Online Unit: Presidencies

Jimmy Carter

(1977-1981), Created the Department of Energy and the Depatment of Education. He was criticized for his return of the Panama Canal Zone, and because of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, he enacted an embargo on grain shipments to USSR and boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and his last year in office was marked by the takeover of the American embassy in Iran, fuel shortages, and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, which caused him to lose to Ronald Regan in the next election.

Education Amendments Act

(1972) Federal law prohibiting sexual discrimination in higher education. Patsy Mink

Iran-Contra affair

(RR) Americans kidnapped in Beirut by Iranian govt, so deal, scandal including arms sales to the Middle East in order to send money to help the Contras in Nicaragua even though Congress had objected, Poindexter and North involved

Barack Obama

2008; Democrat; first African American president of the US, health care bill; Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster; economy: huge stimulus package to combat the great recession, is removing troops from Iraq, strengthened numbers in Afghanistan; repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell; New Start treaty with Russia

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act

2010 made it legal for openly homosexual men and women to serve in the US armed forces, while the Obama administration filed briefs with the US Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act and legalize same-sex marriage

Bill Clinton

42nd President advocated economic and healthcare reform; second president to be impeached

George W. Bush

43rd president of the US who began a campaign toward energy self-sufficiency and against terrorism in 2001

Gulf War

A dispute over control of the waterway between Iraq and Iran broke out into open fighting in 1980 and continued until 1988, when they accepted a UN cease-fire resolution.

Camp David Accords

A peace treaty between Israel and Egypt where Egypt agreed to recognize the nation state of Israel

Stonewall Inn

A two-day riot by Stonewall Inn patrons after the police raided the gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village in 1969; the event contributed to the rapid rise of a gay liberation movement.

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

The only group of the Roosevelt New Deal coalition who continued to vote Democratic through the 1970s and 1980s was

African Americans

New Democrats

Ideologically centrist faction within the Democratic Party that emerged after the victory of Republican George H. W. Bush in the 1988 presidential election. They are identified with more pragmatic and centrist social/cultural/pluralist positions and neoliberal fiscal values

Reaganomics

The federal economic polices of the Reagan administration, elected in 1981. These policies combined a monetarist fiscal policy, supply-side tax cuts, and domestic budget cutting. Their goal was to reduce the size of the federal government and stimulate economic growth.

Bush v. Gore

Use of 14th Amendment's equal protection clause to stop the Florida recount in the election of 2000.

In order to appeal to the Silent Majority in the 1968 presidential election, Richard Nixon

- criticized the Supreme Court and other judges for "coddling criminals" - promised to return "law and order" - promised "peace with honor" in Vietnam

National Women's Political Caucus

formed by Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, and other leading feminists to encourage women's participation in political parties, elect women to office, and raise money for their campaigns.

Nixon established the White House "plumbers" (secret police force) to

guard administration security and discredit the president's enemies

How did Pres. Obama address the recession which began in 2008?

he signed a $787 Billion dollar stimulus package

USA Patriot Act

sought to protect the nation from future acts of terror by expanding domestic surveillance programs and permitting the use of enhanced interrogation techniques to extract information from detainees

The first Arab Oil Embargo during the 1970s

- resulted in OPEC's Arab oil producers cutting off oil supplies to America because of its support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War - led to decreased speed limits and fuel rationing in the United States - encouraged massive global inflation

The shooting deaths of four people at Kent State University

- were followed by the shooting deaths of two students at Ohio State University - were the result of protests against the U.S. invasion of Cambodia - began massive demonstrations and student strikes across the country

Gerald Ford

1974-1977, Republican, first non elected president and VP, he pardoned Nixon

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989,"Great Communicator" Republican, conservative economic policies, replaced liberal Democrats in upper house with consevative Democrats or "boll weevils" , at reelection time, jesse jackson first black presdiential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro as VP running mate (first woman)

"Morning in America"

1984 election; Reagan's effective political campaign television commercial formally titled "Prouder, Stronger, Better"

Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)

Agreement between the United States and Russia to cut their long-range nuclear arsenals by half.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Agreement that created a free-trade area among the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Affordable Care Act

An expansion of medicaid, most of employers must provide health insurance, have insurance or face surtax, prevents rejection based on pre-existing condition. Also referred to as "Obamacare", signed into law in 2010.

