Warm Up

• Rachel Carson’s highly influential environmental book?

• A = Silent Spring

• Controversial Supreme Court era that handed down many liberal decisions from 1954-1970s.

• A = Warren Court

1970s-1980s

Review

• What is the term used to describe making decision based on what is realistically good for your country rather than decisions based on ideology?

• A = realpolitik

• What was the highly controversial policy that many cities turned to in order to desegregate their schools?

• A= busing

• What was the term used to describe Nixon’s policy of trying to shift power away from the federal govt. and give more power to the states?

• A = New federalism

• What communist country did Nixon try to reach out to through “Ping Pong” diplomacy?

• A = China

• At which college were four students killed in 1970 during a protest of the bombing of Cambodia?

• A = Kent State

• What was the term used to describe Nixon trying to appeal to white conservative blue collar racist in the South who had previously been voting for the Democrats called?

• A = Southern strategy

• What were the three causes of social turmoil in the US during the 1960s?

• A = Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the counterculture.

• Whom did Nixon claim to represent while he was running for President?

• A = Silent Majority

• What incident caused Nixon to resign as President?

• A = Watergate

• Nixon’s plan to give more power to the states at the expense of the federal govt.

• A = New Federalism

• Govt. commission that looked into why there were so many riots in the 1960s.

• A = Kerner Commission

• What were some of the problems in America during the Carter presidency?

• A = bad economy, high gas prices, US hostages in Iran.

War Powers Act

• Because of Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution)

• War Powers Act passed by congress in 1973.

• Reaffirms congresses right to declare war.

• President can only send troops somewhere for 60-days and then needs congressional approval.

America in the Early 1970s

• Rise in conservatism (amongst whites).

• Concerns over “activist” Warren Court.

• Affirmative Action & Busing

• Women’s Rights (ERA and Abortion)

Economic Problems

• Economy begins to falter

• Energy prices go up (OPEC) because of Yom Kippur war in 1973

• Foreign competition in other businesses

• “Stagflation”

Stagflation

• By the end of 1960s, US economy starts to decline.

• Deficit spending (social programs and Vietnam War).

• Foreign Competition in manufacturing (Japan)

• Dependency of foreign oil.

• High inflation & unemployment = “Stagflation.”

• For most of 1970s.

After Nixon

• Gerald Ford (Nixon’s 2nd V.P.) becomes Pres. Aug. 1974

• 1st person to become Pres. who as not elected either Pres. or VP.

• Pardons Nixon and many feel they had made a deal.

Jimmy Carter

• Democrat wins

• Defeats Ford in 1976

• Former Governor of Georgia.

• Born-Again Christian

• Seen as an “outsider.”

Problems in Carter’s Presidency

• Stagflation continues

• Energy Crisis (oil prices keep going up)

• Alienates Congress = difficulty getting much done.

• Gives “Crisis of Confidence “ speech (“malaise” speech).

Carter and Foreign Affairs

• Success = Peace agreement between Israel and Egypt (Camp David Accords).

• Problem = Hostage Crisis--Islamic revolution in Iran results in US embassy staff taken hostage.

• Calls for US boycott of 1980 Olympics in Moscow because of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Ronald Reagan• Republican

• Former actor

• Oldest man elected president (69).

• Conservative former governor of California.

• Old but optimistic—promises a “new morning in America”

• Also viewed as an outsider to Wash. D.C.

The Reagan Revolution

• The “new” Right

• White demographic shift to the “Sunbelt” from the “rustbelt” (northeast).

• Many of these people are hostile to federal regulations and social programs.

• Ex = “Sagebrush Rebellion” people opposed to environmental regulations.

Sun Belt Migration

“New” Right

• A. Economic conservatives

• B. Cultural conservatives

Rise of the Evangelical Right

• Big part of Reagan Revolution (the New Right).

• “Born Again” Christians

• Beginning in 1970s, largest religious revival since 2nd Great Awakening

• Begin to become involved in politics.

