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{{HS_American_History}}

{{HS_American_History}}

[[American History Lecture Thirteen|Lecture]]<!-- [[American_History_Homework_Thirteen|Questions]] -- [[American History Homework Thirteen Answers|Student Answers]]-->

<!--[[American History Lecture Thirteen|Lecture]] [[American_History_Homework_Thirteen|Questions]] -- [[American History Homework Thirteen Answers|Student Answers]]-->

'''''Next week: the final exam.  The homework is to prepare for it'''''.

'''''Next week: the final exam.  The homework is to prepare for it'''''.

In 1986, Reagan cut taxes much further.  He also met with Gorbachev (the leader of the Soviet Union) in Reykjavik, Iceland to negotiate an arms reduction deal.  Gorbachev was willing to give Reagan almost anything he wanted in return for just one demand:  abandon the Star Wars (SDI) program.  Reagan stuck to his conservative principles and refused, despite enormous media and world pressure to give in.  Reagan left Iceland with the media criticizing and ridiculing him for not reaching a deal.  It was obvious that Reagan was not trying merely to be popular; rather, he was trying to do what was best for America.

In 1986, Reagan cut taxes much further.  He also met with Gorbachev (the leader of the Soviet Union) in Reykjavik, Iceland to negotiate an arms reduction deal.  Gorbachev was willing to give Reagan almost anything he wanted in return for just one demand:  abandon the Star Wars (SDI) program.  Reagan stuck to his conservative principles and refused, despite enormous media and world pressure to give in.  Reagan left Iceland with the media criticizing and ridiculing him for not reaching a deal.  It was obvious that Reagan was not trying merely to be popular; rather, he was trying to do what was best for America.

In 1987, Reagan insisted on visiting the Berlin Wall, despite obvious security risks of being within range of communist East German sharpshooters.  In preparing for his speech there, Reagan wrote into his draft remarks this demand: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"  His advisors removed this phrase from the speech as being unrealistic, silly and confrontational.  As the drafts of the speech went back and forth between Reagan and his advisors, Reagan kept inserting the phrase and his advisors kept removing it.  But Reagan included the phrase in his spoken words, the world heard it, and within a few years (1989) the wall was miraculously torn down.  Reagan is credited with ending communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, though it still remains in China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba and Venezuela.

In 1987, Reagan insisted on visiting the Berlin Wall, despite obvious security risks of being within range of communist East German sharpshooters.  In preparing for his speech there, Reagan wrote into his draft remarks this demand: '''''"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"''''' His advisors removed this phrase from the speech as being unrealistic, silly and confrontational.  As the drafts of the speech went back and forth between Reagan and his advisors, Reagan kept inserting the phrase and his advisors kept removing it.  But Reagan included the phrase in his spoken words, the world heard it, and within a few years (1989) the wall was miraculously torn down.  Reagan is credited with ending communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, though it still remains in China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba and Venezuela.

In 1988, Reagan struck a deal for free trade (no tariffs) with Canada.  Reagan was also instrumental in enabling his Vice President, George H.W. Bush, to be elected president in 1988 in a close race.  

In 1988, Reagan struck a deal for free trade (no tariffs) with Canada.  Reagan was also instrumental in enabling his Vice President, George H.W. Bush, to be elected president in 1988 in a close race.  

From about 1975 to the end of 2008, the Supreme Court has grown increasingly conservative (as has the nation, in your teacher's view).  The 7-2 vote in favor of legalized abortion in ''Roe v. Wade'' in 1972 had narrowed to an expected 5-4 level of support by the end of 2008, or perhaps the Court is now split 4-4 with one undecided on the issue.  This Court did rule 5-4 ''against'' a right to partial-birth abortion, which is a most heinous form of abortion, and in November 2013 by a 5-4 vote the Court allowed a pro-life Texas law to go into effect, which prohibits abortion by someone who lacks nearby hospital privileges.

From about 1975 to the end of 2008, the Supreme Court has grown increasingly conservative (as has the nation, in your teacher's view).  The 7-2 vote in favor of legalized abortion in ''Roe v. Wade'' in 1972 had narrowed to an expected 5-4 level of support by the end of 2008, or perhaps the Court is now split 4-4 with one undecided on the issue.  This Court did rule 5-4 ''against'' a right to partial-birth abortion, which is a most heinous form of abortion, and in November 2013 by a 5-4 vote the Court allowed a pro-life Texas law to go into effect, which prohibits abortion by someone who lacks nearby hospital privileges.

President George W. Bush appointed two strong conservatives to the Supreme Court during his presidency:  Chief Justice John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who is from New Jersey.  The liberal Justices tend to be older, while the more conservative Justices are younger.  But after 2008, President Obama nominated two young liberals to the Supreme Court, ensuring that this Court would be almost equally divided between conservatives and liberals for the foreseeable future.  Perhaps because it is nearly equally divided, the Supreme Court accepting fewer cases for its review (i.e., the Court is "denying cert." more often).

President George W. Bush appointed two strong conservatives to the Supreme Court during his presidency:  Chief Justice John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who is from New Jersey.  The liberal Justices tend to be older, while the more conservative Justices are younger.  But after 2008, President Obama nominated two young liberals to the Supreme Court, ensuring that this Court would be almost equally divided between conservatives and liberals for the foreseeable future.  Perhaps because it is nearly equally divided, the Supreme Court is accepting fewer cases for its review (i.e., the Court is "denying cert." more often).

State supreme courts have been deciding the issue of same-sex marriage.  In 2003, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled by a 4-3 margin, in ''Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health'', that its state Constitution required issuing same-sex marriage licenses.  In 2008, a 4-3 vote of the California Supreme Court mandated marriage licenses for homosexual couples, but in November California voters overturned that decision by adding a provision ("Proposition 8") to the California Constitution specifying that marriage is between only a man and woman.  Most states have banned same-sex marriage, but the homosexual movement keeps pushing its agenda.  By 2013 about one-third of the states -- 16 out of 50 -- had imposed same-sex marriage, typically by judicial activism rather than legislation.

State supreme courts have been deciding the issue of same-sex marriage.  In 2003, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled by a 4-3 margin, in ''Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health'', that its state Constitution required issuing same-sex marriage licenses.  In 2008, a 4-3 vote of the California Supreme Court mandated marriage licenses for homosexual couples, but in November California voters overturned that decision by adding a provision ("Proposition 8") to the California Constitution specifying that marriage is between only a man and woman.  Most states have banned same-sex marriage, but the homosexual movement keeps pushing its agenda.  By 2013 about one-third of the states -- 16 out of 50 -- had imposed same-sex marriage, typically by judicial activism rather than legislation.