Changes

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

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

This is the final lecture of the course, and takes us through the [[9/11]] terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (typically the stopping point for American history).  We then go further to include events through Tuesday of this week!

This is the final lecture of the course, and takes us through the [[9/11]] terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (typically the stopping point for American history), and then includes the subsequent history from the first decade of this 21st century.

What is the most important event in America in the 21st century?  The terrorist attack of 9/11?  Two new Justices appointed to the Supreme Court?  The election of Presidents George W. Bush and then Barack Obama?  '''''Or this class?'''''  Do not think that history is something that involves ''only'' other people.  You shape history too.

What is the most important event in America in the 21st century?  The terrorist attack of 9/11?  Two new Justices appointed to the Supreme Court?  The election of Presidents George W. Bush and then Barack Obama?  '''''Or this class?'''''  Do not think that history is something that involves ''only'' other people.  You shape history too.

* In 1962, Michael Harrington wrote a book entitled "The Other America," which exposed poverty by 1 out of every 4, especially in Appalachia, in the South, and in city ghettos.

* In 1962, Michael Harrington wrote a book entitled "The Other America," which exposed poverty by 1 out of every 4, especially in Appalachia, in the South, and in city ghettos.

* Student movements expanded in 1964 with the "Free Speech Movement," which began at the ultra-liberal University of California at Berkeley and began to protest a number of perceived injustices.

* Student activism expanded in 1964 with the "Free Speech Movement," which began at the ultra-liberal University of California at Berkeley and began to protest a number of perceived injustices.

* In the summer of 1969, hippies convened for a three-day massive rock concert in rural upstate New York, known as Woodstock.  A half million people, far more than expected, gathered for a weekend of music and, in some cases, outrageous behavior.  It caused massive traffic jams on the New York Thruway.  Some viewed this as the beginning of a new era.  In fact, it was the ''end'' of the hippie era, and perhaps the massive turnout recently to elect Obama is likewise the end of an era.

* In the summer of 1969, hippies convened for a three-day massive rock concert in rural upstate New York, known as Woodstock.  A half million people, far more than expected, gathered for a weekend of music and, in some cases, outrageous behavior.  It caused massive traffic jams on the New York Thruway.  Some viewed this as the beginning of a new era.  In fact, it was the ''end'' of the hippie era, and perhaps the massive turnout to elect Obama in 2008 was likewise the end of an era.

In 1970, the Nixon Administration founded the Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") ostensibly to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.  The EPA quickly banned DDT on unproven environmental grounds (as incited by the since-discredited book the "Silent Spring," by Rachel Carson).  This ban on DDT, which continues to this day, has resulted in the avoidable deaths of millions of Africans from malaria; DDT easily eliminates malaria.

In 1970, the Nixon Administration founded the Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") ostensibly to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.  The EPA quickly banned DDT on unproven environmental grounds (as incited by the since-discredited book the "Silent Spring," by Rachel Carson).  This ban on DDT, which continues to this day, has resulted in the avoidable deaths of millions of Africans from malaria; DDT easily eliminates malaria.

*President Gerald Ford signed the Helsinki Accords in 1975, which was ostensibly an attempt to advance "detente" (a softening in the Cold War) and to improve human rights; critics viewed it as a naive agreement to cooperate with the communists.

*President Gerald Ford signed the Helsinki Accords in 1975, which was ostensibly an attempt to advance "detente" (a softening in the Cold War) and to improve human rights; critics viewed it as a naive agreement to cooperate with the communists.

A "dark horse" candidate, Democrat Jimmy Carter from Georgia, won his Party's nomination for president, and then defeated the never-elected Gerald Ford in a close contest in 1976.  But Carter was not ready for the job, and anxious to give things away like Santa Claus.  He started in 1977 by agreeing to give the Panama Canal to Panama, even though the United States built it, paid for it, and needed it for security reasons.  The Senate ratified the treaty after a heated controversy, with conservatives opposing the giveaway, and Panama acquired full ownership of it in 1999.  Now communist China runs the Canal under a contract with Panama.

