become economically competitive during this period, the United States became increasingly interconnected in an emerging global economy. The Presidency of Bill Clinton Clinton took office in 1991 and was popular among the U.S. public for his progressive platform. However, Clinton's efforts to implement such ambitious proposals as health care reform were curbed by Republican Congressional opposition. Although Clinton was able to successfully advance various policy goals such as gun control and workers' rights, overall, Clinton's presidency was defined by careful negotiation between clashing progressive and conservative viewpoints. Internationally, Clinton faced conflicts in the Balkans, a region in southeastern Europe that became volatile following the fall of the Soviet Union. In particular, the previously communist nation of Yugoslavia, composed of many different religious and ethnic groups, broke apart into smaller, separate republics. Heavy violence between ethnic groups soon overtook one of the newly formed republics, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In response to the violence, Clinton led the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—a military alliance between the United States and allied nations—to stop the warfare. Through these actions, Clinton redefined the role of NATO, originally established in the context of the Cold War, as an important player in modern global relations. Contract with America Clinton became a target of controversy and newspaper headlines in 1994 due to allegations of past illegal financial dealings with the Whitewater Development Company. Taking advantage of the media attention, Republican congressman Gingrich spearheaded the creation of the "Contract with America," a document that introduced a series of conservative reforms that aimed to reduce federal power and government regulations. Showcasing the document in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., Gingrich and other Republican congress members promised the public that they would enact these reforms if they had enough support in the 1994 midterm elections. Positive reception of the Contract with America as well as the impact of the Whitewater scandal led to a "Republican Revolution"—for the first time in decades. Republicans took over the majority of the seats in Congress, and Gingrich's leadership cultivated a new generation of young Republicans in the U.S. political landscape. Impeachment of Bill Clinton In light of the Whitewater scandal, Kenneth Starr was appointed as independent counsel, or an impartial investigator, to further look into the matter. During his initial investigation, however, Starr discovered additional claims of the Clinton administration abusing its power in order to cover up a relationship between Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The resulting Starr Report, which summarized Starr's findings, led the House of Representatives to vote to impeach Clinton in 1998, based on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury, or lying under oath. The landmark impeachment trial took place in 1999; however, the Senate failed to reach the majority, or twothirds, vote required to convict Clinton. Although Clinton was widely criticized for his actions, many believed that the acts were not serious enough to be considered, as stated in the Constitution, "high crimes and misdemeanors" that justified removal from office. Ultimately, Clinton maintained high approval ratings for the remainder of his second term in office, and in the long-term, his presidency left behind a positive legacy among the public. The Global Economy Beyond matters of the White House, the spread of industrialization across the world at the end of the century caused the U.S. economy to undergo significant changes. Previously underdeveloped countries became competitive in manufacturing and other markets. As a consequence of this global shift as well as the rise in U.S. businesses, workers began to migrate from manufacturing to the fields of data processing, advertising, and other service-oriented industries. More broadly, expanding international markets as well as advancements in long-distance transportation and communication made nations more interconnected in an overarching global economy. Countries increasingly participated in the international trade of labor, technology, and natural resources. The close of the 20th century transformed the political and economic landscape of the United States. On the world stage, Clinton's leadership of NATO in response to the war in the Balkans as well as the growth of the global economy reflected a new generation of global relations following the end of the Cold War. Within the United States, Gingrich's persuasive skills reinvigorated the Republican Party and their power in Congress. In addition, although the Clinton administration was fraught with scandal, Clinton proved to be popular throughout his time in office. Lee, Deborah. "The Close of the 20th Century, 1992–2000." American History, ABC‐CLIO, 2017, americanhistory.abcclio.com/Topics/Display/36. Accessed 3 Apr. 2017.