US Presidents and Events 1970s-1990s

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the Iranian Hostage Crisis?

  • The Shah of Iran fled to the United States for medical treatment.
  • The Iranian revolutionaries wanted the Shah to be returned to Iran for trial.
  • The Iranian revolutionaries wanted the United States to release Iranian prisoners.
  • The Iranian revolutionaries wanted to overthrow the Soviet Union. (correct)

The invasion of Panama in 1989 was known as Operation Just Cause.

True (A)

What was the name of the peace agreement signed between Israel and Egypt in 1978?

  • NAFTA
  • Camp David Accords (correct)
  • Oslo Accords
  • Helinski Accords

What was the name of the program that provided military aid to rebels fighting communist governments around the world?

<p>Reagan Doctrine</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term “Reaganomics” is used to describe the economic policies of Ronald Reagan's predecessor, Jimmy Carter.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions was part of President Carter's response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

<p>Imposing an embargo on wheat shipments to the Soviet Union (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the 1991 conflict in which a coalition led by the United States drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait?

<p>Persian Gulf War (or Operation Desert Storm)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these individuals was NOT a US president during the period of the Cold War?

<p>Bill Clinton (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Watergate Scandal involved break-in attempts at the Republican National Committee headquarters.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the group created by Richard Nixon to spy on his political opponents?

<p>The Plumbers</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Helinski Accords were a set of agreements signed by the United States and the Soviet Union that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What policy did Ronald Reagan implement in the 1980s in an attempt to defeat communism?

<p>Reaganomics</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the scandal involving allegations that Bill Clinton had an affair with a White House intern?

<p>Monica Lewinsky Scandal (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Operation Eagle Claw was a successful attempt to rescue American hostages held in Iran.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the movement that aimed to bring about political and economic reforms in the Soviet Union?

<p>Perestroika</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Detente

relaxation of tensions between the United States and its major Communist rival, the Soviet Union.

Richard Nixon

The 37th President of the United States; is the only president to ever resign, known for the water gate scandal and ending us involvement in the Vietnam War.

Gerald Ford

1974-1977, Republican, first non-elected president and VP, he pardoned Nixon

Jimmy Carter

39th President of the United States that is known for the Camp David Accords, Iranian Revolution/Oil Crisis, Iranian hostage crisis, and high inflation.

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Ronald Reagan

The 40th President of the United States; Known for "Reaganomics", assassination attempt, ending the cold war, and more.

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George H.W. Bush

He was the 41st President. Led the country during the Gulf War, and was able to quickly bring the war to a conclusion

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Bill Clinton

42nd President of the United States that is known for trying to reform healthcare, NAFTA, Oslo Accords, Brady Bill, Family and Medical Leave Act, The scandals of his second term, and more.

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NAFTA

An agreement for free trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico

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Brady Bill

law passed requiring a waiting period on sales of handguns, along with a criminal background check on the buyer

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Family and Medical Leave Act

Requires employers to provide unpaid leave for pregnancy and family medical emergencies.

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Saddam Hussein

Was a dictator in Iraq who tried to take over Kuwait and Iran violently in order to gain the land and the oil supply.

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Monica Lewinsky

White house intern that had an affair with Bill Clinton and they both lied about it.

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Operation Just Cause

US invaded Panama to capture Panama leader Noriega (found of drug charges)

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Operation Desert Storm

Assault by American-led multinational forces that quickly defeated Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein in the First Gulf War, ending the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.

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perjury

lying under oath

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Troopergate Scandal

A scandal in which several Arkansas State Troopers claimed that Bill Clinton had them scout women for him.

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Whitewater Scandal

A scandal where the Clintons were accused of swindling money through the Whitewater Development Corporation.

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Persian Gulf War

Conflict between Iraq and a coalition of countries led by the U.S. to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait which they have invaded in hopes of controlling the oil supply.

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Helinski Accords

the Soviet Union and the U.S. sign a commitment to obeying détente and respecting each other's boundaries.

