ME - The Modern Era Module Overview

The Modern Era

Introduction

In the previous module many of the economic, political, and foreign policy challenges of the 1970s were examined. Capitalizing on the mood that change was needed and harnessing the energy of the surging conservative movement, Ronald Reagan won the presidency in 1980. He vowed to cut federal spending on domestic programs, cut regulations on business, cut taxes, and increase American military power. The long struggle of the Cold War ended in the early 1990s when Soviet communism collapsed in Eastern Europe.

Twelve years of conservative control were ended with the election of Bill Clinton in 1992. Clinton was the first "baby boomer" to be elected to the office of president. Finding the appropriate role for America in leading the increasingly globalized world, as well as thorny domestic issues, presented a great challenge to President Clinton.

Following the Clinton Era, Republicans regained the presidency with the razor-thin victory of Texas Governor George W. Bush in 2000. Bush entered office and instituted tax cuts and education reform. The focus of the Bush presidency quickly changed, however, with the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001. President Bush took an aggressive stand against terrorism by invading and occupying Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2008 voters elected the first African-American President, Barack Obama, who ran on a platform of change as many had become war-weary and concerned about economic woes.

Essential Questions

• What factors led to the resurgence of conservatism and the election of Ronald Reagan?
• How did the end of the Cold War signal the end of an era and the rise of new challenges?
• In what ways has American society continued to change in the past three decades?
• How has the U.S. sought to counter international terrorism post 9/11?

 

Textbook Assignment

 Read the chapter in your textbook that relates to this module. Your instructor will provide you with a specific reading schedule. 

 

Key Terms

Click here to look over your key terms for this module. Links to an external site. Then review them with the activity below.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.