A "dark horse" candidate, Democrat Jimmy Carter from Georgia, won his Party's nomination for president, and then defeated President Gerald Ford in a close contest in 1976.  But Carter was not ready for the job, and anxious to give things away like Santa Claus.  He started in 1977 by agreeing to give the Panama Canal to Panama, even though the United States built it, paid for it, and needed it for security reasons.  The Senate ratified the treaty after a heated controversy, with conservatives opposing the giveaway, and Panama acquired full ownership of it in 1999.  Now communist China runs the Canal under a contract with Panama.

Jimmy Carter arranged a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1978 by promising each over a $1 billion per year in annual gifts from the United States if they complied with the agreement, which required Israel to agree to yield control over some of its territory.  This is known as the Camp David Accords and it later earned Carter an award of the Nobel Peace Prize; American taxpayers are still paying the massive bill for this treaty, and many concerned about the future of Israel dislike Carter for his persistent attempts to coerce Israel into giving up land and security.

Jimmy Carter arranged a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1978 by promising each over a $1 billion per year in annual gifts from the United States if they complied with the agreement, which required Israel to give up control over some of its territory.  This is known as the Camp David Accords and it later earned Carter an award of the Nobel Peace Prize; American taxpayers are still paying the massive bill for this treaty, and many concerned about the future of Israel dislike Carter for his persistent attempts to coerce Israel into giving up land and security.

In 1979, Carter's appeasement and naivete really embarrassed the United States when the Iran hostage crisis occurred.  Carter angered Iranian Muslims by allowing the deposed Shah of Iran to obtain medical treatment in the United States, at the insistence of Henry Kissinger and other globalists.  The Muslims stormed and captured the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held everyone hostage for more than a year, creating a daily crisis.  At one point Carter planned a rescue attempt, but then called it off at the last minute, only to result in the American soldiers crashing and dying in the desert.

In 1979, Carter's appeasement and naivete badly embarrassed the United States when the Iran hostage crisis occurred.  Carter angered Iranian Muslims by allowing the deposed Shah of Iran to obtain medical treatment in the United States, at the insistence of Henry Kissinger and other globalists.  Muslims stormed and captured the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held everyone hostage for more than a year, creating a daily crisis.  At one point Carter planned a rescue attempt, but then called it off at the last minute, only to result in the American soldiers crashing and dying in the desert.

Carter had other missteps.  Friendly to the communist Soviet Union for years and even negotiating the SALT II arms reduction treaty with it (which the Senate refused to ratify), Carter was then embarrassed when the Soviet Union brutally invaded Afghanistan in 1980.  Carter responded weakly by merely boycotting the Summer Olympics in Moscow (and the Soviet Union retaliated four years later by boycotting the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles).  Carter also ran the economy into the ground, allowing record-high inflation and then accusing the American people of having a "national malaise."  It is easy to see why Carter lost reelection in 1980.

Carter had other missteps.  Friendly to the communist Soviet Union for years and even negotiating the SALT II arms reduction treaty with it (which the Senate refused to ratify), Carter was then embarrassed when the Soviet Union brutally invaded Afghanistan in 1980.  Carter responded weakly by merely boycotting the Summer Olympics in Moscow (and the Soviet Union retaliated four years later by boycotting the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles).  Carter also ran the economy into the ground, resulting in unemployment, a stagnant consumer demand for goods, and record-high inflation (the combination of all three was called "stagflation"), and then accusing the American people of having a "national malaise."  It is easy to see why Carter lost reelection in 1980.

'''Debate: In class we then debated this topic:  Should President Ford have pardoned former President Nixon?'''

'''Debate: Should President Ford have pardoned former President Nixon?'''

== President Ronald Reagan ==

== President Ronald Reagan ==

Ronald Reagan, born to a poor family in Illinois, was taught to read by his mother at home.<ref>http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/spring/schoolhouse.html</ref>  Like his father, Ronald was unsuccessful at most things in life, but had a positive attitude instilled in him by his mother and the "Disciples of Christ" evangelical Christian faith.  He played sports but was not very good; took economics in college but did poorly; became a second-rate sports broadcaster; and then went on to a second-rate movie career.  But through it all his upbeat optimism about people and America continued.

Ronald Reagan, born to a poor family in Illinois, was taught to read by his mother at home.<ref>http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/spring/schoolhouse.html</ref>  Like his father, Ronald was unsuccessful at most things in life, but had a positive attitude instilled in him by his mother and the "Disciples of Christ" evangelical Christian faith.  He played sports but was not very good; took economics in college but did poorly; became a second-rate sports broadcaster; and then went on to a second-rate movie career.  But through it all his upbeat optimism about people and America continued.

