Unit 15 Lesson 5: Culture, Technology, and Society Flashcards
(28 cards)
Change in technolgy
By the 1990s, many households could afford personal computers to create simple documents and spreadsheets. As the twenty-first century approached, giant technology companies—such as Microsoft, headed by Bill Gates, and Apple, headed by Steve Jobs—constantly surprised consumers with their innovations. Computers became smaller, faster, and more powerful.
In the 1990s, consumers started to become aware of the World Wide Web. The internet connected the world in ways that people had never imagined. In the twenty-first century, wireless technology made the internet even easier to access. At the same time, mobile technology advanced to the point where cell phones were reliable and inexpensive. All of these innovations converged with the invention of the smartphone. Steve Jobs announced the release of the first widely marketed smartphone in 2007. Since then, many competitors h
Computer technology results in more than just consumer goods. NASA scientists have used new tools to achieve remarkable things in the twenty-first century.
For example, they have sent electronic rovers to the surface of Mars. These robotic devices travel the planet and send images and other data back to Earth. In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration captured an image of a black hole 55 million light years away.
3-D printer
hese machines produce a three-dimensional object using specifications sent by a computer. Some doctors now use them to build prosthetics—artificial limbs to replace real ones that people have lost due to illness or injury. Mechanical prosthetics may help people reach a full range of motion, but they’re very expensive
automation
The use of robots and other machines have been increasingly used in place of human workers over the past few decades. This is sometimes referred to as automation.
George W. Bush (2001) on the war on drugs
After George W. Bush became president in 2001, even more money was allocated to fight the war on drugs. Yet illegal drug use remained steady, and the overall number of deaths attributed to drug overdoses rose. Around the same time, some states were moving to reform drug laws and increased access to overdose antidotes and “911 Good Samaritan” programs that encourage drug users to seek medical help.
When did the war on drugs start
The War on Drugs dates back to 1971 when President Richard M. Nixon declared drugs to be “public enemy number one.”
In October 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the AntiDrug Abuse Act,
In October 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the AntiDrug Abuse Act, allocating $1.7 billion to fight the war on drugs. The bill created mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses,
Impact of the AntiDruh Abuse Act
. The bill created mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses, which ended up promoting racial disparity in prisons since the sentences for possession of crack cocaine—typically cheaper and more often used by minorities with lower income levels—were harsher than the sentences for possession of powder cocaine.
The Nixon administration increased the size and number of drug-control agencies and passed laws requiring mandatory sentencing and no-knock search warrants, but by 1977, 11 states had decriminalized marijuana possession and the Senate Judiciary Committee had similarly voted to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marajuana for personal use. How did this change in the 80s
By the 1980s, public opinion about drug use was once again shifting as the number of teen drug users grew. Federal and state laws were changed to require stiffer penalties and, as a result, there was a dramatic rise in the number of people sent to prison for drug possession. As laws related to drug abuse became more rigid, the number of syringe-access and other harm-reduction programs that could reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS diminished.
Trump on the war on drugs
Then, when Donald Trump became president in 2016, the war on drugs continued. Trump sought harsher sentencing for drug violations and the death penalty for sellers. He also brought back the “Just Say No” campaign, championed by First Lady Nancy Reagan in the 1980s, even though it had previously proven unsuccessful. In addition, Trump began building a border wall along the U.S./Mexico border to keep drugs out of the country,
War on drugs on a international front
On the international front, American-backed anti-drug operations in Mexico have resulted in more than 85,000 people being killed, and efforts to eliminate opium cultivation in Afghanistan have not reduced the global supply of opium but may have empowered the Taliban.
General Colin Powell
n 2001, under President George W. Bush, General Colin Powell became the first African American to hold the office of secretary of state.
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice took over the position during Bush’s second term, becoming the first female African American secretary of state.
Nancy Pelosi
. In 2007, Nancy Pelosi was the first woman nominated to serve as Speaker of the House.
Hillary Clinton
During the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, who had also served as secretary of state, became the first female presidential nominee for a major party.
Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison was the first Muslim elected to Congress in 2006 when he won a seat in the House of Representatives.
Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar
In 2020, the first Muslim women were elected to Congress. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were both elected to the House of Representatives.
Thurgood Marshall,
The president appoints U.S. Supreme Court justices. Thurgood Marshall, an African American man, was appointed to the Court in 1967.
Sandra Day O’Connor
. But it wasn’t until 1981 that a woman justice was chosen. President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O’Connor, and she served until 2006.
Challenges remain despite major accomplishments over the last few decades. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, reversing 49 years of established precedent by a 6-3 conservative majority decision in the controversial Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.
. The majority declared that abortion is not an essential component of liberty because it is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. The ruling allows each state to make their own decisions about the legality of abortion. Many states have already banned abortion entirely since the ruling. The Dobbs v. Jackson case is the first time the Supreme Court has removed rights from people that were previously upheld.
. In 1924, Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights.
This was the first organization dedicated to gay rights.
n 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Immigration Act of 1965
which phased out official quotas. Instead, decisions about immigration now relied on such factors as a person’s skills and education. Reuniting families was also a priority. U.S. immigration policy today is built on the standard set by the 1965 law
immigration and trump
Following through on a campaign promise, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to suspend immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. He then issued two more orders, revising the original order in ways that protected the administration from lawsuits alleging that the orders were unconstitutionally discriminatory against Muslims. For example, his third order banned entry for people from North Korea.
How have computers revolutionized society?
Computers have become a necessity for almost every part of society. People use them to communicate with friends, families, and colleagues worldwide. Almost all research requires a computer. People depend on computers to keep their homes and cars running efficiently.
