Chapter 28 New Directions for a Nation

Chapter 28 New Directions for a Nation

A Conservative Surge • Carter’s Presidency – Elected in 1976 – No congressional support – Poor economy • High inflation • High taxes

Shah of Iran overthrown • Ally of U. S. • Embassy seized – 66 hostages • 52 kept for 444 days in Captivity

The Conservative Movement • Liberal v. Conservative – Liberals favor Government Action – Conservatives split into political and social • Political conservatives = shrink gov’t and lower taxes • Social conservatives = traditional values • Social Conservatives – Rev. Jerry Falwell, leader of the Moral Majority

Election of 1980 • Conservatives want to: – Get rid of expensive social programs – Cut taxes – Balance the federal budget • Balanced Budget- government spends only as much money as it collects • Ronald Reagan v. Jimmy Carter

Ronald Reagan • • Movie Star President of Screen Actors’ Guild Elected governor of Californial in the 60 s Known as the “Great Communicator”

Reducing Government • Reaganomics – – – Give money to tax payers Cut $40 billion out of budget Cut federal jobs 1981 persuades Congress to cut taxes by 25% Deregulation- scaling back federal rules for businesses – Reduce anti pollution regulations – Opened federal lands to industry

Reagan’s Legacy • • One of the most popular presidents Served two terms Did not balance budget Tax cuts + military spending = record deficit • Deficit: results when the government spends more than it collects • Slowed growth of federal government

George H. W. Bush • • Elected in 1988 Former Vice President “Read my lips, No new taxes!” Reduced spending and raised taxes 1991 -U. S. slips into a recession Recession: a temporary economic slump Unemployment soars

The Clinton Years • 1992 Bill Clinton v. George Bush v. Ross Perot – Clinton wins with 43% of the votes – First democratic in 12 years

Clinton’s Presidency • Cut deficit by ½ in 1992 – Raise taxes on high income – Reduce spending • Redo of Welfare system – Limit benefits – Reduce direct welfare – Give grants to state

Prosperity and Scandal • Unemployment drops to 30 yr low • Federal budget surpluses • Surplus: collection of more money than is spent • Reelection in 1996 • Impeachment!

The Dispute of 2000 • • • Gore/Lieberman v. Bush/Cheney Gore wins popular vote Bush won electoral votes Recount Bush pushes for tax cuts Bush passes No Child Left Behind

Ending the Cold War • SU invades Afghanistan • Reagan aides Afghanistan • Reagan increases defense spending by 50% – B 2 Stealth – Strategic Defense Initiative

Decline of the S. U. • • • Poor economy Conflict had drained funds US Buildup causes Soviet Buildup New Leader: Mikhail Gobachev Glasnost: speaking openly about Soviet problems • 1987: Reagan and Gobachev agree on arms control

Changes in E. Europe • • • S. U. quits support and control 1989: Poland sets up democratic gov’t Yugoslavia ends communism Berlin Wall is torn down in 1989 Czechoslovakia becomes Czech Republic and Slovakia

1991 Soviet Union Collapses • • Consists of 15 republics All become independent Boris Yeltsin becomes President of Russia suffers from unemployment, inflation, crime, corruption • Yugoslavia has Problems

Cold War Costs • 100, 000 lives • $6 trillion

U. S. in the World • South Africa – Apartheid: racial separation and inequality – Economic sanctions: penalties applied against a country in order to pressure it to change its policies • Philippines – 1986: first free elections in 14 years

Continued Aid/Participation • Northern Ireland – Protestant v. Catholic – 1998: power sharing agreement • China – Communist government killed demonstrators – Policy of persuasion • Cuba – Early 90 s Cubans enter U. S.

Easing the Arms Race • 1972: The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) • 1979: SALT II-Carter withdraws • Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) – Destroy 20% of nuclear arms • 1993: START II – Cut back long range nuclear by 2/3

Aiding the Threat • 4 countries: 30 K nuclear weapons • Destroy = $400 million/year • Worry: Spread of Nuclear Arms

Conflict in the Middle East • Middle East: Southwest Asia + Egypt + Afganistan • Founding Place of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam • Known for vast amounts of Oil • OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Arab-Israeli Conflict • Palestine: Holy Land of 3 major religions – Jews begin moving to the region in late 1800 s – Increased immigration in mid-1900 s – Israel builds a democracy • Nearby Arab countries declare War • 1948: Israel wins • Palestinian Arabs flee

Continued Conflict • Israel attacks Egypt in 1956 • Arab nations attack Israel in 1967 and 1973 – Israel takes control of parts of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria

Camp David Accords • 1977: Anwar el Sadat visits Israel • Camp David Accords in 1978 – Pres. Carter, Pres. Sadat, and P. M. Begin – Israel is recognized in return for land taken

Issue of Palestine • Arabs wage guerrilla warfare • Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) – Led by Yasir Arafat – Set up independent government in Palestine • Intifada: Palestinian uprising • 1993: Clinton gets pact signed • Violence continues

Cease the Violence • Israel seizes Arafat • Arafat dies in 2004 • Cease-fire announced in 2005

Increasing Tensions • Iran and Lebanon – Westernization: the adoption of ideas, culture, and technology from Western regions such as the US and Europe – 1979: Shah flees, hostage crisis • Lebanon civil war