After serving in World War II (he was rejected for a promotion), he became a leader of the Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood at a time when the communists were trying to infiltrate it.  Though a Democrat himself, Reagan found himself in the way of the communist infiltration.  He stood up to them, and they terrorized him in an attempt to intimidate him.  Reagan became strongly anti-communist, a principle that would guide him for the rest of his life.

After serving in World War II (he was rejected for a promotion), he became a leader of the Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood at a time when the communists were trying to infiltrate it.  Though a Democrat himself, Reagan was alarmed by communist infiltration in Hollywood.  He stood up to the communists, but they attempted to intimidate him.  As a result of this personal experience, Reagan became strongly anti-communist, a principle that would guide him for the rest of his life.

After campaigning for the conservative Barry Goldwater for president in 1964 (Goldwater lost), Reagan ran for governor of California by emphasizing two points:  (1) "to send the welfare bums back to work," and (2) "to clean up the mess at Berkeley" (referring to the student and hippie protests).  Reagan won in a stunning upset.  Two years later, he showed up at the Republican National Convention in Miami in 1968, when Nixon was being nominated for president.  Your teacher found it amusing that some went to shake Reagan's hand instead of Nixon's, but it turned out that Reagan would be much more influential than Nixon was.

After campaigning for the conservative Barry Goldwater for president in 1964 (Goldwater lost), Reagan ran for governor of California by emphasizing two points:  (1) "to send the welfare bums back to work," and (2) "to clean up the mess at Berkeley" (referring to the student and hippie protests).  Reagan won in a stunning upset.  Two years later, he showed up at the Republican National Convention in Miami in 1968, when Nixon was being nominated for president.  Your teacher's brothers went to shake Reagan's hand instead of Nixon's, and it turned out that Reagan would be much more influential than Nixon was.

Every president who has served since President Reagan has imitated him, or benefited from him.  Reagan served from 1980 to 1988, winning reelection in 1984 by a record landslide number of votes.  President George H.W. Bush won the presidency by riding on Reagan's coattails; President Clinton imitated the style (but not the substance) of Reagan and made a special (and surprising) visit to meet him after Clinton won in 1992; and President George W. Bush gives weekly radio addresses to this day, a practice that Reagan started.  Politicians, both Democratic and Republican, cite Ronald Reagan today to gain support for their ideas, and the airport in D.C. is now named after him.

Every president who has served since President Reagan has imitated him, or benefited from him.  Reagan served from 1980 to 1988, winning reelection in 1984 by a record landslide number of votes.  President George H.W. Bush won the presidency by riding on Reagan's coattails; President Clinton imitated the style (but not the substance) of Reagan, and Clinton made a special (and surprising) visit to meet him after winning in 1992; and President George W. Bush imitated Reagan by giving a weekly radio addresses to this day just as Reagan did.  Politicians, both Democratic and Republican, cite Ronald Reagan today to gain support for their ideas, and the airport in D.C. is now named after him.

President Reagan campaigned and governed based on all the conservative principles:  less government, lower taxes, less regulation, more morality, new federalism (returning power from the federal government to the states), and a strong national defense (particularly against the communists).  Every year of his presidency had a major achievement, so much so that bumper stickers afterward were entitled, "Eight Great Years" in reference to his Administration.  President Reagan was the only person who became ''more'' conservative the longer he was in power.

President Reagan campaigned and governed based on all the conservative principles:  less government, lower taxes, less regulation, more morality, new federalism (returning power from the federal government to the states), and a strong national defense (particularly against the communists).  Every year of his presidency had a major achievement, so much so that bumper stickers afterward were entitled, "Eight Great Years" in reference to his Administration.  President Reagan was the only person who became ''more'' conservative the longer he was in power.

His nickname was the "Great Communicator" for his ability to connect with the American people, particularly through television.  An internet poll selected Reagan as the greatest American president ever, to the dismay of those conducting the survey (who expected someone like Lincoln to win).  Yet, like Lincoln, President Reagan was also one of the most ridiculed or despised presidents in history.

