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
- Main Themes – how the seven themes of the course apply to this period
- Vocabulary – important terms, people, places, etc.
- Chapter Reading Guide – pretty straight forward…
- Crash Course Guide – video guide to watch (they will be amazingly helpful)
- Review Concept Chart – how to get ready for the test.
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Key Concepts
As the United States transitioned to a new century filled with challenges and possibilities, it experienced renewed ideological and cultural debates, sought to redefine its foreign policy, and adapted to economic globalization and revolutionary changes in science and technology.
Key Concept 1: A new conservatism grew to prominence in U.S. culture and politics, defending traditional social values
and rejecting liberal views about the role of government.
I. Reduced public faith in the government’s ability to solve social and economic problems, the growth of religious fundamentalism, and the dissemination of neoconservative thought all combined to invigorate conservatism.
· Public confidence and trust in government declined in the 1970s in the wake of economic challenges, political
scandals, foreign policy “failures,” and a sense of social and moral decay.
· The rapid and substantial growth of evangelical and fundamentalist Christian churches and organizations, as well as increased political participation by some of those groups, encouraged significant opposition to liberal social and
political trends.
II. Conservatives achieved some of their political and policy goals, but their reach was limited by the enduring popularity and institutional strength of some government programs and public support for cultural trends of recent decades.
· Conservatives enjoyed significant victories related to taxation and deregulation of many industries, but many conservative efforts to advance moral ideals through politics met inertia and opposition.
· Though Republicans continued to denounce “big government,” the size and scope of the federal government continued to grow after 1980, as many programs remained popular with voters and difficult to reform or eliminate.
Key Concept 2: The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership in the world forced the nation to redefine
its foreign policy and global role.
I. The Reagan administration pursued a reinvigorated anticommunist and interventionist foreign policy that set the tone for later administrations.
· President Ronald Reagan, who initially rejected détente with increased defense spending, military action and bellicose rhetoric, later developed a friendly relationship with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, leading to significant arms reductions by both countries.
· The end of the Cold War led to new diplomatic relationships but also new U.S. military and peacekeeping interventions as well as debates over the nature and extent of American power in the world.
II. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. foreign policy and military involvement focused on a war on terrorism, which also generated debates about domestic security and civil rights.
· In the wake of attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, U.S. decision-makers launched foreign policy and military efforts against terrorism and lengthy, controversial conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
· 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.
Key Concept 3: Moving into the 21st century, the nation continued to experience challenges stemming from social,
economic and demographic changes.
I. The increasing integration of the U.S. into the world economy was accompanied by economic instability and major policy, social, and environmental challenges.
· Economic inequality increased after 1980 as the U.S. lost manufacturing jobs, union membership declined, and real wages stagnated for the middle class.
· Policy debates intensified over free trade agreements, the size and scope of the government social safety net, and calls to reform the U.S. financial system.
· Conflict 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.
· The spread of computer technology and the Internet into daily life increased access to information and led to new social behaviors and networks.
II. The U.S. population continued to undergo significant demographic shifts that had profound cultural and political consequences.
· After 1980, the political, economic and cultural influence of the American South and West continued to increase as population shifted to those areas, fueled in part by a surge in migration from regions that had not been heavily represented in earlier migrations, especially Latin America and Asia.
· The new migrants affected U.S. culture in many ways and supplied the economy with an important labor force, but they also became the focus of intense political, economic and cultural debates.
· Demographic changes intensified debates about gender roles, family structures, and racial and national identity.
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Main Themes
Themes / Applied to this periodIdentity / 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)
Peopling / 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
Moderate Democratic party – NAFTA, Welfare reform, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, etc.
Cold War Containment – SDI, INF, The Fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square
Cold War Interventionist Policy – Iran Contra Affair, Covert War in Afghanistan
Age of Terrorism Interventionist 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 – 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.
Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture / Racism/Ethnocentrism – post Civil Rights reconciliation and identity.
Women – in the workforce, leadership roles, discrimination, etc.
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
New form of Patriotism – limiting Civil Liberties is ok?
PERIOD 9: 1980-Present - Vocabulary
For each packet, you must be able to IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN THE CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFNICANCE of each term below. These may or may not be in the book. Use other resources (online) to accomplish this if necessary.
Neo-conservatism deregulation of industry “big government” end of the Cold War Ronald Reagan interventionist foreign policy Mikhail Gorbachev September 11, 2001 war on terrorism World Trade Center war in Afghanistan war in Iraq
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
The War in Afghanistan
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
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUfh2ebjLOg&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=48
PERIOD 9: 1980 - Present - Theme Chart Review
Identify what is happening in each of the seven themes in this period. Descriptions should not be more than two sentences. Recognize that certain themes will be more prominent in certain time periods than in others.
Identify - Details, events, people, places, etc. / Descriptions – The Big PictureIdentity
Work, Exchange, Technology
Peopling
Politics and Power
America in the World
Environment and Geography
Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture