Contemporary America
End of Cold War & Contemporary America
(Chapters 25 & 26)
Enduring Understandings:
Students will understand that …
1. Some people benefit and some people suffer when the economy changes.
2. Conflict occurs when people perceive that traditional values and culture are threatened by modern changes.
3. Liberals and Conservatives have different beliefs about individual responsibility and the proper role of government.
4. The rise and fall of governments around the world impact U.S. foreign policy.
Essential Questions:
1. What effect does a changing economy have on American society?
2. What is the proper role of government in people’s lives?
3. Hoe did the end of the Cold War alter the United States’ security and position in the world?
4. To what extent has America lived up to its founding ideals?
Knowledge:
All Students will know …
1. What effect does a changing economy have on American society?
a. The basis of the economy changed from industrial to technological and service based.
b. Efforts of the government to combat recession and inflation.
2. What is the proper role of the government in people’s lives?
a. Conservative reaction to liberalism and social changes since the 1960’s.
b. Effects of the economic policies of the Reagan and Bush (the first one) administrations.
c. Impact of the “Reagan Revolution” on public perceptions of the role of government.
3. How did the end of the Cold War alter the United States’ security and position in the world?
a. Reagan’s efforts to reassert American military power and rebuild American prestige.
b. America was the lone superpower after the fall of the Soviet Union.
c. The U.S. was attacked by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001.
4. To what extent has America lived up to its founding ideals?
a. How the ideals of liberty, equality, opportunity, rights and democracy are exemplified or contradicted in the recent
past.
Advanced students will know …
1. Nixon’s policy of détente with the USSR and the People’s Republic of China.
2. Constitutional issues in the Iran-Contra Affair on the Reagan administration.
Final Exam Review Sheet: “End of Cold War and Contemporary America”
____ Nixon’s policy of detènte (definition of, purpose, effects, who it applied to, etc.)
____ Reagan’s economic policies (“trickle-down” economics, including tax cuts for the wealthy)
____ the fall of Berlin Wall as a symbol of the end of the Cold War
____ Iran-Contra Scandal (what it was, who was involved, effect on Reagan’s presidency)
____ cause(s) of conservative movement in 1980’s (as a reaction to liberal social changes of 1960’s & 1970’s)
____ goal(s) of conservative movement of the 1980’s (social, economic, reducing size of government, etc.)
____ trends in, and changes to, immigration since 1941 (esp. where the immigrants came from)
____ the changing American economy (focus esp. on change from industrial to service/technology)
____ the end of the “Baby Boom” during the 1960’s (a drop in the birthrate)
____ the trend – overall - of the U.S. having more political & military power and prestige after WWII
____ the attack on September 11th (who? what? when? where? why? how? significance/effects?)
Chapter 25: The Conservative Tide
Source: The Americans Cd-Rom
Overview:
President Ronald Reagan’s election marks a rightward shift in domestic and foreign policy. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cold War ends and the U.S. confronts a host of domestic problems.
I. Section 1: A Conservative Movement Emerges
Conservatism reaches a high point with the election in 1980 of President Ronald Reagan and Vice-President George Bush.
[pic]
A. The Conservative Movement Builds
*1. Conservative Issues
a. Entitlement programs provide guaranteed benefits to specific groups
b. High cost of programs, stories of fraud upset taxpayers
c. Many conservatives are skeptical of civil rights court rulings like busing (African-Americans)
over long distances
d. rebirth of conservatism in politics largely a reaction to the social changes of the 1960’s
and 1970’s
2. The New Right
a. New Right—collection of grass-roots groups promoting single issues
b. Affirmative action—special consideration for women, minorities
- many conservatives against it; say it’s reverse discrimination, favoring one group
over others
*3. The Conservative Coalition
a. Business, religious, other groups form conservative coalition
b. Conservative newspapers, magazines, newspapers, think tanks discuss, develop policies
c. Goals are to reduce the size of the federal government, family values, patriotism, business
4. The Moral Majority
a. 1970s religious revival uses TV, radio; strong among fundamentalists
b. Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority—Christians for traditional morals
B. Conservatives Win Political Power
1. Reagan’s Qualifications
a. Ronald Reagan wins 1980 Republican nomination
- George H. W. Bush is running mate
b. Reagan served 2 terms as governor of California
[pic]
Source:
2. The 1980 Presidential Election
a. Reagan runs on conservative issues, weak economy, Iran crisis
b. Called Great Communicator: can simplify issues, give clear answers
c. Gets 51% popular vote, 44 states in electoral race, Senate majority
II. Section 2: Conservative Policies Under Reagan and Bush
Presidents Reagan and Bush pursue a conservative agenda that includes tax cuts, budget cuts, and increased defense spending.