His nickname was the "Great Communicator" for his ability to connect with the American people, particularly through television.  An internet poll selected Reagan as the greatest American president ever, to the dismay of those conducting the survey (who expected someone like Lincoln to win).  Yet, like Lincoln, President Reagan was also one of the most ridiculed or despised presidents in history.

Reagan was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 1981.  On that very same day, Iran released unharmed all of our hostages that it had held in retaliation against Jimmy Carter's support of the Shah of Iran.  Reagan immediately went to work in enacting the conservative agenda.  Within one month, on Feb. 18th, Reagan proposed the biggest tax and spending cuts in history.  Reagan adhered to "supply-side economics," a new theory advanced by Arthur Laffer that cutting taxes would actually increase government revenue.  He drew a curve on the back of a napkin in a restaurant one night to explain his theory:  as taxes approach 100%, government revenue decreases towards zero because people lose reason to work (all their income is taken by the government).  By cutting taxes, we can actually increase revenue.  Most established economists laughed at this theory, sarcastically calling it "Reaganomics".  But it worked and led to record-breaking prosperity, and increased government revenue.

Reagan was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 1981.  On that very same day, Iran released unharmed all of the American hostages whom it had held in retaliation against Jimmy Carter's support of the Shah of Iran.  President Reagan immediately went to work in enacting the conservative agenda.  Within one month, on Feb. 18th, Reagan proposed the biggest tax and spending cuts in history.  Reagan adhered to "supply-side economics," a new theory advanced by Arthur Laffer that cutting taxes would actually increase government revenue.  He drew a curve on the back of a napkin in a restaurant one night to explain his theory:  as taxes approach 100%, government revenue decreases towards zero because people lose reason to work (all their income is taken by the government).  By cutting taxes, we can actually increase revenue.  Most established economists laughed at this theory, sarcastically calling it "Reaganomics".  But it worked and led to record-breaking prosperity, and increased government revenue.

On March 30th, John Hinckley shot Reagan as he was walking from a speaking event to his car in D.C.  The bullet came with an inch of killing him.  But Reagan survived with charm and good spirits.  Despite losing a great deal of blood, Reagan was even cracking jokes about his misfortune as he was rushed to the hospital.  Hinckley tried to kill Reagan because Hinckley had been inspired by a filthy Hollywood movie featuring a prostitute played by Jodie Foster.  Hinckley was trying to impress the actress.  Hinckley was later found not guilty by reason of insanity, and that led to changes in many laws to limit the insanity defense.  Many people gave Reagan a break at this point, and grew sympathetic towards him.  His tax cuts passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, because many Democrats voted for them based on Reagan's promise not to campaign against them when they sought to be reelected.  That illustrated how much politicians feared Reagan's ability to connect with the people.

On March 30th, John Hinckley shot Reagan as he was walking from a speaking event to his car in D.C.  The bullet came with an inch of killing him.  But Reagan survived with charm and good spirits.  Despite losing a great deal of blood, Reagan was even cracking jokes about his misfortune as he was rushed to the hospital.  Hinckley tried to kill Reagan because Hinckley had been inspired by a filthy Hollywood movie featuring a prostitute played by Jodie Foster.  Hinckley was trying to impress the actress.  Hinckley was later found not guilty by reason of insanity, and that led to changes in many laws to limit the insanity defense.  Many people became very sympathetic to Reagan at this point.  His tax cuts passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, because many Democrats voted for them based on Reagan's promise not to campaign against them when they sought to be reelected.  That illustrated how much politicians feared Reagan's ability to connect with the people.

In August 1981, the Air Traffic Controllers Union (PATCO) went on strike in order to obtain much higher wages.  Reagan went on television to address the nation and told the government-paid union workers to stay on the job or be fired.  He was acting just as one of his heroes, President Calvin Coolidge, did when Coolidge was governor of Massachusetts and the police went on strike.  When the PATCO strike continued, Reagan then fired all the PATCO workers who went on strike and barred them from ever being rehired by the government.  The airports remained open through use of military traffic controllers who filled in for the strikers, and many pilots commented on how much more polite the substitutes were than the union workers.

In August 1981, the Air Traffic Controllers Union (PATCO) went on strike in order to obtain much higher wages.  Reagan went on television to address the nation and told the government-paid union workers to stay on the job or be fired.  He was acting just as one of his heroes, President Calvin Coolidge, did when Coolidge was governor of Massachusetts and the police went on strike.  When the PATCO strike continued, Reagan then fired all the PATCO workers who went on strike and barred them from ever being rehired by the government.  The airports remained open through use of military traffic controllers who filled in for the strikers, and many pilots commented on how much more polite the substitutes were than the union workers.

In 1982, unemployment hit 10.8%, the worst since the Great Depression.  Reagan was blamed for this and things looked bleak.  But the criticism did not change Reagan.  "Stay the course" was his campaign slogan for Republicans up for reelection in 1982.  The Democrats, led by the clever Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, countered with this sarcastic twist: "stay the curse."  After hitting rock bottom in 1982 (and losing many Republican seats in the mid-term election), the effects of Reagan's tax and spending cuts began to take hold in 1983.  An unprecedented economic boom began in 1983 and lasted throughout the remainder of the 1980s.

In 1982, unemployment hit 10.8%, the worst since the Great Depression.  Reagan was blamed for this and things looked bleak.  But the criticism did not change Reagan.  "Stay the course" was his campaign slogan for Republicans up for reelection in 1982.  The Democrats, led by the clever Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, countered with this sarcastic twist: "stay the curse."  After hitting rock bottom in 1982 (and losing many Republican seats in the mid-term election), the effects of Reagan's tax and spending cuts began to take hold in 1983.  A tremendous economic boom began in 1983 and lasted throughout the remainder of the 1980s.

In 1983, Reagan turned to foreign policy.  He called the communist Soviet Union the "evil empire."  Then Reagan advanced a completely original idea in a speech to the nation:  he proposed a missile defense system called the "Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)."  This was probably the most original and powerful idea ever proposed by a president in our entire history, and its genesis remains a mystery among historians.  Reagan's enemies derisively called it "Star Wars," after the popular new movie that hit the theaters earlier with advanced new special effects.

In 1983, Reagan turned to foreign policy.  He called the communist Soviet Union the "evil empire."  Then Reagan advanced a completely original idea in a speech to the nation:  he proposed a missile defense system called the "Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)."  This was probably the most original and powerful idea ever proposed by a president in our entire history, and its genesis remains a mystery among historians.  Reagan's enemies derisively called it "Star Wars," after the popular new movie that hit the theaters earlier with advanced new special effects.

Democracy (without a constitution) started in Ancient Greece hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. By 1776 many countries were already implementing the principles of democracy, but without constitutions. Britain had an elected parliament, and so did France.  The American Revolution was motivated partly by economics, partly by religion, and partly by philosophical principles, and its result was the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights) that protected individual freedom, private property and a republican form of government.  Today the U.S. Constitution is the longest governing document of its kind in the world.  

Democracy (without a constitution) started in Ancient Greece hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. By 1776 many countries were already implementing the principles of democracy, but without constitutions. Britain had an elected parliament, and so did France.  The American Revolution was motivated partly by economics, partly by religion, and partly by philosophical principles, and its result was the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights) that protected individual freedom, private property and a republican form of government.  Today the U.S. Constitution is the longest governing document of its kind in the world.  

James Madison, in advocating ratification of the Constitution in the Federalist Papers, admitted that democracies were short-lived and that a single faction or special interest could obtain tyrannical control in a democracy.  But he observed that the Constitution established a republic rather than a democracy, and the large size of our republic would protect us against any single issue or individual obtaining control of our country.

James Madison, in advocating ratification of the Constitution in the Federalist Papers, admitted that democracies were short-lived and that a single faction or special interest could obtain tyrannical control in a democracy.  But he observed that the Constitution established a republic rather than a democracy, and the large size of our republic would protect us against any single faction or special interest obtaining control of our country.

==Key Term List After Reconstruction==

==Key Term List After Reconstruction==

Here are the key terms ''after'' Reconstruction (Lecture 8 contains the key terms before and through Reconstruction).  The bolded terms are the most important.

Here are the key terms ''after'' Reconstruction (a prior Lecture contained the key terms before and through Reconstruction).  The bolded terms are the most important.

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

| '''Sussex Pledge'''

| '''Sussex Pledge'''

| '''Whittaker Chambers/Alger Hiss'''

| '''Whittaker Chambers/Alger Hiss'''

| '''homeschooling now mainstream'''

| '''homeschooling'''

|-

|-

| Urban League

| Urban League