The Modern Era Flashcards
(63 cards)
1
Q
Identify the factors that influenced the outcome of the Election of 1968.
A
- President Johnson’s decision to not seek reelection.
- Assassination of Democratic candidate Robert Kennedy
- Extreme division in Democratic Party, as evidenced by riots at their convention.
2
Q
Describe the impact of President Richard Nixon’s domestic agenda before the Watergate Scandal.
A
President Nixon increased attention on environmental and women’s rights issues, while allowing the Supreme Court to tackle civil rights issues.
3
Q
What is the EPA?
A
- Environmental Protection Agency.
- Government agency created by President Nixon to address the destructive power of industry on the environment- such as pollution.
4
Q
What is Earth Day?
A
- Ceremonial holiday that was recongized by President Nixon to further encourage environmental reforms and education about environmental issues.
5
Q
What is Title IX?
A
- Government policy sigend by President Nixon that prohibits gender discrimination in school-related opportunities; both academic and extracurricular.
- Resulted in increased access to college education for women (especially in STEM fields) and increased participation in athletics.
6
Q
Explain how President Richard Nixon’s foreign policy impacted the US’ Cold War relations with the Soviet Union and China.
A
- Nixon greatly improved American relations with the Soviet Union and China; becoming the first president to visit either country in three decades.
- Nixon promoted a policy of “detente”
7
Q
What is detente?
A
The easing of relations with the communist world; as promoted by President Nixon’s foreign policy.
8
Q
What was the SALT I Treaty?
A
- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
- Agreement between the US and Soviet Union that aimed to reduce the threat of nuclear war; example of detente.
9
Q
Explain how American involvement in the Vietnam War changed during the Nixon presidency.
A
- Nixon aimed to decrease American involvement in Vietnam through his proposed “Vietnamization” plan.
- However, Nixon faced criticism from many young people when he escalated ground troops into neighboring Cambodia.
- In 1973, Nixon approved the final American troops to be pulled from Vietnam.
10
Q
What was the Paris Peace Accords?
A
- The 1973 peace agreement between the United States and North Vietnam that marked the end of US involvement in the Vietnam War.
- Finalized the first American military defeat in US history.
11
Q
Describe the attitude of the American public towards the government and foreign conflict after the Vietnam War.
A
- Toward government: Many Americans did not trust the government- believing they were misled during the Vietnam War.
- Toward foreign conflict: Most Americans grew increasingly opposed to involvement in foreign conflicts after the Vietnam War.
12
Q
What was the Vietnam Syndrome?
A
- Attitude of distrust and discontent toward involvement in foreign affairs that followed the Vietnam War.
13
Q
Describe the controversy surrounding the Watergate Scandal that began in 1972.
A
- Supporters of Nixon reelection campaign in 1972, broke into Democratic Party offices at the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C., where they werre caught and arrested.
- Nixon and his aides worked to cover up any connection to his campaign using bribe money and efforts to block the FBI investigation.
- After initally refusing to turn over evidence– in the form of tape recordings- Nixon was forced to do so, only for investigators to discover he has tampered with the recordings.
14
Q
What was the Committee to Reelect the President?
A
- Also known as CREEP; this group was involved in planning the Watergate Break-In, and funding the cover-up of the crime’s connection to the Nixon White House.
- They wanted to help Nixon get reelected in 1972.
15
Q
Explain how the Watergate Scandal brought about the end of Nixon’s presidency.
A
- After Nixon was forced to turn over the tapes; which had been tampered with (a crime).
- These tapes revealed that Nixon was connected to the cover-up.
- Facing certain impeachment and removal from office for his crimes- Nixon resigned the presidency.
16
Q
What was the significance of the Supreme Court case the US v. Richard Nixon?
A
- Supreme Court case that determined President Nixon needed to turn over tape recording evidence to federal investigators into the Watergate Scandal.
- Asserted that no person, even the President, was above the laws of the United States.
17
Q
Explain why President Ford decided to issue a pardon for Richard Nixon.
A
- President Ford worried that the public and government would continue to be overwhelmed by the Watergate Scandal– and unable to address other important issues facing the country.
- He wanted the country to move on from Watergate.
18
Q
Identify the foreign policy achievements of the Carter Administration.
A
- Helped oversee negotiations in the Camp David Accords.
- Returned control of the Panama Canal to Panama
19
Q
What were the Camp David Accords?
A
- Groundbreaking peace agreement between Israel and Egypt negotiated by President Carter.
