40th President of the United States who used his charisma to build large support for his conservative ideology, such as supply-side economics and an aggressive anti-communist foreign policy.

Presidential election won by Ronald Reagan that marked a resurgence of conservatism through a majority of blue collar workers voting Republican, which ended the historic New Deal coalition.

Diplomatic emergency involving American hostages being held in Iran that President Carter struggled to deal with and ended with their release on the day of President Reagan’s inauguration.

Supply-Side Economics

Economic theory proposed by Arthur Laffer and adopted by President Reagan to stimulate the economy by reducing taxes, decreasing regulations and allowing free trade.

Nickname given to President Reagn’s implementation of supply-side economics, which contrasted greatly with the Keynesian economics long favored by the Democrats.

Trickle-Down Economics

Economic theory that proposed tax breaks and benefits for the wealthy would expand the economy and eventually benefit everyone else, which some critics compared to Reaganomics.

Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981)

Congressional law passed as part of Reaganomics that included a 25% decrease in personal income taxes and other tax cuts that mostly benefited businesses and the wealthy.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

Type of investment account created under the Economic Recovery Tax Act that allows people to invest a certain amount every year without paying taxes on it until they retire.

Nickname given to conservative Southern Democrats in Congress who helped Republicans cut more than $40 billion from domestic programs during the Reagan Administration.

Ease of restrictions on business practices such as corporate mergers and environmental protections, which was a key component of Reaganomics.

Secretary of the Interior under President Reagan who opened federal lands for increased coal and timber production and offshore waters for oil drilling as a part of deregulation under Reaganomics.

Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO)

Union decertified by President Reagan during an air traffic controller strike, which had a chilling effect on unions and their membership.

Early 1980s Recession

Major economic downturn under the Reagan Administration that rebounded through low inflation, tax cuts and large federal deficits, but widened the gap between rich and poor.

Nickname for young urban professionals who predominantly part of the upper-income groups who benefited greatly from Reaganomics.

Sandra Day O’Connor

Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan who was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and often served as a swing vote.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan who was known to promote the legal ideology of originalism and textualism.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan who often served as a swing vote after the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice who President Reagan nominated to be the chief justice in 1986 and was known for being a states’ rights enthusiast.

Presidential election President Reagan won in a landslide through his charismatic and optimistic “It’s Morning Again in America” theme.

Total national debt owed by the national government, which tripled under the Reagan Administration because of his large tax cuts and increased military spending.

Amount by which the cost of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports, which was a major issue during the Reagan Administration and led to the United States becoming a debtor nation again.

Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget Act (1985)

Congressional law passed under President Reagan that provided for across-the-board spending cuts over concerns of the ballooning federal deficit.

Nickname given to President Reagan for his charisma and his ability to simply, but effectively convey his thoughts to the country through his speeches.

41st President of the United States who ran on a promise of no new taxes, but after being elected angered voters by agreeing to $133 billion in new taxes to combat the growing federal deficit.

Campaign pledge by presidential candidate George H. W. Bush in the election of 1988 to not raise taxes, which he broke by agreeing to $133 billion in new taxes to combat the growing federal deficit.

Supreme Court Justice whose nomination by President H. W. Bush was controversial because of his strongly conservative judicial philosophy and accusations of sexual assault.

Savings and Loans Institutions (S&Ls)

Financial institutions that specialize in residential mortgages, which started to fail in mass during the 1980s and were controversially bailed out by the national government.

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

Congressional law that prohibited discrimination against citizens with physical and mental disabilities in hiring, transportation and public accommodation.

Political Polarization

Process by which opinions on issues grow farther apart, which has become a major issue in the United States between the more conservative rural areas and the more liberal urban areas.

Small number of states with relatively large numbers of electoral votes that are not politically dominated by a political party and could potentially decide a presidential election.

Manipulation of voting districts to favor one party or class over another, which can be used to create “safe seats” and contributes to political polarization.

Voting districts created through gerrymandering that reliably vote for candidates from a specific political party.

First 24-hour all-news network on television launched in 1980 that helped mark the growing number of American media platforms that opened up to many different views and voices.

Conservative talk radio host who started to build a large following in the 1980s, which helped mark the growing number of American media platforms opened up to many different views and voices.

Requirement removed in 1987 that forced broadcasters to present the news and issues of public debate in a manner the FCC considered honest, equitable and balanced.

Controversial issue over reproductive rights that was upheld in Roe v. Wade, but has become a major target for conservatives over the years.

Congressional law that mandated background checks and a five-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns, which was fiercely opposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

National Rifle Association (NRA)

Powerful gun rights advocacy group that tried to mobilize its supporters to overturn the Brady Bill and defeat politicians who supported it.

District of Columbia v. Heller

Landmark SCOTUS case that ruled the 2nd Amendment provides an individual the right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia.