A. “Reaganomics” Takes Over
1. Reagan’s Economic Policies
a. Reagan encourages private investment by cutting federal government
b. *Reaganomics: budget cuts, tax cuts (especially on the wealthy), increased defense
spending
2. Budget Cuts
a. Maintains entitlement programs that benefit middle class
b. Cuts programs that benefit poor, urban population
3. Tax Cuts
a. Supply-side economics holds that lower taxes (especially on the wealthy) result in:
- investment, greater productivity, more supply, lower prices
- also known as “trickle-down economics”
b Congress decreases taxes by 25% over 3 years
Visual: The visual below explains the basics of “supply-side” economics (also known as “trickle-
down economics” and “Reaganomics”). Many conservatives believe in this idea
today.
[pic]
4. Increased Defense Spending
a. Defense Dept. budget almost doubles; offsets cuts in social programs
b. Reagan asks scientists for Strategic Defense Initiative
- anti-missile defense system
Visual (source): The Americans Cd-Rom
1. notice that defense spending more than doubled during the decade
2. notice that the total federal debt more than tripled
[pic]
5. Recession and Recovery
a. July 1981–Nov. 1982, worst recession since
Great Depression
b. Early 1983 consumer spending fuels economic
upturn:
- more consumer confidence, decrease
in inflation, unemployment
c. 1987, market crashes, then recovers,
continues up
6. The National Debt Climbs
a. Spending outstrips revenues; new 1982 taxes
do not balance budget
b. National debt almost doubles by end of
Reagan’s first term
Visual (to the right): The graph shows the spike in the
national debt starting in roughly 1982-83 and
continuing throughout Reagan’s presidency (until 1989).
B. Judicial Power Shifts to the Right
1. Supreme Court Appointments
a. Reagan appoints Sandra Day O’Connor first woman justice (shown at right)
b. Other Reagan, Bush appointments make Court more conservative
c. Clarence Thomas confirmed after sexual harassment hearings
d. Court places restrictions on civil rights, abortion
Source:
C. Deregulating the Economy
1. *Reducing the Size of the Federal Government
a. Reagan reduces government by deregulation—less regulation over business
- increases competition, results in lower prices
b. Cuts budget of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- fights pollution, conserves natural resources
c. Interior Dept. permits more oil drilling, lumbering, coal mining
- sells millions of acres of public lands
d. reducing the size of the federal government was a major goal of Reagan – and the
conservative movement – during this time
D. Conservative Victories in 1984 and 1988
1. The Reagan Coalition
a. Reagan forges large coalition of diverse groups
- businesspeople, Southerners, Westerners,
Reagan Democrats
2. The 1984 Presidential Election
a. Democrat Walter Mondale chooses Geraldine Ferraro as
running mate (shown to the right)
- first woman on major party’s presidential ticket
b. Reagan, Bush win by landslide
3. The 1988 Presidential Election
a. Most Americans economically comfortable
- attribute comfort to Reagan, Bush
b. Republican candidate George Bush stresses conservatism
- promises “no new taxes”
c. Bush gets 53% popular vote, 426 electoral votes
-electoral victory seen as conservative mandate
III. Section 3: Social Concerns in the 1980s
Beneath the surge of prosperity that marks the conservative era of the 1980s lay serious social problems.
A. Health, Education, and Cities in Crisis
1. Health Issues
a. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
caused by virus
- destroys immune system, makes body prone
to infections, cancer
b. 1980s, epidemic grows; increasing concern over
prevention, cure
2. Abortion
a. 1980s, battle over abortion intensifies
- opponents are pro-life; supporters are pro-choice
b. 1989, Supreme Court rules states may place restrictions
on abortion
3. Drug Abuse
a. Reagan administration prosecutes drug users, dealers
b. First Lady Nancy Reagan has “Just say no!” to drugs campaign
4. Education
a. 1983 commission: U.S. students lag behind students in other nations
b. Bush initiative calls for using public money for school choice
5. The Urban Crisis
a. Cities deteriorate as whites move to suburbs; businesses follow
b. 1992 riots in LA after officers taped beating Rodney King acquitted
B. The Equal Rights Struggle
1. Political Losses and Gains
a. ERA not ratified by 1982; Reagan names 2 women to cabinet in 1983
b. 1992, increased number of women elected to Congress
2. Inequality
a. Women earn less than men;
31% female heads of household
poor
b. Pay equity—pay reflects
education, physical effort,
responsibility
c. Women seek pay equity, family
benefits; some employers
comply
d. Reagan cuts budget for daycare,
similar programs
3. African Americans
a. By mid-1980s, many cities have African-American mayors
b. Numerous communities elect blacks to local, state office, Congress
c. L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia is first African-American governor
d. Reverend Jesse Jackson (shown to right) runs for
Democratic presidential nomination
e. Middle-class blacks hold professional, managerial positions
f. Supreme Court limits affirmative action
4. Gains for Latinos
a. Latinos fastest growing minority; some states elect Latino
governors
b. Reagan appoints Lauro Cavazos as secretary of education
c. Bush names Dr. Antonia Coello Novello surgeon general
d. From 1968 bilingual education available; mid-1980s opposition rising
5. Native Americans Speak Out
a. Reagan cuts aid to Native Americans for health, education, services
b. Many tribes open casinos to bring in additional funds
6. An Expanding Asian-American Population
a. Asian Americans second-fastest growing minority
b. Cited as example of success; also have high unemployment, poverty
7. The Gay Rights Movement Advances
a. Movement suffers setbacks from conservative opposition, AIDS
b. Late 1980s new surge of activism, calls for end to discrimination
c. Some states, communities outlaw discrimination
IV. Section 4: Foreign Policy After the Cold War
The end of the Cold War, marked by the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, leads to a redirection of many U.S. goals and policies.
A. The Cold War Ends
1. Gorbachev Initiates Reform
a. Mikhail Gorbachev—general secretary (leader) of Soviet Communist Party and the Soviet
Union (shown to the right on the cover of Time magazine with Ronald Reagan)
[pic]
b. Soviet economy stressed; Reagan’s defense spending adds pressure
c. Gorbachev adopts glasnost—allows criticism, some freedom of press
d. Plans perestroika—some private enterprise, move to democracy
e. Wants better relations with U.S. to cut U.S.S.R. military spending
- arms-control INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty)
2. The Soviet Union Declines
a. 1991, 14 republics declare independence; Gorbachev forced to resign
b. Commonwealth of Independent States forms; 1993 START II signed
*3. The Collapse of Communist Regimes
a. Gorbachev reduces Soviet control of Eastern Europe, urges democracy
b. 1989, Berlin Wall torn down (marks the symbolic end of the Cold War)
1. 1990, 2 Germanys reunited
c. Czechoslovakia, Baltic states, Hungary, Bulgaria,
Romania democratic
d. Ethnic civil war breaks out in Yugoslavia
4. Communism Continues in China
a. 1980s, China loosens business restrictions,
stops price controls
b. Students demand free speech, voice in government
c. 1989, demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen
Square, other cities
d. Premier Li Peng orders military to crush protesters
- unarmed students killed
B. Central American and Caribbean Policy
1. Nicaragua
a. Sandinistas—rebel group, takes over Nicaragua; Carter sends them aid
b. Reagan calls them communists; helps Contras—opposition forces
c. 1990, Contra supporter Violeta de Chamorro elected president
2. Grenada
a. 1983 Reagan sends troops; pro-Cuba government replaced with pro-U.S.
3. Panama
a. Bush sends troops to arrest dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega
b. Noriega convicted of drug trafficking in U.S., sentenced to 40 years
C. Middle East Trouble Spots
1. The Iran-Contra Scandal
a. 1983, terrorists loyal to Iran take Americans hostage
in Lebanon
b. Reagan says no negotiating with terrorists; sells arms
for hostages
c. Staff divert some profits to Contras (rebel fighters in
Nicaragua), breaking U.S. law
1. Colonel Oliver North is at the heart
of the scandal (shown to the right)
d. 1987, Congressional committees hold joint TV hearings
e. 1988, several staffers indicted; 1992, Bush pardons
Reagan officials
2. The Persian Gulf War
a. Iran-Iraq War leaves Saddam Hussein with great war debt
- 1990, invades Kuwait to take its oil, threatens U.S. oil supply
b. Bush (shown to the right), Secretary of State James Baker
organize international coalition
c. 1991, Operation Desert Storm liberates Kuwait from Iraq
d. Victory parades greet returning soldiers
e. Under 400 coalition casualties; 100,000 Iraqi deaths
3. Bush’s Domestic Policies
a. Bush hurt by rising deficit, recession of 1990–1992
b. Forced to raise taxes despite campaign promise
c. 1992, approval rating drops to 49%
Chapter 26: The United States in Today’s World
Source: The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century Cd-Rom
Overview:
Advances in technology and high hopes for the global economy are marred by White House scandals and
terrorism, including attacks on the World Trade Center that kill thousands.