20
Q
Describe the foreign policy challenges that weighed down the Carter Administration
A
- American hostages were taken by Anti-US protestors in Iran, during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, which lasted over 400 days.
- The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an effort to spread communism; starting the Soviet Afghan War.
21
Q
Who was Ayatollah Khomeini?
A
Anti-US leader of Iran that came to power during the Iranian Revolution; creating many challenges for President Carter.
22
Q
Who was the Mujahideen?
A
- International group of Islamic freedom fighters that the US provided financial and military aid to during the Soviet Afghan War.
- The US wanted to help them prevent the spread of communism into Afghanistan.
23
Q
Identify the economic challenges facing the United States during the 1970s.
A
- High inflation and unemployment.
- Shrinking middle class.
- Decrease in manufacturing jobs.
- High gas prices and limited supply of oil.
24
Q
What is stagflation?
A
Economic term used to describe the pattern of high inflation and unemployment amid the stagnant economy of the 1970s.
25
Describe the causes of the economic crisis that plagued the US during the 1970s
* American aid to Japan, Germany, and South Korea after WWII (such as the Marshall Plan in Europe) led to increase manufacturing overseas.
* Demand for American-made goods decreased, leading to fewer manufacturing jobs and high unemployment.
* Ongoing tensions in the Middle East resulted in high oil prices for Americans.
26
Identify the factors that influenced the outcome of the Election of 1980.
* Struggling *economy* during 1970s.
* Ongoing *Iranian Hostage Crisis*.
* Pace of social change and reform during 1960s/70s caused some to feel unsettled- and desire more *conservative values*.
* Ronald Reagan's strong *communication skills* from his career as an actor.
27
Explain how President Reagan impacted the way many Americans perceived the federal government and their elected officials.
* After the struggles of the 1970s, many Americans appreciated Reagan's optimism.
* President Reagan appealed to the American public's desire for a stronger leader after the struggles of the 1970s.
28
Describe the changes President Reagan proposed to address ongoing challenges in the American economy.
* Reagan wanted to adopt large tax cuts for high income earners; (70% to 50% in 1981; 50% to 28% in 1986)
* Reagan wanted to challenge the influence of labor unions- including the air traffic controller union- which led to a decline in union membership.
29
Describe **Reaganomics**.
* Nickname given to Reagan's tax cuts for high income earners.
* Also known as *Supply-Side Economics* or "*Trickle-Down Economics*".
* Reagan argued that if the wealthy had more money in their pockets-- they could spend more-- allowing businesses to make more money and create new, higher paying jobs.
30
Describe the changes President Reagan proposed to address American military spending during his presidency.
* Reagan wanted to dramatically **increase** military spending.
* Unlike Nixon's detente, Reagan believed doing so would demonstrate US stength- and force the Soviets to compete with the US.
31
Describe the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
* Nicknamed **Star Wars**; Reagan's proposed space-based missile defense system, intended to prevent a Soviet nuclear attack from outer space or within the atmosphere.
* Research into this program played a role in Reagan's significant increase in military spending.
32
Explain the controversy surrounding the Iran-Contra Scandal during the Reagan Administration.
* Congress refused to approve the sale of weapons to the *Contra* insurgercy in Nicaragua.
* Instead, the Reagan Administration sold weapons to *Iran* (an enermy of the US) during the Iran-Iraq War; and funneled the profits to the *Contras* without telling Congress.
* When the story leaked in 1986, Congress opened an investigation and several members of the Reagan Administration got in trouble-- but not Reagan.
33
Explain how the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union changed during the Reagan presidency.
* At first, the US and Soviet Union had a negative relationship as Reagan publicy called the Soviets the Evil Empire and increased military spending.
* However, this relationship vastly improved after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and Reagan developed a strong partnership with the Soviet leader.
34
Identify Mikhail Gorbachev.
* Soviet Premier who came to power during the mid 1980s.
* Gorbachev promoted significant reforms in the Soviet Union that contributed to the decline of communism and end of the Cold War.
35
Identify the factors that resulted in the decline of the communist world throughout the 1980s.
* Increased Soviet military spending during the Soviet Afghan War.
* Declining conditions for civilians, such as food shortages and lack of consumer goods, became common.
* These challenges led to mass protests in Communist satellite states and calls for reform.
36
Describe the historical significance of the destruction of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
* The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a symbolic end of the Cold War in 1989.
* It inspired growing protests in other satellite states, leading to the end of communism in those countries.
* Led to the reunification of W. and E. Germany in 1990.