Women’s rights movement started in 2017 that emphasized the problems of sexual harassment and abuse in society, which led to law and regulation changes surrounding sexual harassment and assault.

African American man who was severely beaten by police in L.A. in 1991 and the jury's acquittal of the officers sparked large riots and ignited questions about racial disparity in the justice system.

Civil rights movement started in 2013 to campaign for reforms in police training and arrest procedures.

Acronym often used as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity, which is a divisive issue between conservatives and liberals.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Policy created under President Clinton in 1993 that stopped the military from asking for people to identify their sexual identity, but permitted the military to expel people for being gay or lesbian.

Landmark SCOTUS case that ruled the 14th Amendment protects the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Undocumented Immigrants

People living in a country without the proper authorization, which is a controversial issue that liberals and conservatives struggle to agree on.

One of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression that was caused by a housing bubble and major banking crisis in 2008.

Affordable Care Act (2010)

Congressional law passed under the Obama Administration that increased health insurance coverage for the uninsured and reformed the health insurance market.

Soviet leader who introduced reforms to the Soviet Union and worked with President Reagan to ease Cold War tensions, which ultimately helped lead the the break up of the Soviet Union.

Name President Reagan used in reference to the Soviet Union and its global influence in order to promote support for increased military spending.

Buffer communist states in Eastern and Central Europe created and supported by the Soviet Union as a protection measure against another German-like invasion from the West.

Help

Options

focusNode

Didn't know it?
click below

Knew it?
click below

Don't Know

Remaining cards (0)