I. Section 1: The 1990s and the New Millennium
The Democrats gain control of the White House by moving their party’s platform toward the political center.
A. Clinton Wins the Presidency
1. The Election of 1992
a. Pres. Bush cannot convince public he can end recession, create jobs
b. Third-party candidate H. Ross Perot: deficit is biggest problem
c. Gov. William Jefferson Clinton of AR first baby-boomer president
Visual: President Clinton is shown to the right.
Source:
2. A “New” Democrat
a. Clinton moves from traditional Democratic positions toward center
- wants to create “new,” more inclusive party
B. Moderate Reform and Economic Boom
1. Health Care Reform
a. Clinton pledges affordable health care,
especially for uninsured
b. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
heads team creating plan
c. 1993, President presents health care
reform bill to Congress
- bill controversial, does not get
voted on
Visual: The cartoon to the right makes
Reference to the fact that Obama’s
Recent push for health care reform
(a.k.a. “Obamacare”) has its roots at least as far back as Hillary Clinton’s
attempt back in 1993.
2. Balanced Budget and an Economic Boom
a. Clinton, Republican Congress agree on legislation to balance budget
b. Federal budget has surplus; used to pay off national debt
c. Economy booms: unemployment drops, stocks soar, tax revenues rise
(SEE NEXT PAGE FOR VISUAL ABOUT THE BUDGET SURPLUSES OF THE CLINTON YEARS)
[pic]
3. Reforming Welfare
a. 1996, states get block grants for welfare, other social programs
- limits placed on how long people can receive welfare benefits
b. Millions of people successfully move from welfare to work
C. Crime and Terrorism
1. Americans Are Shocked by Violent Events
a. 1999, 2 Columbine students kill 13, wound 23; copycat crimes follow
b. 1993, terrorists bomb World Trade Center in NYC
c. 1995, federal office building in Oklahoma City bombed, 168 dead
d. 1990s, U.S. embassies, military targets abroad subject to attacks
e. Sept. 11, 2001 – al Qaeda terrorists hijack 4 planes; 1 crashes into Pentagon
- two planes destroy World Trade Center, fourth crashes in field
Visuals (starting upper-left):
Columbine victims; Time magazine cover about 1993 World Trade Center Bombing;
Oklahoma City Bombing Terrorist Attack; (bottom) 9/11/01 World Trade Center Attacks
[pic] [pic] [pic]
[pic]
D. New Foreign Policy Challenges
1. Relations with Former Cold War Foes
a. 1990s, U.S., Russia cooperate on economic, arms-control issues
b. Clinton supports giving China permanent trade rights
2. Troops Abroad
a. 1992-1994, U.S. sends troops to Somalia to
provide aid to Somali people (poor)
and to help restore order (they had
been – and still are – in a civil war)
Visual (to the right): The wreckage of
a “Blackhawk” helicopter that was shot
Down over Mogadishu, Somalia (“Blackhawk
Down” Incident)
1. U.S. withdraws after the mission
fails
a. 1994, Clinton sends troops to Haiti to oust
military rulers and to re-install the
democratically-elected leader (Aristide)
b. 1995, helps negotiate peace agreement
in Bosnia, sends peacekeepers
c. 1999, U.S., NATO bomb Serbia to stop
“ethnic cleansing” (genocide) attacks in Kosovo
- later sends peacekeepers
3. Trade and the Global Economy
a. Clinton wants North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
- free-trade for Canada, Mexico, U.S; critics fear lose jobs to Mexico
Visual: A graph showing the trade deficit (in billions) that the U.S. has experienced since the
beginning of NAFTA; a trade deficit is when the value of the goods that your country
imports is greater than the value of the goods that your country exports (sends out) to
other nations
1. increasing trade deficits can cause a nation to go into debt, to lose jobs, etc.
