Period Packets – Period 9: 1980 – Present
Unit 10 – Chapters 40-42
Included in Each Period Packet:
- Key Concepts – an overview of what you need to know - Overview – a summary, the basics, and differing perspectives
- Main Themes – how the seven themes of the course apply to this period - Chapter Reading Questions – pretty straight forward…
- Crash Course Guide – video guide to watch (they will be amazingly helpful)
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Key Concepts
Key Concept 9.1: A newly ascendant conservative movement achieved several political and policy goals during the 1980s and continued to strongly influence public discourse in the following decades.
I Conservative beliefs regarding the need for traditional social values and a reduced role for government advanced in U.S. politics after 1980.
A Ronald Reagan’s victory in the presidential election of 1980 represented an important milestone, allowing conservatives to enact significant tax cuts and continue the deregulation of many industries.
B
Conservatives argued that liberal programs were counterproductive in fighting poverty and stimulating economic growth. Some of their efforts to reduce the size and scope of government met with inertia and liberal opposition, as many programs remained popular with voters.
C Policy debates continued over free-trade agreements, the scope of the government social safety net, and calls to reform the U.S. financial system.
THEMATIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
POL-1 Explain how and why political ideas, beliefs, institutions, party systems, and alignments have developed and changed. POL-2 Explain how popular movements, reform efforts, and activist groups have sought to change American society and
institutions.
POL-3 Explain how different beliefs about the federal government’s role in U.S. social and economic life have affected political debates and policies.
WXT-2 Explain how patterns of exchange, markets, and private enterprise have developed, and analyze ways that governments have responded to economic issues.
Key Concept 9.2: Moving into the 21st century, the nation experienced significant technological, economic, and demographic changes. I New developments in science and technology enhanced the economy and transformed society, while manufacturing decreased.
A Economic productivity increased as improvements in digital communications enabled increased American participation in worldwide economic opportunities.
B Technological innovations in computing, digital mobile technology, and the Internet transformed daily life, increased access to information, and led to new social behaviors and networks.
C Employment increased in service sectors and decreased in manufacturing, and union membership declined. D Real wages stagnated for the working and middle class amid growing economic inequality.
THEMATIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
WXT-1 Explain how different labor systems developed in North America and the United States, and explain their effects on workers’ lives and U.S. society.
WXT-2 Explain how patterns of exchange, markets, and private enterprise have developed, and analyze ways that governments have responded to economic issues.
WXT-3 Analyze how technological innovation has affected economic development and society.
II The U.S. population continued to undergo demographic shifts that had significant cultural and political consequences.
A After 1980, the political, economic, and cultural influence of the American South and West continued to increase as population shifted to those areas.
B International migration from Latin America and Asia increased dramatically. The new immigrants affected U.S. culture in many ways and supplied the economy with an important labor force.
C Intense political and cultural debates continued over issues such as immigration policy, diversity, gender roles, and family structures.
THEMATIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
CUL-3 Explain how ideas about women’s rights and gender roles have affected society and politics.
MIG-1 Explain the causes of migration to colonial North America and, later, the United States, and analyze immigration’s effects on U.S. society.
MIG-2 Analyze causes of internal migration and patterns of settlement in what would become the United States, and explain how migration has affected American life.
Key Concept 9.3: The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership forced the nation to redefine its foreign policy and role in the world.
I The Reagan administration promoted an interventionist foreign policy that continued in later administrations, even after the end of the Cold War.
A Reagan asserted U.S. opposition to communism through speeches, diplomatic efforts, limited military interventions, and a buildup of nuclear and conventional weapons.
B Increased U.S. military spending, Reagan’s diplomatic initiatives, and political changes and economic problems in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union were all important in ending the Cold War.
C The end of the Cold War led to new diplomatic relationships but also new U.S. military and peacekeeping interventions, as well as continued debates over the appropriate use of American power in the world.
THEMATIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
WOR-2 Analyze the reasons for, and results of, U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military initiatives in North America and overseas. II Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. foreign policy focused on fighting terrorism around the world.
A In the wake of attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States launched military efforts against terrorism and lengthy, controversial conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
B The war on terrorism sought to improve security within the United States but also raised questions about the protection of civil liberties and human rights.
C Conflicts in the Middle East and concerns about climate change led to debates over U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and the impact of economic consumption on the environment.