Know

retry

shuffle

restart

0:00

Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

Normal Size Small Size show me how

Unit 9

All Vocabulary

Term	Definition
Ronald Reagan	40th President of the United States who used his charisma to build large support for his conservative ideology, such as supply-side economics and an aggressive anti-communist foreign policy.
Election of 1980	Presidential election won by Ronald Reagan that marked a resurgence of conservatism through a majority of blue collar workers voting Republican, which ended the historic New Deal coalition.
Iran Hostage Crisis	Diplomatic emergency involving American hostages being held in Iran that President Carter struggled to deal with and ended with their release on the day of President Reagan’s inauguration.
Supply-Side Economics	Economic theory proposed by Arthur Laffer and adopted by President Reagan to stimulate the economy by reducing taxes, decreasing regulations and allowing free trade.
Reaganomics	Nickname given to President Reagn’s implementation of supply-side economics, which contrasted greatly with the Keynesian economics long favored by the Democrats.
Trickle-Down Economics	Economic theory that proposed tax breaks and benefits for the wealthy would expand the economy and eventually benefit everyone else, which some critics compared to Reaganomics.
Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981)	Congressional law passed as part of Reaganomics that included a 25% decrease in personal income taxes and other tax cuts that mostly benefited businesses and the wealthy.
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)	Type of investment account created under the Economic Recovery Tax Act that allows people to invest a certain amount every year without paying taxes on it until they retire.
Boll Weevils	Nickname given to conservative Southern Democrats in Congress who helped Republicans cut more than $40 billion from domestic programs during the Reagan Administration.
Deregulation	Ease of restrictions on business practices such as corporate mergers and environmental protections, which was a key component of Reaganomics.
James Watt	Secretary of the Interior under President Reagan who opened federal lands for increased coal and timber production and offshore waters for oil drilling as a part of deregulation under Reaganomics.
Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO)	Union decertified by President Reagan during an air traffic controller strike, which had a chilling effect on unions and their membership.
Early 1980s Recession	Major economic downturn under the Reagan Administration that rebounded through low inflation, tax cuts and large federal deficits, but widened the gap between rich and poor.
Yuppies	Nickname for young urban professionals who predominantly part of the upper-income groups who benefited greatly from Reaganomics.
Sandra Day O’Connor	Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan who was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and often served as a swing vote.
Antonin Scalia	Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan who was known to promote the legal ideology of originalism and textualism.
Anthony Kennedy	Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan who often served as a swing vote after the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor.
William Rehnquist	Conservative Supreme Court Justice who President Reagan nominated to be the chief justice in 1986 and was known for being a states’ rights enthusiast.
Election of 1984	Presidential election President Reagan won in a landslide through his charismatic and optimistic “It’s Morning Again in America” theme.
Federal Deficit	Total national debt owed by the national government, which tripled under the Reagan Administration because of his large tax cuts and increased military spending.
Trade Deficit	Amount by which the cost of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports, which was a major issue during the Reagan Administration and led to the United States becoming a debtor nation again.
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget Act (1985)	Congressional law passed under President Reagan that provided for across-the-board spending cuts over concerns of the ballooning federal deficit.
Great Communicator	Nickname given to President Reagan for his charisma and his ability to simply, but effectively convey his thoughts to the country through his speeches.
George H. W. Bush	41st President of the United States who ran on a promise of no new taxes, but after being elected angered voters by agreeing to $133 billion in new taxes to combat the growing federal deficit.
“No New Taxes”	Campaign pledge by presidential candidate George H. W. Bush in the election of 1988 to not raise taxes, which he broke by agreeing to $133 billion in new taxes to combat the growing federal deficit.
Clarence Thomas	Supreme Court Justice whose nomination by President H. W. Bush was controversial because of his strongly conservative judicial philosophy and accusations of sexual assault.
Savings and Loans Institutions (S&Ls)	Financial institutions that specialize in residential mortgages, which started to fail in mass during the 1980s and were controversially bailed out by the national government.
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)	Congressional law that prohibited discrimination against citizens with physical and mental disabilities in hiring, transportation and public accommodation.
Political Polarization	Process by which opinions on issues grow farther apart, which has become a major issue in the United States between the more conservative rural areas and the more liberal urban areas.
Swing State	Small number of states with relatively large numbers of electoral votes that are not politically dominated by a political party and could potentially decide a presidential election.
Gerrymandering	Manipulation of voting districts to favor one party or class over another, which can be used to create “safe seats” and contributes to political polarization.
Safe Seats	Voting districts created through gerrymandering that reliably vote for candidates from a specific political party.
CNN	First 24-hour all-news network on television launched in 1980 that helped mark the growing number of American media platforms that opened up to many different views and voices.
Rush Limbaugh	Conservative talk radio host who started to build a large following in the 1980s, which helped mark the growing number of American media platforms opened up to many different views and voices.
Fairness Doctrine	Requirement removed in 1987 that forced broadcasters to present the news and issues of public debate in a manner the FCC considered honest, equitable and balanced.
Abortion	Controversial issue over reproductive rights that was upheld in Roe v. Wade, but has become a major target for conservatives over the years.
Brady Bill (1993)	Congressional law that mandated background checks and a five-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns, which was fiercely opposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
National Rifle Association (NRA)	Powerful gun rights advocacy group that tried to mobilize its supporters to overturn the Brady Bill and defeat politicians who supported it.
