APUSH Period 9 Overview

Introduction

Won 1980 election against Jimmy Carter.
Promised conservative policies and reduced government intervention.
Supported by groups like the Moral Majority.
Reaganomics: Supply-side economics, tax cuts, deregulation.
- Debated effects: Economic growth vs. wealth gap and national debt.
Iran-Contra Affair: Illegal arms deal; funding anti-communist rebels.
- Led to lowered approval ratings.
Focused on National Defense and ending Cold War.
- Communication with Soviet leader Gorbachev.
- Famous speech: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

Won 1988 election; popular from Reagan's presidency.
Persian Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait.
- Successful with low casualties.
End of Cold War (1991): Dissolution of Soviet Union.
Lost re-election in 1992 to Bill Clinton due to economic recession and broken tax promise.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Policy on gays in the military, controversial.
NAFTA: Trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.
Domestic success in budget reform: Reduced federal deficit.
Impeachment Proceedings: Charges related to affair with Monica Lewinsky; acquitted by Senate.

Controversial election decided by Supreme Court.
Challenges: Hurricane Katrina, Great Recession.
- No Child Left Behind Act: Education reform; criticized for focus on standardized testing.
War on Terror: Post-9/11 response.
- USA Patriot Act: Expanded surveillance.
- Department of Homeland Security created.
- Military actions in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Afghanistan.

First African-American president.
Affordable Care Act: Healthcare reform; controversial among conservatives.
Great Recession: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to stabilize the economy.
Ordered operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
Fulfilled promise to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.