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Camp David Accords

President Carter helped negotiate a Middle East peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.

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Oslo Accords

Clinton hosted a peace treaty signing between Palestine and Israel. It required Israel to give up territory on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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Reaganomics

the economic policies of US president Ronald Reagan, associated especially with the reduction of taxes to businesses. It helped revive the economy in the 1980's.

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John Hinkley Jr.

Failed assassin of Ronald Reagan. Motivated by his delusional love for Jodi Foster's character in The Taxi Driver, he shot Reagan and James Brady

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Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader of the 1980s who worked with Reagan to end the Cold War

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Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, President Carter worried about the world's oil supply and placed an embargo on wheat shipments and technology to Russia, increased spending on defense, and boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

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Iran Hostage Crisis

Revolutionaries invaded the American embassy in Iran, threatening to kill 52 hostages if the Shah was not returned to Iran to face trial for his actions. Carter rejected the demand, and they held 52 hostages for 444 days.

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Pentagon Papers

Secret document papers, leaded by Daniel Ellsberg, published by the New York Times in 1971, showed the blunders and deceptions that led the United States that led to the Vietnam war. Revealed the government misleading the people of its involvement in Vietnam, both about the intentions and the outcomes of the conflict.

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The Plumbers

A secret group created by Nixon that broke into the democratic national headquarters to spy. They were caught and arrested.

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Watergate Hotel

Democratic party headquarters broken into during the scandal

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Operation Eagle Claw

A failed US Military operation attempting to rescue 52 American Hostages from the US Embassy in Tehran.

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Saturday Night Massacre

The firing of prosecutor Archibald Cox and the resignation of several cabinet members during the Watergate scandal.

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Nixon Tapes

Recordings of Nixon's White House conversations which revealed he ordered a cover-up of Watergate break-in

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Glasnost and Perestroika

Two reform movements in Russia. Glasnost was meant to provide opportunities to share new ideas. Perestroika was intended to give businesses more freedom for innovation and competition

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Velvet Revolution

The term given to the relatively peaceful overthrow of communism in Czechoslovakia; the label came to signify the collapse of the East Bloc in 1989 to 1990.

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Fall of the Berlin Wall

The removal of the wall that separated East and West Germany in 1989. Symbolized the end of the Cold War.

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Collapse of the Soviet Union

Poland Is the first Country to elect a noncommunist form of government. Soon the rest of the Eastern Bloc would follow. Leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

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1980s Arms Race

Ronald Reagans approach to ending the Cold War. He ended Dente and believed the Soviet Union could not keep up if they increased defense spending.

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Sandra Day O'Connor

In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to be appointed to the U.S Supreme Court. She was nominated by President Reagan.

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OKC Bombing

Domestic terrorists Timothy Mcveigh and Terry Nichols destroyed the Alfred P Murrah Building in Oklahoma City.

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Branch Davidians Incident

A Christian cult in Waco TX led by David Koresh held an illegal supply of weapons. They get into a federal standoff that leads to the building burning and the death of Koresh and his crew.

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Ronald Reagan nicknames

The great communicator, Teflon president

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Reagan Doctrine

US would support fighters trying to overthrow Communist regimes; applied in Nicaragua, Cambodia and Afghanistan

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"It's Morning Again in America"

campaign slogan used by President Reagan in 1984

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Boland Amendment

stopped any US government agency, including the CIA, from giving military aid to the Contras in Nicaragua

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Manuel Noriega

Panama leader who was overthrown in a 1989 US invasion; Tried and imprisoned for drug trafficking

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Air Traffic Controller Strike

11,000 air traffic controllers were fired for engaging in a strike because they wanted higher wages and better hours.

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Paula Jones

The lawsuit against Clinton involving sexual harassment was brought by Paula Jones, they agreed on a settlement of $850,000.