District of Columbia v. Heller	Landmark SCOTUS case that ruled the 2nd Amendment provides an individual the right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia.
#MeToo	Women’s rights movement started in 2017 that emphasized the problems of sexual harassment and abuse in society, which led to law and regulation changes surrounding sexual harassment and assault.
Rodney King	African American man who was severely beaten by police in L.A. in 1991 and the jury's acquittal of the officers sparked large riots and ignited questions about racial disparity in the justice system.
Black Lives Matter	Civil rights movement started in 2013 to campaign for reforms in police training and arrest procedures.
LGBTQ	Acronym often used as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity, which is a divisive issue between conservatives and liberals.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”	Policy created under President Clinton in 1993 that stopped the military from asking for people to identify their sexual identity, but permitted the military to expel people for being gay or lesbian.
Obergefell v. Hodges	Landmark SCOTUS case that ruled the 14th Amendment protects the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Undocumented Immigrants	People living in a country without the proper authorization, which is a controversial issue that liberals and conservatives struggle to agree on.
Great Recession	One of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression that was caused by a housing bubble and major banking crisis in 2008.
Affordable Care Act (2010)	Congressional law passed under the Obama Administration that increased health insurance coverage for the uninsured and reformed the health insurance market.
Mikhail Gorbachev	Soviet leader who introduced reforms to the Soviet Union and worked with President Reagan to ease Cold War tensions, which ultimately helped lead the the break up of the Soviet Union.
“Evil Empire”	Name President Reagan used in reference to the Soviet Union and its global influence in order to promote support for increased military spending.
Satellites	Buffer communist states in Eastern and Central Europe created and supported by the Soviet Union as a protection measure against another German-like invasion from the West.
B-1 Bomber	New supersonic bomber aircraft that President Reagan supported incorporating into the military as part of his increased Cold War defense spending.
MX Missile	New type of intercontinental ballistic missile that President Reagan supported incorporating into the military as part of his increased Cold War defense spending.
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)	Proposed plan for building a high-tech system of lasers and particle beams to destroy enemy missiles that President Reagan supported, but it ultimately was not built.
“Star Wars”	Term critics applied to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) for being too costly and impractical as a true missile defense system.
Sandinistas	Communist movement in Nicaragua that overthrew the country’s dictator in 1979, which was opposed by the Contras.
Contras	Right wing rebels in Nicaragua that opposed the Sandinistas and were supported by the United States until the Boland Amendment, but the Reagan Administration continued to covertly support them.
Boland Amendment	Congressional law passed in 1985 that prohibited the United States from sending further aid to the Contras, which the Reagan Administration violated in the Iran-Contra Affair.
El Salvador	Central American country that the Reagan Administration supported against leftist guerillas in spite of alleged connections to right-wing death squads who were killing civilians.
Grenada	Small Caribbean island where a coup led to the establishment of a pro-Cuban regime, but in 1983 President Reagan ordered a small force of marines to invade and successfully established a pro-U.S. regime.
Iran-Contra Affair	Plan by the Reagan Administration to sell weapons to Iran and use the money to fund the Contras, which was in violation of the Boland Amendment and President Reagan denied any involvement.
Lebanon	Middle Eastern country invaded by Israel in 1982 that led to President Reagan sending in peacekeeping troops, but the peacekeeping mission was ended after sustaining large casualties.
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)	Palestinian nationalist political and militant entity founded in 1964 that launched attacks on Israel from Lebanon, which led to Israel’s invasion in 1982.
Beirut	Capital of Lebanon and the location of multiple terrorist attacks on U.S. State Department employees and U.S. Marines in 1983, which led President Reagan to end the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
George Schultz	Secretary of State for President Reagan who pushed for a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by setting up a homeland for the PLO in the Israeli occupied West Bank territories.
Yasser Arafat	Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) who agreed to recognize Israel’s right to exist in 1988 as part of an effort to create a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Glasnost	Major reform introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that involved an openness to ending political repression and moving toward greater political freedom for Soviet citizens.
Perestroika	Major reform introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that involved a restructuring of the Soviet economy by introducing some free-market practices.
INF Agreement	Diplomatic agreement between President Reagan and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to remove and destroy all intermediate-range missiles as part of a series of summits between the leaders.
Lech Walesa	Leader of the Solidarity movement in Poland who helped bring down the communist regime and whose election helped spark the fall of communist regimes in many other Eastern European nations.
John Paul II	Catholic Pope who was from Poland and supported the end of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
George Kennan	Expert on Soviet affairs under President Truman who helped create the U.S. foreign policy of containment during the Cold War through the Truman Doctrine.
Persian Gulf War	Coalition of United Nations members put together by President H. W. Bush successfully invaded Iraq in 1991 to restore Kuwait’s independence.
Desert Storm	Name for the invasion of Iraq in 1991 by a coalition of United Nations members put together by President H. W. Bush to restore Kuwait’s independence.
Tiananmen Square	Public square in Beijing where prodemocracy demonstrations were violently put down by the communist Chinese government in 1989.
Solidarity Movement	Anticommunist movement in Poland that successfully ended the communist regime with the election of Lech Walesa in 1990.
Berlin Wall	Fortification surrounding West Berlin controversially built by the East Germans with Soviet backing in 1961 to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin, which was torn down in 1989.
Soviet Baltic Republics	Nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who declared their independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Boris Yeltsin	President of the Russian Republic after the fall of the Soviet Union who dissolved the Communist Party and attempted to establish a democracy with a free-market economy.
