Christians were instrumental in energizing conservatives.
New Right
Americans had settled back into traditional lifestyles that celebrated values and family.
George W Bush's presidency in the 2000s marked the rise of neoconservatism compared to paleoconservatism.
Paleoconservatism was traditional Christian roles, like Traditionalism
Neoconservatism
The Idea of spreading democracy worldwide and putting American Corporate Interests first in the use of military actions
Reagan had a conservative economic policy and a can-do attitude
9.3 The End of the Cold War
Soviet Economic Struggles:
The Soviet Union’s economy was weakening due to military spending and inefficiencies.
Gorbachev's Reforms:
His policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) aimed to reform the system but led to political changes and unrest.
Key Events:
Reagan's approach moved from hostility to diplomacy with Gorbachev in the mid-1980s.
INF Treaty (1987):
The U.S. and Soviet Union agreed to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles.
Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989):
Symbolized the end of Soviet control in Eastern Europe and led to German reunification.
In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, marking the official end of the Cold War.
Legacy:
End of Bipolarity:
The U.S. became the dominant global power.
New Global Challenges:
Conflicts and issues, such as those in the Middle East, arose after the Cold War ended.
9.4 A Changing Economy
Reagan believed in supply-side economics.
If corporate taxes were reduced, corporations would earn more profits and use those profits to create more jobs.
Thus, wealth would trickle down.
He deregulated banking, industry, and the environment, and implemented tax cuts for all Americans.
Reagan convinced Congress to increase military spending
His Strategic Defense Initiative funded research into a space-based missile shield system(STAR WARS).
Escalated the arms race with the USSR
Tax cuts, increased military spending, and Reagan's failure to implement New Federalism (decreasing federal power and increasing state power) escalated the federal budget deficit.
Reagan supported foreign repressive regimes and right-wing insurgents because they opposed communism.
Reagan reduced Cold War tensions by communicating directly with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Both sides made agreements, and Gorbachev allowed some minor reforms.
SALT has disarmed numerous nuclear weapons
The Cold War ended when the Berlin Wall was dismantled in 1989, tearing down the Iron Curtain.
9.5 Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s
Immigration
The Immigration Act of 1965 relaxed restrictions on non-European immigration.
Most of these immigrants were Asian and Hispanic, and their population exploded.
Debates on what immigration does to the US society, and how the influx of new cultures would reshape
White Flight
Middle-class whites left the cities for the suburbs due to increased unemployment, crime, and overcrowding.
9.6 Challenges of the 21st Century
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait for Oil, and America defended Kuwait.
Very few American casualties, and an established American military presence in the Middle East
This showed US military power.
Democrat Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992.
The acceleration of globalization, the promotion of an interconnectivity of nations by way of economic agreements, immigration, and military intervention
The North American Free Trade Agreement eliminated trade barriers (Tariffs) between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Clinton was impeached for perjury and for having an affair
Young Republican Bush was elected in 2000.
9/11 happened, and they attacked Afghanistan.
Bush invaded Iraq again (For de-nuking Iraq, most likely for oil), leading to more military presence.