37
Identify the factors that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
* High military spending during Soviet Afghan War hurt the Soviet economy.
* Gorbachev adopted many changes in Soviet society- promoting more openness, decreased military spending, and a rollback of many communist elements in the Soviet economy.
* These changes paved the way for several satellite states to break off from the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991.
38
Describe how the world map changed at the end of the Cold War.
* **Germany** was reunified.
* **Yugoslavia**, **Czechslovakia**, and the **Soviet Union** broke into multiple countries.
* Countries, like **Ukraine** and **Russia**, reemerged after the breakup of these countries.
* While this independence movement was widely peaceful, it did result in violent conflict- as seen in the former Yugoslavia during the **Balkan Crisis**.
39
Identify the factors that allowed for the growth of modern technology during the 1980s.
* *Smaller* computer microchips became available, which allowed prices to *decrease* for modern technology.
* Innovators, like *Steve Jobs* and *Bill Gates*, emerged with products that made modern technology easier to operate and more useful for average Americans.
* Many new products were introducts that appealed to consumers: personal computer, Sony walkman, VCR, mobile phone, Internet.
40
Describe how the emergence of modern technology during the 1980s impacted American society.
* Growth of the US economy
* New sources of entertainment.
* Easier to do business and learn.
* Improvements in mobile communication- early cell phones.
41
Describe how American foreign policy changed following the end of the Cold War.
* President George HW Bush's shifted America's foreign policy emphasis to creating a "**New World Order**" focused on promoting peace and collaboration.
* 25% decrease in military spending-- and increasing humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.
42
Identify why the US entered the Persian Gulf War.
* Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait
* The US became involved to help force the Iraqi military out of Kuwait and to protect other oil producing nations (like Saudi Arabia).
43
Describe the outcome **and** impact of the Persian Gulf War on American national identity.
* **Outcome**: The US and its allies *won* the Persian Gulf War and forced Iraq out of Kuwait.
* **Impact**: 1. Iraq exploded oil wells as they left Kuwait, resulting in a MASSIVE oil spill; 2. the US maintained troops in Saudi Arabia- which angered some who viewed this decision as US imperialism in the Middle East.
44
Who was Saddam Hussein?
Iraqi dictator that ordered the invasion of Kuwait that started the Persian Gulf War and remained in power into the early 21st century.
45
What was Operation Desert Storm?
American air and military operations against Iraq during the Persian Gulf War; as the US tried to force the Iraqi military from Kuwait.
46
Identify additional examples of American foreign policy actions during the 1990s.
* The US supported a NATO peacekeeping mission in former communist nations (such as the Balkan Crisis).
* During the Somali Civil War the US sent troops to provide food and medical aid to starving civilians in Somalia; and attempted to overthrow dangerous warlords (... and failed to do so...)
47
Describe **causes** of the Waco Siege.
* Rise of antigovernment extremism during the early 1990s led some to move to the fringes of society;
* David Koresh began stockpiling military grade weapons to protect the Branch Davidian Compound;
* The government came to investigate firearm allegiations (and potential child abuse) at the compound.
48
Describe the **effects** of the Waco Siege.
* The ATF, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies faced off with Koresh in a 51-day standoff
* On April 19, 1993 federal authorities launched tear gas into the compound- only for a massive fire to erupt in the building- killing 76 people, including dozens of children.
* Afterward antigovernment beliefs deepened among some Americans.
49
Explain what caused the growth of **domestic terrorism** during the 1990s.
* Surge of antigovernment extremism during the 1990s
* Growth of online communities- spread extreme ideas and conspiracies.
* After the Waco Siege and Ruby RIdge Standoff, many antigovernment believers grew even more radicalized and wanted revenge on the US government.
50
Who was Timothy McVeigh?
* Gulf War veteran arrested and convicted for his central role in executing the Oklahoma City Bombing- the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in US history.
* McVeigh had many strong antigovernment beliefs that drove his desire to get revenge against agencies like the ATF for their role in the Waco Siege (plotting his attack for the 2nd anniversary of this siege).
51
Describe how American policy decisions during earlier decades contributed to the growth of **global terrorism** near the start of the 21st century.
* US support for the creation of Israel as a Jewish state after WWII, angered supporters of Palestinian Arabs.
* Frustration at US involvement in the Middle Eastern oil economy and military conflicts; the US was perceived as manipulative and imperialistic.
* This included US involvement in the Soviet Afghan War, the Persian Gulf War, and the troops that remained after this conflict.