Russian Republic	Government of Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union, which Boris Yeltsin attempted to move toward a democracy with a free-market economy.
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)	Loose confederation of the Russian Republic with nine other former Soviet Republics after the fall of the Soviet Union.
START I	Diplomatic agreement between President H. W. Bush and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991 to reduce the number of nuclear warheads to under 10,000 for each side.
START II	Diplomatic agreement between President H. W. Bush and Russian leader Boris Yeltsin in 1992 to reduce the number of nuclear weapons to just over 3,000 each.
Yugoslavia	Former Soviet satellite that experienced a brutal civil war that started in 1990, which resulted in multiple genocidal “ethnic cleansings” and required the involvement of NATO troops to stop the violence.
European Union (EU)	Political and economic union of many European nations formed in 2002 that increased cooperation and led many members to adopt a common currency through the euro.
Euro	Common currency used by a majority of the members of the European Union, which made trade and economic regulation easier between member nations.
Poland	Example of a former Soviet satellite that toppled their communist regime and eventually joined the European Union.
Vladimir Putin	President of Russia elected after Boris Yeltsin who greatly strained relations with the United States through his brutal repression of the civil war in Chechnya and opposition to NATO expansion.
Chechnya	Republic of Russia that tried to become an independent nation in the 1990s, but was violently suppressed by the Russian military under President Vladimir Putin.
Balkan Wars	Series of wars fought over the territory of Yugoslavia that resulted in multiple genocidal “ethnic cleansings” and required the involvement of NATO troops to stop the violence.
Slobodan Milosevic	Serbian dictator who violently suppressed independence movements in the former Yugoslav provinces of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo.
“Ethnic Cleansing”	Genocidal mass murder of people based on their ethnicity and/or religion, which was a major issue of the Balkan Wars and required the involvement of NATO troops to stop the violence.
Election of 1992	Presidential election won by Bill Clinton over incumbent President H. W. Bush by campaigning on a message of being a moderate “New Democrat” focused on economic issues.
Bill Clinton	42nd President of the United States who worked with Congressional Republicans to balance the budget and oversee rapid economic expansion, but struggled with a personal scandal.
New Democrat	Presidential campaign promise by Bill Clinton in the election of 1992 to be a moderate Democrat focused on economic issues such as jobs, education, and health care.
Ross Perot	Third-party candidate and Texas billionaire who put up a serious campaign that helped split the Republican vote, which helped Bill Clinton win the election of 1992.
Filibuster	Political procedure to delay or prevent a vote by prolonging debate, which Republicans used to great effect to block most of President Clinton’s larger reform proposals.
Brady Bill (1993)	Congressional law that mandated background checks and a five-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns, which was fiercely opposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Anti-Crime Bill (1994)	Congressional law that provided $30 billion in funding for more police protection and crime-prevention programs and banned the sale of most assault rifles.
National Rifle Association (NRA)	Powerful gun rights advocacy group that tried to mobilize its supporters to overturn the Brady Bill and defeat politicians who supported it.
Newt Gingrich	Conservative Speaker of the House who led the “Republican Revolution” and oversaw several government shutdowns and the impeachment of President Clinton.
“Republican Revolution”	Widespread election of Republican politicians in the midterm election of 1994 under the Clinton Administration that gave Republicans control of Congress for the first time since 1954.
“Revolution of ’94”	Widespread election of Republican politicians in the midterm election of 1994 under the Clinton Administration that gave Republicans control of Congress for the first time since 1954.
“Contract with America”	Short list of conservative priorities that Republicans used to great effect to win massive gains in the midterm election of 1994 and win control of Congress for the first time since 1954.
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (1996)	Congressional law that implemented new requirements on welfare recipients, including a five-year lifetime limit on benefits.
Federal Surplus	Total money the government brought in exceeded the total money the government spent in a fiscal year, which happened under President Clinton for the first time since 1969.
Impeachment	Process where the House of Representatives holds an investigation and can vote to recommend the Senate remove a government official, which happened to President Clinton in 1999.
Internet	Global system of interconnected computer networks that revolutionized communication and productivity and introduced e-commerce as an essential part of the economy.
The World is Flat	Book by Thomas Friedman on how swift advances in technology and communications were creating new wealth in the developing world and flattening competition around the globe.
Thomas Friedman	Political commentator and author who wrote The World is Flat.
1990s Boom	Massive economic success of the United States in the 1990s as average household wealth increased, unemployment fell to a 30 year low and stocks experienced record gains.
Globalization	Increasing interconnectedness of nations into a world economy as technology allowed for improved transportation and communication of people, goods, ideas and capital.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)	Treaty created in 1994 between the United States, Canada and Mexico that lowered barriers to trade between member nations.
World Trade Organization (WTO)	International entity created in 1994 to oversee trade agreements, enforce trade rules and settle disputes.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)	International entity created to oversee the stability of the world’s monetary system.
World Bank	International entity created to reduce poverty by offering assistance to middle and low-income countries.
Group of Eight (G8)	Name for the major industrialized nations including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, which controlled two-thirds of the world’s wealth.
Digital Security and Privacy	Need for protection and regulation of data as the internet became more integral to the economy and society in general.
Top 1 Percent	Wealthiest people in the country who by 2010 controlled 43 percent of the nation’s financial wealth and were moving toward greater control.
Joseph Stiglitz	Economist who argued the decline of strong unions since the 1970s was related to the rise in the inequality of income and wealth in the United States.