Osama bin Laden

Arab terrorist who established al-Qaeda (born in 1957)

Why do you think President Reagan was slow to respond to AIDS?

Because in this time period in general there were many homophobic people, including Reagan's senior advisor, Patrick Buchanon, who stated that homosexuals "have declared war upon nature, and now nature is exacting an awful retribution." It wasn't until his second term, when activists began to call out Reagan for his silence about the epidemic that he took action and increased federal funding for its research.

Deep Throat

Bob Woodward's anonymous source to the Watergate scandal; eventually revealed himself to be Mark Felt, the Deputy Director of the FBI

Gay Rights Movement

Civil Rights movement dedicated to homosexual equality; starts in the late 1960's and early 1970's

What were Clinton's greatest achievements as president? What were his biggest shortcomings?

Clinton's greatest successes were in the reforms of education and welfare, as well as the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and signing off on the NAFTA, which increased the economic growth for both the US and Mexico as well as Canada. His administration cut taxes for millions of low income families and raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2 percent. His greatest failure was in lying about his affair with the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky which lead to his impeachment.

Al Gore

Clinton's vice president; presidential nominee in 2000

To stimulate economic growth, Pres. Bush proposed

Cutting Income taxes

How did the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon fundamentally reshape US foreign policy?

Directly following the attacks, George W Bush declared a Global War on Terror and began with Afghanistan where al-Qaeda had been provided a safe haven by the governing figure. This led to a war in Iraq in 2003. George W Bush also set forth the US Patriot Act of 2001 which expanding domestic surveillance and intensified the interrogation process of detainees.

Daughters of Bilitis

First lesbian organization, wanted to educate the public and win equality (1956)

Operation Desert Shield (August 1990 - January 17, 1991)

Five days after Iraq invaded Kuwait, President Bush commenced Operation Desert Shield. Building a 34-nation coalition in the United Nations and enhancing US troop strength in the region to more than 500,000, the president explained Operation Desert Shield as "a line in the sand"—both to protect Saudi Arabia and liberate Kuwait

Who won the Presidential Election of 1988?

George H.W. Bush

How did President Johnson react to the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

He requested congressional authorization for the use of military force, laying the groundwork for US military commitment in Vietnam - The resolution declared the support of Congress for "all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the armed forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression."

What option below explains why Iraq invaded Kuwait in the early 1990s?

Iraq wanted to control the vast oil fields in Kuwait.

Do you think Nixon's impeachment and resignation was a sign that the American system of government was broken, or was it a sign that the government was working?

It showed the untrustworthiness of the President and I find that the extended period of time that it took to reveal the case because of such limitations showed cracks in the government. However, the final decision was eventually held and Nixon was rightfully impeached so the government's ability to do so shows the success in it as well.

What were the two major areas of focus of Ronald Reagan's economic plan?

Lowering taxes and reducing government regulations.

Guantanamo Bay

Military base granted to the US in Cuba which is now used as a prison

Operation Desert Storm (January 17 - February 28, 1991)

Operation Desert Storm was the combat phase of the conflict. It began with a five-week bombing campaign of some 2,000 sorties a day that employed "smart bombs"—bombs able to find their target with pinpoint accuracy—against a broad range of strategic Iraqi targets. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell, and General Norman Schwarzkopf orchestrated the US-led attack

What happened on September 11, 2001?