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Columbine School Shooting

a school shooting where 12 students and 1 teacher are killed. It sparks the issue of gun control

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Study Notes

1970s-1990s US Presidents and Events

  • Détente: A period of reduced tension between the US and the Soviet Union.
  • Richard Nixon (1969-1974): 37th President, resigned due to the Watergate scandal; ended US involvement in the Vietnam War.
  • Gerald Ford (1974-1977): First unelected president, pardoned Nixon.
  • Jimmy Carter (1977-1981): 39th President, known for the Camp David Accords, Iranian Revolution, Iranian hostage crisis, and high inflation.
  • Ronald Reagan (1981-1989): 40th President, championed "Reaganomics"; faced an assassination attempt; credited with ending the Cold War. Nicknames include "The Great Communicator," "Teflon President"
  • George H.W. Bush (1989-1993): 41st President, led the country during the Gulf War.
  • Bill Clinton (1993-2001): 42nd President, tried to reform healthcare, pushed for NAFTA, involved in the Oslo Accords, signed the Brady Bill and Family and Medical Leave Act; faced scandals during his second term.
  • NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement): Agreement for free trade between the US, Canada, and Mexico.
  • Brady Bill (1993): Law requiring a waiting period and background checks for handgun purchases.
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (1993): Requires employers to provide unpaid leave for family and medical emergencies.

Key Conflicts and Scandals

  • Saddam Hussein: Iraqi dictator involved in conflicts with Kuwait & Iran, leading to the Persian Gulf War.
  • Monica Lewinsky: White House intern whose affair with Bill Clinton led to impeachment investigations.
  • Watergate Scandal: A political scandal during Nixon's presidency involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
  • Operation Just Cause (1989): US invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega.
  • Operation Desert Storm (1991): Coalition forces led by the US to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
  • Persian Gulf War (1991): Conflict between Iraq and a coalition of countries (led by the US) in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
  • Helinski Accords: Documents signed between the USSR & US, designed to reduce tension and mutual respect.
  • Camp David Accords (1978): Peace agreement negotiated by Carter between Egypt and Israel.
  • Oslo Accords (1993): Peace treaty facilitated by Clinton between Palestine and Israel.
  • OKC Bombing (1995): Domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City.
  • Branch Davidians Incident: A standoff between the Branch Davidians (a Christian religious group) and federal agents.
  • Iran Hostage Crisis (1979): Iranian revolutionaries took American embassy personnel hostage.
  • Operation Eagle Claw: Failed US attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran.

Other Important Events and Figures

  • John Hinkley Jr.: Attempted assassin of President Reagan.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev: Soviet leader associated with reforms like Glasnost & Perestroika, which contributed to the end of the Cold War.
  • Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979): Soviet military action in Afghanistan.
  • Pentagon Papers: Leaked US documents that revealed government deception regarding the Vietnam War.
  • The Plumbers: Secret Nixon administration group involved in illegal activities.
  • Watergate Hotel: Hotel where the Watergate break-in occurred.
  • Saturday Night Massacre: Dismissal of Archibald Cox and other officials during the Watergate scandal.
  • Nixon Tapes: Recordings of Nixon's conversations that revealed his role in the Watergate cover-up.
  • Glasnost and Perestroika: Soviet reforms that helped contribute to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • Velvet Revolution (1989): The peaceful overthrow of communism in Czechoslovakia.
  • Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989): Symbol of the end of the Cold War.
  • Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991): Dissolution of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War.
  • 1980s Arms Race: Increased military spending between the US and USSR during the Cold War.
  • Sandra Day O'Connor (1981): First woman appointed to the Supreme Court.
  • Reagan Doctrine (1985): US policy of supporting anti-communist groups in various regions.
  • Boland Amendment 1984: Legislation that prohibited US aid to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
  • Manuel Noriega: Deposed Panamanian leader who was later convicted of drug trafficking.
  • Air Traffic Controller Strike (1981): Strike by air traffic controllers that led to their dismissal.
  • Paula Jones: Accuser in a sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill Clinton.
  • Columbine School Shooting (1999): Public school shooting that heightened gun control debates.

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