Modern America (1980-Present) Cheat Sheet
The core ideas of Modern America (1980-Present) distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.
Quick Reference
Reagan Revolution
The broad conservative political realignment beginning with Reagan's 1980 election, combining supply-side economics, deregulation, anti-communism, and social conservatism into a governing coalition that reshaped American politics for decades.
End of the Cold War
The period from 1989-1991 during which communist governments fell across Eastern Europe, the Berlin Wall was torn down, and the Soviet Union dissolved, leaving the United States as the sole global superpower.
Globalization
The increasing integration of economies, cultures, and populations worldwide through trade, investment, technology, and migration. In the American context, globalization accelerated after the Cold War through free-trade agreements and the digital revolution.
War on Terror
The broad military, intelligence, and policy campaign launched after September 11, 2001, encompassing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, expanded domestic surveillance, and new institutional structures like the Department of Homeland Security.
2008 Financial Crisis
The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, triggered by the collapse of the housing bubble, subprime mortgage defaults, and the failure of major financial institutions, leading to massive government bailouts and stimulus spending.
Culture Wars
The intense political conflicts over social, moral, and cultural issues -- including abortion, gun rights, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and the role of religion in public life -- that have increasingly defined the divide between conservatives and liberals since the 1980s.
Partisan Gridlock
The inability of Congress to pass major legislation due to deep ideological divisions between the parties, increased use of procedural obstructions like the filibuster, and the disappearance of moderate cross-over legislators.
Welfare Reform
The 1996 legislation that replaced open-ended cash assistance (AFDC) with time-limited, work-required benefits (TANF), reflecting a bipartisan shift toward personal responsibility and away from entitlement-based social programs.
Key Terms at a Glance
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