Muslim fundamentalists crashed planes into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center

The Reagan administration extended military aid and training to the Contras in the hope that they would overthrow the government in

Nicaragua

Abu Ghraib

One of Saddam's most notorious prisons for dissenters; when Americans took over, it became notorious for a place of torment and humiliation for detainees

Why do you think Clinton continued to enjoy such great popularity even after the Monica Lewinsky scandal

People continued to support Clinton, despite the scandal, for his many achievements while keeping the US generally at peace. He was able to raise national minimum wage and increase police enforcement along with the list I named above which reflected greatly upon his presidency, displayed by his stay in office even after her was impeached by the favor of the Senate.

Strategic Defense Initiative

Popularly known as "Star Wars," President Reagan's SDI proposed the construction of an elaborate computer-controlled, anti-missile defense system capable of destroying enemy missiles in outer spaced. Critics claimed that SDI could never be perfected.

What are some of the attributes of President Reagan's public speaking abilities that led him to be called "The Great Communicator"?

Reagan's past as a hollywood actor and six-term head of the Screen Actors Guild made for a confident and humorous public speaker, displayed in his optimism about the nation's domestic and international future.

What role did the media play in the Watergate scandal?

Reporters for the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, had been reporting on the case since the Watergate break in, receiving tips from FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt. They kept the story in front of the peoples eyes by publishing their research on the break in and cover up

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993

Revised rules for employee benefits; set maximum deduction for executive pay at $1 million; mandated some benefits for medical plans

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leadership in March 1985, along with the policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (Soviet economic and political restructuring) he introduced, led to warmer relations between the two superpowers

What were the most significant events of the Bush presidency?

The 9/11 terrorist attacks, the war in Iraq, and the Great Recession.

Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP)

The Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 created this controversial program. The federal government used $700 million to purchase failing assets, that included mortgages and mortgage-related securities, from financial institutions. Conservatives called it socialism, and liberals called it a bailout of the people who had caused the problems in the first place. (p. 685)

Why did the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announce its shipping embargo against the United States?

The United States supported Israel in the Yom Kippur war against Syria and Egypt - The oil-rich nations of the Middle East, already angry with the United States government for devaluing the dollar (the currency used to purchase oil) were looking for revenge through this oil embargo.

Mattachine Society

The first gay rights organization that worked to persuade the public that apart from their sexual orientation, gays were average Americans who ought not to be persecuted.

Religious Right

The fundamentalist phenomenon as it appeared in U.S. politics in the 1970s.

Why do you think people reacted with fear and prejudice against individuals with AIDS in the 1980s?

The general population discriminated against people with AIDS because of their fear of getting the disease. People who were known to have AIDS had a hard time keeping jobs, housing, and being allowed to stay in school.

What caused the economic problems of the 1970s? Were they avoidable?

The increased international competition, the expense of the Vietnam War, and the decline of manufacturing jobs. yes.

Deregulation

The lifting of government restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities.

Saddam Hussein

Was a dictator in Iraq who tried to take over Iran and Kuwait violently in order to gain the land and the resources. He also refused to let the UN into Iraq in order to check if the country was secretly holding weapons of mass destruction.

Great Recession,

severe economic downturn that lasted from late 2007 through mid-2009

Does President Bush bear responsibility for the "Great Recession"? Why or why not?

Yes. The Bush administration implemented among the largest tax cuts in history which led to a drop in national debt from $5 trillion to $10 trillion. After the multi-trillion dollar housing price collapse of 2007 and 2008, the Federal Reserve and the Us Treasury Department began the economic intervention in the private sector in bailing out failing financial institutions. These happenings led to the "Great Recession," at the result of Bush actions

No Child Left Behind Act

a bipartisan effort to raise school standards in low-income areas

What was the Tea Party?

a movement that opposed taxes, big government, and Obama's healthcare plans

Global War on Terror

a worldwide military campaign to defeat nonstate terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and the rogue states that support them

Boland Amendment

an act passed by congress that said the president could not support the Contras; Reagan ignored it during the Iran-Contra affair

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II)

an agreement between the United States and Soviet Union to limit nuclear arms production

Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP)

an organization formed to run Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign, which was linked to the Watergate scandal.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

attempted to address some of the key causes of the banking crisis but stopped short of breaking up the largest banks, which had become even bigger due to the wave of mergers and acquisitions that ensued in the wake of the housing market collapse

How did Nixon's approach to communist countries abroad differ from other presidents' strategies?

because Nixon was a staunch anit-communist, he was able to embrace detante and visit communist countries without skepticism about it.