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965	Congressional law that eliminated the racially based quota system of the 1920s and gave preference to immigrants with American relatives and critical jobs.
Hispanic Americans	Citizens of the United States of descent from Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas and who became the country’s largest minority group in 2000.
Asian Americans	American citizens of Asian descent who became the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States by the 1980s, but often faced prejudice and racial stereotypes.
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986	Congressional law that tried to create a fair entry process for immigrants, but failed to stop people in search of work from entering the United States without authorization.
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996	Congressional law that reinforced immigration laws and restructured immigration law enforcement to try and stop undocumented immigration.
Dreamers	Undocumented young people brought to the United States as children who received special protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)	Controversial immigration policy created under President Obama to protect undocumented young people brought to the United States as children from deportation.
Undocumented Immigrants	People living in a country without the proper authorization, which is a controversial issue that liberals and conservatives struggle to agree on.
Border Wall	Controversial conservative policy to construct a physical barrier between the United States and Mexico to try and stop undocumented immigration.
Green Cards	Permits that allow a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States, which President Trump proposed limiting as part of his conservative immigration policy.
Asylum Seekers	Immigrants who left their home country as refugees and are seeking safety, which make up a significant number of people trying to enter the southern border of the United States.
Sun Belt	Southern and Western states which continue to grow rapidly in population and political power because people are attracted to the warmer climate, lower taxes and economic opportunities.
Graying	Aging of a country’s population without a significant enough birthrate or immigration rate, which is becoming a problem in the United States.
Single-Parent Families	Growing number of families with a parent who lives with a child or children with no spouse or partner.
Election of 2000	Presidential election that ended in controversy over ballots in Florida, with the conservative leaning Supreme Court siding with Republican candidate George W. Bush.
Al Gore	Vice president to President Clinton and Democratic candidate in the presidential election of 2000 who lost to George W. Bush after the Supreme Court controversially stopped a recount in Florida.
George W. Bush	Governor of Texas who became the 43rd President of the United States after the controversial decision in Bush v. Gore and oversaw the start of the war on terrorism.
Bush v. Gore	Landmark SCOTUS case that controversially stopped a recount in Florida, which resulted in Republican George W. Bush winning the presidency over Democrat Al Gore.
War on Terrorism	International military counterterrorism campaign launched by the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Dick Cheney	Vice president to President W. Bush who greatly influenced foreign policy through his experience as Secretary of Defense under President H. W. Bush.
Colin Powell	General who became Secretary of State for President W. Bush and greatly influenced the War on Terrorism.
Al-Qaeda	Multinational militant Islamic extremist network that preached jihad and organized multiple terrorist attacks around the world, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“Asymmetric” Warfare	Type of war between belligerents whose military power and strategy differ significantly, such as small bands of militants inflicting great damage on a more powerful country.
Osama bin Laden	Al-Qaeda leader who was responsible for multiple terrorist attacks, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks and fled to Afghanistan and allied himself with the Taliban.
Afghanistan	Landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia where Osama bin Laden fled and allied himself with the Taliban.
Taliban	Islamic fundamentalists who controlled Afghanistan and were driven from power by the U.S military, but returned to power after the removal of U.S. troops under President Biden.
USS Cole	U.S. warship docked in the Middle Eastern country of Yemen that was sunk in 2000 by two suicide bombers as part of a terrorist attack.
World Trade Center	Complex of buildings in NYC that included the Twin Towers, which were destroyed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
September 11, 2001	Date of terrorist attacks that involved Islamic extremists capturing four planes and flying them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which led to the War on Terrorism.
War in Afghanistan	U.S. invasion of Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to capture Al-Qaeda leaders and end Taliban support for Islamic terrorists.
USA PATRIOT Act (2001)	Congressional law passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that gave the national government unparalleled powers to obtain information and to expand surveillance and arrest powers.
Department of Homeland Security	New executive department created under President W. Bush after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to streamline the organization of federal agencies responsible for public security.
Director of National Intelligence	New executive branch position created under President W. Bush after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate the intelligence of all federal agencies.
Iraq War	U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 in response to allegations of Saddam Hussein being involved with the 9/11 terrorist attacks and possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
Axis of Evil	Name President W. Bush used to describe Iraq, North Korea and Iran as the biggest threats to world peace.
Saddam Hussein	Dictator of Iraq that was forcibly removed by the U.S. military after allegations of him being involved with the 9/11 terrorist attacks and possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)	Nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended to harm a large number of people.
Operation Iraqi Freedom	U.S. invasion of Iraq 2003 in response to allegations of Saddam Hussein being involved with the 9/11 terrorist attacks and possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
“War of Choice”	Criticism launched at the Bush Administration that the invasion of Iraq was unnecessary for the defense of the United States.
Regime Change	Replacement of a government administration by another, such as the U.S. military removing Saddam Hussein as dictator of Iraq.
Abu Ghraib	Prison in Iraq where U.S. forces committed barbaric atrocities against prisoners, which was publicly exposed through photographs and diminished America’s reputation around the world.
