VUS.13e - Foreign and Domestic Policies after the Cold War

The student will apply social science skills to understand the social, political, and cultural movements and changes in the United States during the second half of the twentieth century by

e) evaluating and explaining the foreign and domestic policies pursued by the American government after the Cold War;

The conservative political philosophy of President Reagan prompted a reevaluation of the size and role of government in the economy and society of contemporary America.

Although the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, the United States continues a foreign policy of interventionism.

President Reagan and conservative Republicans advocated for 

 tax cuts 

 transfer of responsibilities to state governments 

 appointment of judges/justices who exercised judicial restraint  reduction in the number and scope of government programs and regulations 

 strengthening of the American military.

President George H. W. Bush, 1989–1993 

 Fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the breakup of the Soviet state 

 Reunification of Germany 

 Persian Gulf War of 1990–1991 (Operation Desert Storm), the first war in which American women served in a combat role 

 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

President William J. Clinton, 1993–2001 

 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 

 Restored full diplomatic relations with Vietnam 

 Lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa when the policy of apartheid ended 

 Dramatically reshaped welfare programs and helped reduce federal welfare spending

President George W. Bush, 2001–2009 

 Terrorists attacks on United States soil on September 11, 2001 

 Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq 

 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

President Barack H. Obama, 2009–2016 

 Osama Bin Laden and the campaign against Al Qaeda 

 Withdrawal of United States’ forces from Iraq 

 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

Terms & Events

Moral legitimacy

Humanitarian aid

Reunification

Persian Gulf War

Operation Desert Storm

NAFTA
Sanctions

Apartheid

9/11

War in Afghanistan

War in Iraq

Right to privacy

Enumerated

Protection from government interference

Immigration policy (border issues)

Bilingual education

Citizenship requirements

Recent immigrants

Diversity

Space Exploration

Space Shuttle

Mars Rover

Voyager Missions

Hubble telescope

Satellites

GPS

Robotics

Personal Communication Devices

Telecommuting

Online coursework

Outsourcing

Offshoring

Diagnostic and Medical Imaging

 “Reagan Revolution”

Judicial restraint

Centrist Democrat

Inflation

Monetary policy

Fiscal policy

Expansion and contraction of economy

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Economic indicators

Exchange rates

Rate of inflation

Patriot Act (USA PATRIOT Act)

Military Initiatives

Diplomatic Initiatives

Homeland security

International terrorism

People

William J. Clinton

George W. Bush

George H.W. Bush

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Clarence Thomas

Sally Ride 

Dr. Jonas Salk

Sandra Day O’Connor

Ronald Reagan

William J. Clinton

George H.W. Bush

George W. Bush

Places

Germany

Yugoslavia

Eastern Europe

Vietnam

South Africa