The Moral Majority

• Jerry Falwell (1979)

• Christian political group

• Against gay rights and abortion

• “pro-life, pro-family, pro-morality, pro-American”

Televangelists

• Pat Robertson (Christian Broadcast Network)

• Jim Bakker (PTL Club)

Culture Wars

• Cultural issues replace economic or class issues

• Response to counterculture & liberal Supreme court decisions.

• Issues= abortion, Gay rights, prayer in school, etc.

• Helps to attract white blue-collar voters who had previously supported the Dems.

Opposition to Taxes

• Rather than attack social programs directly, rail against taxes.

• Regan lowered tax rates (especially for the wealthy).

Reaganomics

• “supply side economics”

• Believe tax cuts for wealthy would cause more investments. Wealthy see tax rate go from 70% (1981) to 35%

• Bush, Sr. calls “Voodoo economics.”

Defense Spending

• Greatly opposed to communism

• Called the Soviet Union the ‘evil empire.”

• Greatly increased defense spending.

• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) “Star Wars”

Huge Debt

• Under Reagan, the federal govt. ran up the largest debt ever.

• Because of Tax cuts and increased defense spending.

Deregulation

• Greatly cuts back on government regulations on industries.

• FCC—end “Fairness Doctrine.” Gives rise to right-wing talk radio and Fox News.

• Savings and Loans (S&Ls).

Reducing Govt.

• When running for pres. Said he would abolish the Dept. of Education.

• James Watt = controversial sec. of interior.

• Didn’t want Beach boys to perform at Mall on 4th of July.

Assassination Attempt

• 1981

• John Hinkley, Jr.

Random Stuff

• Survives attempted assassination

• Wins re-election in 1984.

• Defeats Walter Mondale (Carter’s VP) and Geraldine Ferraro (1st woman to run for VP on a major ticket).

Fighting Communism in the 3rd World

• Reagan Doctrine – support for opponents of communism everywhere.

• El Salvador, Nicaragua, Grenada.

Iran-Contra Scandal• Sold Weapons to Iran and used

$ to give secret aid to Contras.

• Contras are right-wing counterrevolutionaries in Nicaragua who were trying to overthrow the Sandinistas.

• Marine Lt. colonel Ollie North was at center.

• Congressional Hearing were held.

• Reagan denied knowing anything about it.

• Some talked of trying to impeach him.

Beirut, Lebanon

• US embassy is bombed by terrorists.

• 241 marines are killed.

• Reagan removes troops.

Review• What were the sources of tension in the

1960s?

• Why were many people upset with the Warren Court?

• What were some controversial supreme Court decisions In the 60s and 70s?

MO Rev• Explain Nixon’s “New Federalism”

• What were some of Nixon’s foreign policy accomplishments?

• What was historic about Gerald Ford becoming president?

• What action did Ford take that led to many people being mad at him?

Mo Mo• Explain the demographic shift that took place

in the last part of the 20th century in the U.S. Where was the area In the U.S. that most people moved to?

• What was the appeal of Jimmy Carter?

• What were some of the problems Carter had as president?

• Explain why Ronald Reagan was an appealing figure to many voters?

• Discuss Reagan’s domestic policies?

• What controversial event led to talk of impeaching Reagan?

• What role did the religious Right play in the country’s move towards conservatism in the 1980S?

• Why did Bush I send troops to Iraq in the 1st Gulf War?

G. Bush 1st• Had been Regan’s VP

• 1988-1992

• “Read my lips: No New Taxes.”

• Fall of Soviet Union

• Iraq War I

Michael Dukakis

• Dem. From Mass. Who ran against Bush I

Willie Horton Ad

Clarence Thomas Hearings

• Bush nominee to the Supreme Court to replace Thurgood Marshall

• Anita Hill accuses of Sexual harassment.

• Thomas calls it a “High tech lynching.”

Problems with the Democratic Party in 1970s-80s

• Terrible divisions within the party. – Older v. younger

– Moderates v. far-left.

• Younger people upset with traditional elder Dems. who had supported the Vietnam war.

• Many on the far left see compromise as selling out and corrupt.

Bush 1

• Seems out of touch with regular people.