[pic]
b. 1999, demonstrators protest World Trade Organization Seattle meeting
c. Anti-globalization protests held worldwide
d. Police, demonstrators clash at 2001 Summit of the Americas, Quebec
- plans made for Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2006
E. Partisan Politics and Impeachment
1. Republicans Take Control of Congress
a. Newt Gingrich turns unhappiness with Clinton into Republican support
(Note: He recently tried to win the Republican presidential nomination)
b. Contract with America—items Republicans will pass if get elected
c. 1994, Republicans win both houses; Gingrich elected Speaker
d. Clinton, republicans clash over budget, refuse to compromise
e. Federal government shut down for several weeks, winter 1995–1996
2. The 1996 Election
a. Budget standoff, strong economy, welfare
reform help reelect Clinton
b. Gets 49% popular vote; defeats Senator
Bob Dole, H. Ross Perot
3. Clinton Impeached
a. Clinton accused of improperly using money
for 1984 governor’s race
b. Accused of lying under oath about improper
relationship with a White House intern named
Monica Lewinsky
c. House of Representatives approves impeachment
charges: perjury, obstruction of justice (see
visual to the right)
d. Trial January 1999; Senate acquits president
F. The Race for the White House
1. Election Night Confusion
a. Democrats nominate Vice President Al Gore
b. Republicans choose Texas governor George W. Bush
c. Ralph Nader, Green Party, promote environment, liberal causes
d. Close race: Florida electoral votes needed to win presidency
e. As votes counted, lead shifts repeatedly between Gore, Bush
f. Bush wins by narrow margin, triggers automatic recount
Visual:
2. Dispute Rages in Florida
a. Recount gives Bush narrow win
b. Alleged voting irregularities in several counties
- Gore campaign requests manual recount in 4 Democratic counties
3. The Battle Moves to the Courts
a. Republicans sue to stop manual recounts; court battles begin
b. Supreme Court votes to stop recounts: lack uniform standards
c. Bush gets electoral votes from Florida, wins presidency
G. The Bush Administration
1. Antiterrorist Measures
a. After September 11, antiterrorism bill passes
b. Department of Homeland Security created to combat terrorism
c. U.S.-led coalition breaks up al-Qaeda in Afghanistan
d. 2004, Hamid Karzai is first democratically elected Afghan leader
2. War Against Iraq
a. Bush says Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
- fears Saddam Hussein will give WMD to terrorists
b. Bush calls for renewed arms inspections; Saddam limits cooperation
c. 2003, U.S., Britain oust Iraqi regime, capture Saddam
d. No WMD found
Visual: A Time magazine cover showing the bombing of
Baghdad, Iraq at the very start of the war.
Source:
3. Domestic Agenda
a. Bush education reform plan, No Child Left Behind, passes
b. Corporate accounting scandals negatively affect weak economy
c. Congress sets up regulatory board over accounting industry
d. Congress passes Bush’s $350 billion tax cut
- Bush says will strengthen economy, create jobs
- Democrats say will mostly benefit the rich
Question: Which side do you believe is correct? Look at the data below.
[pic]
H. Republicans Gain More Power
1. California Recall
a. Rare recall vote ousts California Governor Gray Davis
b. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes governor
2. Bush Reelected in 2004
a. Bush has wide support for war on terrorism
-still, Americans question decision to invade Iraq
b. Democrats chose Massachusetts senator John Kerry to run against Bush
c. Bush gets a majority of popular vote and wins reelection
II. Section 2: The New Global Economy
Because of technological advances and new trade laws, the U.S. economy undergoes a boom during the late 20th
century.
*A. The Shifting Economy
1. More Service, Less Security
a. Unemployment falls; many low-paying, part-time, temporary jobs
b. Most jobs in service sector—provide services to consumers
1. the industrial sectors of the U.S. economy (i.e. steel mills, manufacturing
factories, etc.) begin to be replaced by technology and service sector jobs
c. Many companies downsize—cut jobs for efficiency, higher profits
2. Farms and Factories
a. Manufacturing surpasses farming mid-1900s, declines 1980s–90s
b. Loss of industrial jobs leads to drop in union membership
c. Computer-driven robots eliminate jobs, spur high-tech economy
3. High-Tech Industries
a. Bill Gates founds software company Microsoft, makes fortune
b. NASDAQ—technology-dominated stock index on Wall Street
c. High-tech companies called dotcoms expand rapidly
d. 2000, 38% of dotcoms make profit; many go out of business
e. Internet investment drops; corporate scandals create loss of faith
- both NASDAQ, Dow Jones Industrial Average decline
B. Change and the Global Economy
1. International Trade
a. 1990s, U.S. trade with other countries over 25% of the economy
b. Economic competition among trading blocs increasing
c. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) revised
- lowers trade barriers
- establishes World Trade Organization to resolve disputes
2. International Competition
a. 1990s, U.S. businesses move operations to lower-wage countries
b. Post-NAFTA, over 100,000 jobs lost in U.S. manufacturing
c. U.S. companies pay low wages to compete with foreign companies
3. International Slowdown
a. Turn of 21st century, global economy slows down
b. Developing countries suffer from drop in foreign direct investment
c. Many analysts think U.S. economic recovery vital to world recovery
III. Section 3: Technology and Modern Life
Advances in technology increase the pace but also the comfort of many Americans’ daily lives.