Elections of 2004	Election cycle where President W. Bush won a close reelection campaign against John Kerry, Republicans expanded their majorities in Congress and Republicans made gains at the state level.
John Kerry	Democratic candidate for president in the election of 2004 that lost a close campaign to incumbent President W. Bush.
“Surge”	Influx of additional U.S troops into Iraq in 2007 to address escalating violence, which led to reduced militia violence and decreased American deaths by late 2008.
Kyoto Accord	International climate agreement covering most of the members of the United Nations that the United States refused to join under President W. Bush.
Unilateralist Approach	International relations in which a nation acts without regard to the interests of other countries, which was a common critique of the Bush Administration.
Bush Doctrine	Foreign policy under President W. Bush that abandoned containment and deterrence in a world of stateless terrorism and favored preemptive attacks to stop terrorists from acquiring WMDs.
Election of 2008	Presidential election in which Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and went on to defeat John McCain and Democrats built on their majorities in Congress.
Hillary Clinton	Former first lady and senator from New York who lost a close primary to Barack Obama in 2008, became his Secretary of State and later lost to Donald Trump in the election of 2016.
Barack Obama	44th President of the United States who campaigned on a message of change in the face of the Great Recession and was the first African American president.
John McCain	Senator from Arizona, Vietnam War hero and political maverick who lost the election of 2008 to Barack Obama.
Drones	Unmanned combat aerial vehicles that became commonly used by the U.S. military under President Obama, but remain controversial for potential civilian damage and casualties.
SEAL Team 6	Special forces unit that worked with the CIA on a clandestine operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Arab Spring	Wave of protests across the Middle East and North Africa in 2010 that resulted in civil unrest and armed rebellions that toppled multiple oppressive regimes.
ISIS	Islamic extremist terrorist movement that used social media to recruit fighters from all over the world and forced President Obama to commit more U.S. troops and resources to Iraq.
Iran Nuclear Agreement	International agreement with Iran in 2015 that released frozen assets in exchange for Iran agreeing to stop development and production of nuclear weapons for at least 15 years.
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)	Trade agreement between the United States and 11 other Pacific countries negotiated by President Obama that was not ratified by the Senate.
South China Sea	Body of water in the Pacific Ocean with islands claimed by multiple Pacific nations, which has resulted in China militarizing the area and increased tensions with the United States over free navigation.
Ukraine	Former member of the Soviet Union that had a popular pro-Western movement in 2014, which resulted in Russia, under Vladimir Putin, annexing Crimea.
Vladimir Putin	President of Russia who opposed Ukraine’s pro-Western movement, annexed Crimea in 2014, brutally intervened in Syria’s civil war and launched a full invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Crimea	Strategic southern peninsula of Ukraine that was annexed by Russia in 2014, which resulted in international sanctions against Russia.
Cuba	Communist country in the Caribbean that President Obama began normalizing relations with, which resulted in the reopening of a U.S. embassy in Havana in 2015.
Cyber Attacks	Attempts by hackers to damage or destroy a computer network or system, which have become major threats as part of 21st century warfare from countries such as Russia, China and Iran.
WikiLeaks	International organization that publishes news leaks and classified media provided by anonymous sources, such as documents and emails from Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.
Bush Tax Cuts	Major tax cuts passed under the Bush Administration when there was a budget surplus that Democrats criticized for mostly benefiting the wealthy and that have contributed to future budget deficits.
No Child Left Behind Act (2001)	Congressional law passed under the Bush Administration aimed to improve student performance and close the gap between well-to-do and poor students in public schools.
Dot Com Bubble	Stock market crash in the early 2000s caused by overspeculation in online companies and fraud committed by companies such as Enron and WorldCom.
Enron/WorldCom	Large companies that contributed to the dot com bubble of the early 2000s through fraud by falsifying their stated earnings and profits with the help of accounting companies.
Privatization	Transfer of publicly owned operations to private ownership, such as President W. Bush pushing for private companies to take over Social Security in 2004.
John Roberts	Conservative Supreme Court chief justice appointed by President W. Bush that has recently become a swing vote on many landmark cases.
Samuel Alito	Conservative Supreme Court justice appointed by President W. Bush who is known for his right wing leanings that sometimes encompass libertarian ideals.
Hurricane Katrina	Major natural disaster that hit New Orleans in 2005 and disproportionately affected poor and African American neighborhoods, which led to criticisms of the Bush Administration for a slow response.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	National government agency tasked with responding to national emergencies that was notoriously slow in its response to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Great Recession	One of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression that was caused by a housing bubble and major banking crisis in 2008.
Securitization	High-risk loans packed into a variety of complex investments by financial institutions with little government regulations that helped contribute to the Great Recession.
Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac	Quasigovernmental mortgage institutions that were taken over completely by the national government in 2008 in response to the Great Recession.
Lehman Brothers	Large Wall Street investment bank that went bankrupt in 2008 as part of the Great Recession, which sparked greater calls for government intervention and regulation.
Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP)	Controversial economic aid package created under the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 that provided $700 billion to purchase failing assets from financial institutions.
Ponzi Scheme	Investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors, which helped destroy investor confidence in 2008 and helped lead to the Great Recession.
Sonia Sotomayor	Liberal Supreme Court justice appointed by President Obama and the first woman of color to serve on the Court.
Elena Kagan	Liberal leaning moderate Supreme Court justice appointed by President Obama who was also the first female solicitor general of the United States.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009)	Congressional law that provided a $787 billion economic stimulus package designed to create or save 3.5 million jobs.