• Rodney King riots

• Visit to Japan—throws up on Prime Minister.

• Brakes pledge not to raise taxes.

• Economy starts to go down (recession).

• Huge national debt continues

Rodney King Beating

1992 Election

• Bush I (Rep)

• Clinton (Dem)

• H. Ross Perot (Indep)

William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton• 5-time gov. of Ark.

• 1st Baby Boomer Pres.

• “New Democrat” (DLC)

• Didn’t Inhale

• Didn’t serve in Vietnam

• Many scandals– Tavelgate– Whitewater– Lots of women.

1992 Election Results

• Clinton—43%

• Bush—37%

• Perot—19%

• Perot’s total is the most by a 3rd party candidate except for TR in 1912.

Health Care Fiasco

• Appoints wife to oversee effort to get national health care.

• Doesn’t get it passed.

• Hillary becomes very controversial.

Newt Gingrich

• Republicans win majority of House in 1994.

• Gingrich becomes Speaker of House

• Has program called: “Contract with America.”

• Resigns in 1998.

Republican “Contract With America” 1994

• On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:

• FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;

• SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;

• THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;

• FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;

• FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;

• SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;

• SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;

• EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.

Budget Crisis

• Gingrich and Republicans overstep themselves.

• Won’t compromise with Clinton over budget and force Govt. Shutdown.

• Backfires—most people blame Gingrich and Repubs.

1996 Clinton Reelected

• Ran against Bob Dole

Lewinsky Scandal

• She was a White House Intern.

• They had an affair during the govt. shutdown.

• Special prosecutor in Whitewater case—Starr—uncovers this.

IMPEACHMENT

• Clinton lies under oath.

• Is only second pres. Impeached.

• Is NOT removed from office.

Clinton Presidency

• Vetoes many of Republicans bills.

• Great Economic Times

• When he leaves office, there is a budget surplus.

NAFTA

Gore v. Bush• Al Gore was Clinton’s VP.

• W—former gov. of Texas runs for Repubs.

• Questions about who won in Ohio and FLA.

• W’s brother Jeb. was gov. of Florida.

• Supreme Court decides Bush won FLA and the election.

• Gore had more popular votes but lost in electoral college.

• Bush 50,456,002

• Gore 50,999,897

Ralph Nader• Former consumer advocate

• Very liberal but thinks Democratic Party had become too moderate.

• Claims there is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans.

• Runs for president as Green candidate.

• Takes votes away from Gore.

Bush Stuff

• 9/11

• Desert Storm

• War on Terror

• Tax cuts

• Deregulation of Housing industry

• Economy plummets

Obama

• Democrat

• 1st African American president

• Defeats John McCain (and Sarah Palin)

List the presidents and their political party (and the years

they served) since 1932.

• FDR (Dem) 1932-1945

• Truman (Dem) 1945-1952

• Ike (Rep.) 1952-1960

• Kennedy (Dem.) 1960-1963

• LBJ (Dem.) 1963-1968

• Nixon (Rep.) 1968-1974

• Ford (Rep.) 1974-1976

• Carter (Dem.) 1976-1980

• Reagan (Rep.) 1980-1988

• Bush (Rep.) 1988-1992

• Clinton (Dem.) 1992-2000• Bush W (Rep.) 2000-2008• Obama (Dem.) 2008-

Review• What was the “New South”?

• What were the main events in Jefferson’s presidency in the realm of foreign policy?

• What ways did the Adams administration try to stifle dissent?

• How did the Democratic-Republicans respond?

• Explain the causes and outcome of the War of 1812.

• What were the significant foreign policy events during the presidency of Jimmy Carter?

• Why was Jimmy Carter an appealing candidate?

• What were the forces of the “New Right” that propelled Reagan to victory in 1980 and 1984?

• Explain the main events of the Reagan presidency.

• Why did America’s involvement in WWI lead to strong anti-war sentiment afterwards and how was this an obstacle towards the beginning of WWII?

• Discuss the policies and actions of E isenhower’s foreign policy.

New Deal Coalition

• National Health Insurance