9.1 Contextualizing Period 9
Period 9 begins with the election of Ronald Reagan (1980), marking a sharp right-turn in American politics known as the "Conservative Revolution." This era spans the end of the Cold War, the rise of the internet, and the War on Terror.
- Politics: From Liberalism (New Deal/Great Society) to Conservatism (Small Gov/Tax Cuts).
- Economy: From Manufacturing (Factory) to Service/Tech (Internet).
- Foreign Policy: From Cold War (Bipolar World) to War on Terror (Unilateralism).
9.2 Reagan and Conservatism
Reagan built a coalition of social conservatives (Christian Right) and economic conservatives. His famous quote: "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."
Reaganomics (Supply-Side Economics)
| Keynesianism (Liberal/New Deal) | Reaganomics (Conservative) |
|---|---|
| Strategy: Give money to the poor/middle class (demand) to stimulate the economy. | Strategy: Cut taxes for the rich/corporations (supply). Wealth will "Trickle Down" in the form of jobs. |
| Action: Increase Govt Spending. | Action: Tax Cuts + Deregulation of business. |
Result: Economy boomed in the 80s, but national debt tripled (due to tax cuts + massive military spending).
9.3 The End of the Cold War
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Why?
Reagan's Pressure
• "Peace through Strength": Massive military buildup forced the Soviets to go bankrupt trying to keep up.
• "Star Wars" (SDI): Plan to shoot down missiles from space.
Soviet Weakness
• Mikhail Gorbachev: Reformed the USSR with Glasnost (Openness) and Perestroika (Capitalist reforms), which inadvertently led to the breakup.
• Berlin Wall Falls (1989): Symbolized the end.
9.4 A Changing Economy
The U.S. fully transitioned into a Post-Industrial Society.
1. Globalization
NAFTA (1994): President Clinton signed a free trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
Impact: Goods became cheaper, but many manufacturing jobs moved to Mexico (outsourcing), hurting the "Rust Belt."
2. The Digital Revolution
The rise of the Internet, Personal Computers (Apple/Microsoft), and Dot-com boom in the 90s revolutionized how people worked and communicated. Productivity soared.
3. Wealth Inequality
While the economy grew, the gap between the rich and the poor widened significantly. Wages for the working class stagnated compared to inflation.
9.5 Migration and Demographics
The effects of the Immigration Act of 1965 accelerated. By 2000, the majority of immigrants came from:
- Latin America: Especially Mexico.
- Asia: China, India, Philippines.
The Sun Belt: Americans continued moving to the South and West (Texas, Florida, Arizona) for jobs and weather, shifting political power (Electoral College votes) to these regions.
9.6 Challenges of the 21st Century
1. September 11, 2001 (9/11)
Al-Qaeda attacks on the WTC and Pentagon changed U.S. policy overnight.
- War on Terror: Bush declared a global war against terrorism.
• Afghanistan: To destroy Al-Qaeda/Taliban.
• Iraq (2003): Controversial invasion based on (false) belief that Saddam Hussein had WMDs. - The Patriot Act: Expanded government power to surveil citizens (phone/email) to stop terrorists. Raised debates about Security vs. Civil Liberties.
2. Climate Change
Debate over global warming intensified. Progressives pushed for "Green Energy," while Conservatives argued regulations would hurt the economy.
9.7 Comparison & Causation
The Modern Era Summary:
| Continuity | Change |
|---|---|
| • U.S. remains the world's leading military power. • Continued debates over the size of government (Liberal vs. Conservative). |
• Technology: Internet fundamentally changed society. • Demographics: The U.S. is becoming more diverse ("Minority-Majority" future). • Terrorism: Replaced Communism as the main foreign threat. |