D Despite economic and foreign policy challenges, the United States continued as the world’s leading superpower in the 21st century.
THEMATIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
NAT-2 Explain how interpretations of the Constitution and debates over rights, liberties, and definitions of citizenship have affected American values, politics, and society.
NAT-3 Analyze how ideas about national identity changed in response to U.S. involvement in international conflicts and the growth of the United States.
GEO-1
Explain how geographic and environmental factors shaped the development of various communities, and analyze how competition for and debates over natural resources have affected both interactions among different groups and the development of government policies.
WOR-2 Analyze the reasons for, and results of, U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military initiatives in North America and overseas.
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Overview
Summary
Due to 1970’s disillusionment with stagflation, presidential mistrust, and social upheaval, a group of Christian based conservatives rose to prominence in driving the political and social culture of American identity. With Reagan as their presidential and iconic leader, America experienced a decade of government deregulation of industry, deficit spending to support anti-communist initiatives, and a decrease in social welfare programs. In foreign policy, covert CIA activities as well as full scale wars work to end the influence of Communism and dictatorships in the Middle East and Latin America. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the USSR, the United States becomes the undisputed world power and debates ensue in regards the US’s role in the world. Under the Clinton administration, the New Democrat is defined as a moderate who limits US interventionism while also promoting a global trade presence. With the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a new age of Terrorism is born, leading to a war with Afghanistan and Iraq and new restrictions on civil liberties in the name of national security. As the 21st century evolves, the
challenges facing minorities evolve to be more focused on immigration, economic policy, and cultural diversity awareness reform. In addition, the computer and internet transform our nation into a globally intertwined entity that reaps the benefits of inexpensive third world labor, but adds to the problem of climate change/global warming in this new globalized economy.
Beginning = Election of Reagan and rise of Conservatism
What do I need to know?
identity
a. Reasons: Counter response to the economic hardships in the 70’s, liberal social reform movements of the 60’s and 70’s, and the growing fear of the spread of communism due to the loss of Vietnam
b. Examples: Reduced role of government in business, tax cuts, deregulation of industry, decrease in Union activity, decreased size of the middle class, supply side economics (Reagonomics), and support of the evangelical Christian. 2. How Reagan used the government to fight the spread of Communism
a. Middle East: Iran-Iraq War, covert war supporting the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, Iran Contra Affair (selling of weapons to Iran)
b. Latin America: Contras in Granada, Nicaragua, and El Salvador – covert CIA anti-communist regime promotion 3. How the Cold War ended which leads to a new view of the role of America in the world.
a. Reasons: Increased military spending, economic problems in the USSR and Eastern Europe, Reagan’s image as a “tough on Communism” president
b. Strategies: Tear down this wall speech, Star wars initiative, deficit spending, nuclear stockpiling, INF Treaty, Glasnost and Perestroika
c. New Role: US is undisputed world power = peacekeeper and inventions – debates over our role vs. United Nations vs. NATO.
4. How the New Democrats of the 90’s altered the identity of the Democratic Party
a. Reasons: Unpopularity of Bush Sr.’s presidency (“read my lips, no new taxes”), Debates over the role of America in the Middle East (Operation Desert Storm)
b. Domestic Examples: moderate democratic policies – Don’t ask don’t tell, social welfare reform,
c. Foreign Examples: Inaction in Rwandan genocide, Limited NATO action in Bosnia, creation of NAFTA and the World Trade Org.
5. How the Age of Terrorism emerged under W. Bush
a. Reasons: 9/11 and bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
b. Ways to fight terrorism: wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (eliminate the Taliban and Weapons of Mass Destruction), Patriot Act
6. Why and how new demographic and changes occurred
a. Examples: Global Village Phenomena, Global economy, Digital communication (internet and computer), increased Latin American and Asian immigration and debates over how to reform
7. How minority challenges evolve in the 21st Century
a. Reasons: Less legal discrimination = more culturally hidden racism and sexism
End = Technically Present Day, but for our purposes, 2008 and the election of Barack Obama
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Main Themes
Themes
Applied to this period
National Identity - The Rise of Conservativism – the moral majority
- New National Identity – Women, Latinos, Asian American, American Indians, African Americans, - Americans with disabilities, Homosexuality, etc.
- Anti-communism vs. pro-democracy – The end of the Cold War - Consumerism – materialism!
