Unit 10: Contemporary United States

Supreme Court

• Included women and minorities: Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Clarence Thomas (most recently Sonia Sotomayor)

• Immigration to the United States has increased from many diverse countries, especially Asian and Latin American Countries.

Issues related to immigration policy

• Strain on government services• Filling low-paying jobs in the United States• Border issues• Pathway to citizenship• Bilingual education• Increasing cultural diversity

John F Kennedy

• Supported the American Space Program.– First man in space was John Glenn– First man on the moon was Neil Armstrong– First female was Sally Ride“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for

mankind!”

Examples of technological advances

• Space exploration– Space shuttle– Mars rover– Voyager missions– Hubble telescope

• Communications– Satellite– Global positioning system (GPS)– Personal communications devices

• Robotics

Changes in work, school, and health care

• Telecommuting• On-line course work• Growth of service industries• Breakthrough in medical research, including

improved medical diagnostic and imagining technologies

• Outsourcing and off-shoring

Mikhail Gorbachev 1985-1991Russian Leader

• Increasing Soviet military expenses to compete with the United States

• Glasnost and perestroika (openness and economic restructuring)

Ronald Reagan 1981-1989

• Tax cuts• Strengthening the

military• Told Gorbachev to “Tear

down this wall” in reference to the Berlin Wall.

George H.W. Bush 1989-1993

• Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe

• Reunification of Germany• Collapse of Yugoslavia• Breakup of the Soviet State• Persian Gulf War 1990-

1991– First war where women

were on the front line.– Operation Desert Storm

William J. Clinton 1993-2001• Created NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade

Agreement)• Full diplomatic relations with Vietnam• Lifting of economic sanctions against South

Africa when its government ended the policy of apartheid (racial segregation)

George W. Bush 2001-2009

• Terrorist attack 9/11/01 – Created Homeland Security and the Patriot Act

• Started the war in Iraq and Afghanistan

United States responses to terrorism

• Heightened security at home (Patriot act)• Diplomatic and military initiative

• History of Hip Hop• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juosXtw36ZY&feature=relat

ed

• Rock n Roll• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ix6yzcjLl8&feature=relate

d• • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U17EcEkkCB8&playnext=1

&list=PLCB2F35826CCF35B0

• Modern Presidents• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH6vN2P90N0

• Bush…the most joked on president• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w73dVVPRk0&feature=rel

ated

Choose one to answer: ½ pg min!

• 1. In the late 20th century, economic globalization transformed the US. Explain what globalization is and describe how it effected the US economy and population.

• 2. The terrorist attack of 9/11 were unprecedented. What gave rise to those attacks? How did the nation react?