Uncertain Times to Today US History and Government

Uncertain Times to Today US History and Government NY State Regents Exam Review

Brown v. Board n Civil Rights movement gained traction n Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and declared “separate-but-equal” was not constitutional n Desegregation took effect slowly

March to Equality n Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader for non-violent, civil disobedience toward laws aimed at limiting civil rights – Bus Boycott (Parks), sit-ins, demonstrations (March on Washington) n Desegregation took effect in Little Rock with the aid of US troops sent by Ike n Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination for the federal government

Dwight D. Eisenhower n Housing Boom and Baby Boom as troops returned from war and started families n Period of economic prosperity as millions of consumer products were sold n Conformity among Americans as the fear of communism strengthened

John F. Kennedy n New Frontier proposed bold new ideas – Tax cut, Medicare, Civil Rights Legislation, and increased funding for education § Only the tax cut was passed under Kennedy n Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt to overthrow Communism and Castro in Cuban Missile Crisis put the world on the brink of nuclear war

Lyndon Johnson n Great Society plan to improve the quality of life and opportunity for Americans – Civil Rights legislation § Civil Rights Act, 1964 and Voting Rights Act, 1965 – Aid to cities for urban planning and slums – Medicare Act of 1965 – War on poverty programs like Job Corps n Vietnam War escalated under Johnson

Youth Culture n Rebellious spirit developed in the 1960 s and 1970 s n Experimented openly with drugs and sex n New fashions broke from tradition n 1968 millions were protesting the war in Vietnam until 1973

Women’s Liberation n Feminist Movement of the 1960 s as women were not satisfied with traditional roles as housewives n Opposed unequal pay and sexist language n Abortion issue became divisive – 1973 Roe v. Wade case before the Supreme Court declared right to privacy gave rights to abortion in early pregnancy

Militancy n Demand for change became violent n African-Americans believed in Black Power – Black Panthers and Black Muslims challenged the traditional NAACP – Malcolm X argued using violence n Native Americans formed American Indian Movement and declared “red power” – Protested racial biases and stereotypes

The Warren Court n Under Chief Justice Earl Warren major social change came to the US n Mapp v. Ohio, 1961 (Search and Seizure) n Baker v. Carr, 1962 (Representation) n Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963 (Lawyer) n Miranda v. Arizona, 1966 – Rights of the Accused

Vietnam War n n Eisenhower sent aide to South Vietnam Kennedy sent aide and military advisors n Johnson used the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to escalate war with the North – Domino Theory: feared communism spreading – Sent more combat troops – War grew increasingly unpopular in late 60 s n Nixon continued the war, eventually negotiating a ceasefire agreement – War Powers Act (1973) limits powers of President to involve troops without declaration of war from Congress

Richard Nixon n New Federalism cut spending on social programs and gave tax revenue to states n Foreign Policy Achievements – Negotiated ceasefire in Vietnam (ended war) – Established diplomatic relations with China – Introduced détente (lessening of tensions) with the USSR n Watergate scandal ended his Presidency

Gerald Ford n First act was to pardon President Nixon n Economy suffered from stagflation – High unemployment and high inflation – Reduction of war spending and oil crisis n Continued Nixon’s policy of détente

Jimmy Carter n Presidency hampered by poor economy n Foreign policy revolved around human rights – Panama Canal Treaty turned over control – Camp David Accords established peace between Israel and Egypt – Iranian Hostage Crisis

Ronald Reagan n Domestic Policy dealt with the economy – Supply-side Economics “Reaganomics” § Cut taxes on businesses and wealthy: Trickle-down – Increased military spending helping economy § Increased national debt n Foreign Policy focused on rebuilding American confidence after Vietnam – Worked to roll back communism by funding “freedom fighters”

George H. W. Bush n Americans with Disabilities Act prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in employment and public accommodations n Cold War ended while Bush was in office n Gulf War 1990 -1991 fought against Iraq to free ally Kuwait from invasion

Bill Clinton n Pushed but failed to get health care reform through Congress n Impeached for lying under oath n NAFTA created a trade association between Canada, US, and Mexico n Foreign Policy initiatives taken by Clinton: – Kosovo, peace talks between Israel and Palestine, human rights push in China

George W. Bush n Won a narrow election in 2000 over Gore n No Child Left Behind became major domestic legislation in education n War on Terrorism with Sept. 11 th attacks n United States invaded Iraq to remove dictator Saddam Hussein

Technology n Last 50 years the country has shifted from Industrial economy to a “post-industrial” economy or service economy n Computers introduced in the 1990 s and the Internet have made communication easier as well as finding information

Energy n New sources of energy have been developed – Nuclear Energy has no pollution but is unsafe – Solar, wind, and hydropower are being used to replace coal and oil

Environment n Global Warming – Pollutants in the atmosphere prevent heat from escaping into space creating a Greenhouse Effect n Acid Rain – Pollutants in the air turn into acids n Thinning of the Ozone Layer n Water Pollution

Population n Population in America continues to rise – West and South are attracting migration and immigration (Hispanic) – Taxing on water and power supplies n Medical advancements allow Americans to live longer n Strain on government programs – Baby Boomers are retiring and collecting Social Security