Though President Nixon expanded the war in Vietnam into Laos and Cambodia, his administration pursued a policy of Vietnamization, which

combined a gradual withdrawal of US troops with an increased reliance on the South Vietnamese army. By the end of 1969, the number of American troops in Vietnam had been cut in half.

Contras

counterrevolutionary group in Nicaragua that opposed the Sandinistas

The feminist movement in the 1970s

failed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, despite many other successes

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

federal legislation enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis that involved government bailouts of financial institutions in order to restore investor confidence in the market

Patsy Mink

first Japanese-American woman to serve in Congress

American Indian Movement

led by Dennis Banks and Russell Means; purpose was to obtain equal rights for Native Americans; protested at the site of the Wounded Knee massacre

Supply-side economics

led to massive cuts in federal spending

Since World War II, the percentage of American jobs in the service sector has grown steadily. What are the benefits and drawbacks of a service-based economy?

low wage with more people, raise in consumer price index. wages fell, prices increased: stagflation

Does supply-side economics work? Why or why not?

marginal tax rate cuts do work. When rates are cut most of the benefit accrues to higher earners since they pay most taxes. Their money is then invested creating more job growth. Ultimately leading to greater tax revenues.

In terms of military policy, the Reagan administration

nearly doubled the military budget

President Carter's greatest success in foreign policy was

negotiating the Camp David accords between Egypt and Israel

identity politics

political activity and ideas based on the shared experiences of an ethnic, religious, or social group emphasizing gaining power and benefits for the group rather than pursuing ideological or universal or even statewide goals

The U.S. economy in the 1970s was characterized by

rapid inflation and high unemployment

freedom fighters

reagan's US term for local forces resisting communist revolution in developing countries

Environmental Protection Agency

reducing pollution and protecting the environment

Tax Reform Act of 1986

restricted the federal income tax exemption of interest for municipal bonds to public purpose bonds, which are bonds issued to finance projects that benefit citizens in general rather than particular private interests

In 1979, following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, militants

seized the US Embassy in Tehran, holding over 50 hostages until 1981. - They demanded that the US government return the shah (who had fled to New York for medical treatment) and his assets to Iran and issue an apology.

How has the US dependence on oil changed since the embargo of 1973? Do you think the United States should do more to reduce its oil consumption?

the US has reduced its dependence on foreign oil through reducing energy usage, improving vehicle fuel-efficiency, investing in renewable energy, and increasing domestic oil production. yes, though the US has reduced the oil consumption, I believe it could be reduced much further if enough money was invested into making it happen.

Operation Desert Storm

the United States and its allies defeated Iraq in a ground war that lasted 100 hours (1991)

National Security Agency (NSA)

the intelligence agency that is responsible for protecting U.S. government communications and producing intelligence by monitoring foreign communications.

economic stimulus package

the stimulus package authorized massive government spending to provide financial relief to various businesses and industries. Obama hoped such aid would prevent their financial collapse. He also claimed it would help the overall economy by increasing production, consumer spending, and employment. It failed to produce an economic turnaround.

With regard to China, President Nixon

traveled to Beijing to recognize its communist government and initiated better relations with the country

National Organization for Women

ultimate political goal was the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment - never passed due to the opposition of socially conservative grassroots organizations.

Was Vietnamization a good idea? Why or why not?

yes and no. yes because it saved US troops. No because the soviets took over vietnam anyway.