52
Identify the events that demonstrated the rise of global terrorism during the 1990s.
* World Trade Center Bombing by Ramzi Yousef in 1993
* US Embassy Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania by Al Qaeda in 1998
53
# Identify the following people/groups:
* Osama Bin Laden
* Al Qaeda
* Saudi-born, radical Islamist who formed Al Qaeda to protest and combat US support of Israel and involvement in Middle Eastern affairs (espeically his home country); central figure in the development of the September 11th Attacks.
* Terrorist organization formed by Bin Laden in 1988, using a database of individuals who were involved in the Soviet-Afghan War; Organization involved in executing several notable terrorist attacks against the US; including the 1998 US Embassy Bombings, 2000 USS Cole Bombing and 2001 September 11th Attacks.
54
Describe the connection that developed between Al Qaeda and the Taliban before the September 11th Attacks.
* After taking control of Afghanistan at the end of the Afghan Civil War, the Taliban welcomed Al Qaeda and Bin Laden into Afghanistan.
* The Taliban provided a haven for Bin Laden after he was kicked out of Saudi Arabia + Sudan **and** helped fund the construction of Al Qaeda training facilities in Afghanistan leading up to the September 11th Attacks.
55
Describe the **physical** and **emotional** impact of the September 11th Attacks on American society.
* **Physical**: *Deadliest terrorist attack in world history*; killing ~3000 people, including hundreds of first responders and thousands of civilians in NYC, Washington D.C, and aboard four hijacked airplanes; The total economic impact of this attack cost the US trillions of dollars for cleanup, lost lives, business losses, and long-term medical care for survivors.
* **Emotional**: The attacks traumatized the nation, but also encouraged a sense of unity and patriotism among the grieving country; However, there was also a sense of vengeance as Americans wanted to go after those responsible for the attacks.
56
What was the significance of Flight 93?
* Flight 93 was a fourth hijacked airplane whose passengers attempted to seize control of before it crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania.
* It is believed this plane was intended to hit a target in Washington D.C. (likely the US Capitol Building)
57
Identify examples of how the US goverment changed following the September 11th Attacks.
* The US government increased in size, developing new organizations to keep the country safe.
* The US government expanded the President's authority to make war against possible enemies.
* The US government limited individual liberties to allow for government monitoring of possible future threats.
58
# Identify the following post 9/11 developments:
* TSA
* USA PATRIOT Act
* Department of Homeland Security
* **TSA**: *Transportation Security Adminsitration*: formed after 9/11 to improve airport security.
* **USA PATRIOT Act:** Policy passed after 9/11 that enabled the government to increase government surveillance of civilians to prevent future threats.
* **Department of Homeland Security:** US Cabinet department formed after 9/11 to improve communication and cooperation among agencies like the *CIA, FBI, NSA, TSA*, and more, to promote national security.
59
What was Operation Enduring Freedom?
American military operation launched during the weeks following the September 11th Attacks with the goal of removing the Taliban from power in Afghanistan and to attack key Al Qaeda targets in the country.
60
Explain why the United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003.
* **Afghanistan** (2001): As part of the global "*War on Terror*" the US entered Afghanistan to overturn the Taliban, eliminate Al Qaeda, and install a new government.
* **Iraq** (2003): President Bush was worried that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and would prove dangerous to the US; after Hussein refused to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq, Bush ordered an attack on Iraq to remove Hussein from power.
61
What was the "Axis of Evil"?
* Term used by President George W Bush to refer to the group of nations he believed were the next great threat to the US after 9/11.
* These countries were: **Iran, Iraq, North Korea.**
62
Describe the controversies that arose surrounding American foreign policy in the decades following the September 11th Attacks.
* At first, nearly all Americans supported US military operations in Afghanistan and other policies to protect the country (like improved airport security).
* However, there were some debates about personal freedoms- and whether policies like the *PATRIOT Act* or the treatment of terrorist suspects abided by the Bill of Rights- and other constitutional foundations.
* Likewise, after the US entered Iraq and continued military involvement in Afghanistan for about two decades, complaints increased about these policy decisions.
63
What is ISIS?
* Militant group based in Islamic extremism that emerged during the United States' "War on Terror" and efforts to disband Al Qaeda.
* ISIS is focused on establishing an Islamic State, and has a history of using and inspiring violence against those who they perceive as opponents to this goal (such as the US).
* Although the group expanded its influence significantly by 2014- it has declined since this time due to ongoing efforts to combat its influence- however, its ideas remain a challenge for the US