- The Melting Pot vs. The Salad Bowl metaphor – assimilation or cultural diversity - Anti- Terrorism – sense of fear, surge of Patriotism, etc.
Work, Exchange, and Technology
- Global economy – the internet, cheap movement of goods, NAFTA - New technology – computers, internet, etc.
- Age of Terrorism technology – Weapons of Mass Destruction (Biological and chemical Weapons), Cyber warfare
Migration and Settlement - Continued immigration – Mexican and other Latin American Migration (partially due to Globalization of the economy and cold war politics in Central America)
- Inner city poverty – white flight, suburbs, urban renewal
- Population shifts to the south – Sunbelt expands, Frostbelt and rustbelt decrease - Population shifts – the aging of America, smaller families, divorce rates increase, etc.
Politics and Power - The Rise of Conservativism – Reagan’s Neo-conservatism, Supply Side Economics, expansion of National Debt, Defense Spending, decrease of social welfare programs
- Cold War Interventionist Policy – Iran Contra Affair, Covert War in Afghanistan - Age of Terrorism Interventionist/Pre-emptive Policy – 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, America in the World - Global economy – international trading, globalization, NAFTA,
- Cold War and Anti-Terrorism – US interventionist policy – see Pol and Power - Global Village phenomenon – Internet, cheap shipping, etc.
Environment and Geography
- Mass Farming continues – pollution, urbanization, deforestation, etc.
- Destruction of the environment – Climate change, Ozone layer, Rising sea levels, etc. Culture and Society - Racism/Ethnocentrism – post Civil Rights reconciliation and identity.
- Women – in the workforce, leadership roles, discrimination, etc.
- The Rise of Conservativism – the moral majority, Evangelical Conservatives
- New National Identity – Women, Latinos, Asian American, American Indians, African Americans, Americans with disabilities, Homosexuality, etc.
- Anti-communism vs. pro-democracy – The end of the Cold War - Consumerism – materialism!
- The Melting Pot vs. The Salad Bowl metaphor – assimilation or cultural diversity - New form of Patriotism – limiting Civil Liberties is patriotic?, dissention is unpatriotic?
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Reading Guide (Chapter Forty)
Answer the following questions fully and completely. 1. Complete the chart on the policies of Reagan’s Administration:
Event Details Foreign or
Domestic Event
Did it promote Neoconservatives? How? If not, why?
Supply Side Economics Reaganomics
Proposition 13
Strategic Defensive Initiative (SDI) Deregulation of industry
Glasnost and Perestroika INF Treaty
The Moral Majority Iran-Contra Affair
2. Examine the charts on pages 952-3 and answer the following question through writing a thesis statement. Did Reagan’s brand of Neo-Conservatism help or hurt the average American? Then write a second thesis statement answering this question: Did Reagan promote diminish or promote “Big Government?”
3. Create a T-chart analyzing the foreign and domestic events of George Bush Sr. Use 955-962 and address the end of the Cold War, Middle East conflicts, tax reform, and social welfare.
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Reading Guide (Chapter Forty-One)
Answer the following questions fully and completely.
1. How did Clinton promote a globally aware, but moderate Democratic identity? Be sure to address NAFTA, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the NATO Serbia Bombing, and the Welfare Reform Bill.
2. Complete the follow chart on Age of Terrorism:
Event/Group Details How it was a result of/reaction to interventionist Foreign Policy? (Connect to COLD WAR POLITICS)
9/11 Al Qaeda The Taliban US Patriot Act The Iraq War
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Reading Guide (Chapter Forty-Two)
Answer the following questions fully and completely.
1. Create a graphic organizer comparing the following groups in regards to new challenges and achievements in the late 20th and
early 21st centuries: Women, the Elderly, Latinos, Asian Americans, and African Americans.
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Crash Course Videos
For each period, watch the following videos. There are no questions to go with these videos, but they will be EMMENSLY VALUABLE in helping you contextualize and compare time periods!
1. The Reagan Revolution: Crash Course US History #43
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h4DkpFP_aw&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=44
2. George HW Bush and the End of the Cold War: Crash Course US History #44
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-K19rVDxoM&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=45
3. The Clinton Years, or the 1990s: Crash Course US History #45
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rboN6F2g-k&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=46
4. Terrorism, War, and Bush 43: Crash Course US History #46
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkXFb1sMa38
5. Obamanation: Crash Course US History #47