A. The Communications Revolution
1. Entering the Information Age
a. Information superhighway—global network of communication devices
b. Internet—international computer network, sends text, images, sound
c. World Wide Web provides visual interface to unlimited audience
2. New Tools, New Media
a. Users access media through electronic connection—TV cable, phone line
b. By 2000, 97 million Americans use Internet
c. New communications allow people to telecommute, work from home
3. Legislating Technology
a. Federal Communications Commission auctions rights to airways
b. Congress passes Telecommunications Act of 1996
- allows communication companies to start up or buy related ones
- increases competition; permits major media mergers
- consumer, civil rights advocates criticize some provisions
c. Courts strike down parts of act
B. Scientific Advances Enrich Lives
1. Simulation, Robotics, and Machine Intelligence
a. Users navigate virtual landscapes with headset, data glove
b. Computer capability increases, like natural language understanding
c. High-capacity chips simulate brain function, humanize robots
2. Space Exploration
a. Mars missions transmit live pictures to Internet users [visual]
b. International Space Station: zero-gravity lab for research
c. Hubble Space Telescope, observatories enable discoveries
3. Biotechnology
a. 2000, human genome almost completely sequenced
b. DNA evidence used to prove guilt, innocence of defendants
c. Cloning, gene therapy, other advances spark debate
d. Genetic engineering—artificially changing organism’s cells
e. Scientists engineer foods for resistance to pests, more nutrition
- remains controversial
4. Medical Progress
a. Advances in therapy increase survival rates of cancer, HIV patients
b. Improved technologies help medical diagnoses
5. Environmental Measures
a. Scientists seek ways to reduce dependence on polluting fossil fuels
b. Public reduces consumption of raw materials through recycling
IV. Section 4: The Changing Face of America
At the end of the 20th century, the U.S. population grows more diverse both in ethnic background and in age.
A. Urban Flight
1. Causes of Urban Change
a. Urban flight—movement of people from cities to suburbs
b. Business follows educated labor to suburbs; cities’ tax base shrink
c. People return to cities; want excitement, unique neighborhoods
d. Gentrification—rehabilitation of urban property; poor displaced
2. Suburban Living
a. 1990s trends: more telecommuting; Latinos, Asians move to suburbs
b. Suburbs, cities compete for businesses to increase tax revenues
B. The Aging of America
1. The Social Effects of Increased Longevity
a. Median age up as result of:
1. greater longevity, big baby boom generation, slowed birthrate
a. How will our society afford to take care of this aging population?
[pic]
b. Programs that pay for elderly are growing part of budget
c. Medicare pays medical expenses for senior citizens
d. Social Security pays retirement benefits
- must be restructured to avoid paying out more than it takes in
C. The Shifting Population
1. A Changing Immigrant Population
a. 1970–2000, U.S. population grows from 204 million to 284 million
b. 2,000 legal and 4,000–10,000 illegal immigrants enter U.S. daily
2. Debates over Immigration Policy
a. Since 1960s, most immigrants from Americas, Asia, Europe
- debates over number of immigrants allowed to enter
b. Proposition 187 cut education, health benefits to illegal immigrants
c. Patterns of immigration changing country’s racial, ethnic makeup
3. Native Americans Continue Legal Battles
a. Most Native Americans have difficult lives
- poverty, suicide, alcoholism rates much higher than among whites
b. Reservation gambling controversial
- provides money for jobs, education, social services, infrastructure
c. Native Americans get recognition of land rights through courts
D. America in a New Millennium
1. The United States Today
a. Environmental concerns are global issue
b. Continuing problems: poverty, terrorist threat
c. Effort, cooperation can result in growth, tolerance
UNIT WRAP-UP
Essential Questions:
1. What effect does a changing economy have on American society?
2. What is the proper role of government in people’s lives?
3. How did the end of the Cold War alter the United States’ security and position in the
world?
4. To what extent has America lived up to its founding ideals?
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