Federal Reserve	Central banking system of the United States that helps regulate the economy and helped the Great Recession by lowering interest rates and injecting $600 billion dollars into the banking system.
Ben Bernanke	Economist and Great Depression scholar who guided the Federal Reserve’s response to the Great Recession.
General Motors	American automotive manufacturer that struggled during the Great Recession and was bailed out by the national government in order to save jobs.
Chrysler	American automotive manufacturer that struggled during the Great Recession and was temporarily bailed out by the national government in order to save jobs before being sold to Fiat.
“Cash for Clunkers”	Economic program that provided $3 billion in incentives to U.S. residents to scrap old cars in order to promote sales and to purchase new, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Dodd-Frank Act (2010)	Congressional law designed to improve regulation of banking and investment firms and to protect taxpayers from future bailouts of businesses that were “too big to fail.”
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)	Government entity created by the Dodd-Frank Act to regulate consumer products, such as mortgages and credit cards.
Paris Agreement	International climate treaty to reduce carbon emissions that the United States joined under President Obama in 2015, left under President Trump in 2020 and rejoined under President Biden in 2021.
Race to the Top	$4.35 billion United States Department of Education competitive grant created under the Obama Administration to spur and reward innovation and reforms in state and local district K–12 education.
Every Student Succeeds Act (2015)	Congressional law that replaced No Child Left Behind with a system that placed more emphasis on local and state flexibility.
Affordable Care Act (2010)	Congressional law passed under the Obama Administration that increased health insurance coverage for the uninsured and reformed the health insurance market.
Obamacare	Nickname given to the Affordable Care Act, which increased health insurance coverage for the uninsured and reformed the health insurance market.
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act	Congressional law that strengthened protection of equal pay for female employees.
Tea Party	Loosely united conservative and libertarian movement that pushed the Republican Party farther to the right and the energy of the movement helped propel Republicans to take control of the House in 2010.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission	Landmark SCOTUS case that ruled corporations were “legal persons” and had the same rights as individuals to buy ads to influence political elections.
Mitt Romney	Former governor of Massachusetts who became the Republican nominee for president in the election of 2012, but lost to incumbent President Obama.
Deadlock	Increased political polarization that leads to political failure when one party controls Congress and the other part controls the presidency, such as President Obama’s second term in office.
Sequestrations	Automatic cuts in national spending on military and domestic programs that went into effect after President Obama and the Republican controlled Congress could not come to a budget agreement.
Merrick Garland	President Obama’s nomination to replace Justice Antonin Scalia that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell refused to hold a vote on for over a year until after the next presidential election.
2016 Election	Presidential election in which Donald Trump won the presidency over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton through his Make America Great Again campaign and his attacks on Washington politicians.
Donald Trump	45th President of the United States who emphasized his Make America Great Again plan and filing federal court vacancies, but struggled with multiple scandals and impeachments.
Make America Great Again	President Trump’s campaign slogan and plan to emphasize tax cuts, deregulation of the private sector, trade protection and immigration control.
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)	Congressional law passed under President Trump which cut taxes in a way that mostly benefited wealthy Americans and resulted in a sharp increase in the federal deficit.
Neil Gorsuch	Conservative Supreme Court justice appointed by President Trump after Senator McConnell refused to hold a vote on President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland.
Brett Kavanaugh	Conservative Supreme Court justice whose nomination by President Trump was controversial because of accusations of sexual assault.
Amy Coney Barrett	Conservative Supreme Court justice appointed by President Trump, which was controversial because Senator McConnell rushed through her confirmation vote before the election of 2020.
“America First”	Isolationist foreign policy of President Trump that involved removing the United States from multiple international agreements and organizations and placing large tariffs on Chinese goods.
Robert Mueller	Special counsel who oversaw the investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, which resulted in multiple indictments and convictions of Trump campaign staff.
1st Impeachment of Trump	Investigation of President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, which ended in the House voting in favor of recommending President Trump’s removal from office.
COVID-19	Virus that caused an international pandemic in 2020, which caused most schools and businesses to switch to virtual interactions and the economy was greatly affected.
Operation Warp Speed	$10 billion government program under President Trump to help pharmaceutical companies develop COVID-19 vaccines at a record pace, which proved successful.
Election of 2020	Presidential election won by Joe Biden over incumbent President Trump, which President Trump claimed was stolen without providing any proof or evidence.
Joe Biden	46th President of the United States who won on a campaign promise to “Build Back Better” by investing in infrastructure and helping the United States emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kamala Harris	Former California senator and vice president to President Biden who was the first female and person of color to hold the position.
January 6, 2021	Attack on the Capitol by President Trump supporters who attended his rally nearby, which resulted in multiple deaths, hundreds of injuries and President Trump’s second impeachment.
2nd Impeachment of Trump	Investigation of President Trump for incitement of insurrection, which ended in the House voting in favor of recommending President Trump’s removal from office.

Created by: user-1961066

Popular U.S. History sets

Mr. Holzshu's Quarter 1 US History part I review site

Manifest Destiny and Territorial Expansion

Mr. Holzshu's Revolutionary War Stack

The Articles of Confederation and Constitution

Pick a side, grab a rifle and get ready for the experience of a lifetime.

A review of United States History to 1877.

Roaring Twenties

Important Individuals

Important Vocabulary

Important Supreme Court Cases

Important Documents in American History

Important Acts from England

"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries: