All Flashcards
What were the causes and effects of Reagan's tax cuts?
Cause: Supply-side economics. Effect: Increased national debt, benefited upper-income groups, and economic recovery in the mid-1980s.
What were the causes and effects of the PATCO strike?
Cause: Labor dispute between air traffic controllers and the government. Effect: Reagan's firing of strikers, decertification of the union, and a demonstration of government authority.
What were the causes and effects of the AIDS epidemic?
Cause: Spread of HIV virus. Effect: Public health crisis, discrimination against gay men, and increased spending on treatment and prevention.
What were the causes and effects of the savings and loans industry crisis?
Cause: Lax regulation and fraudulent loan policies. Effect: Government cleanup costing $700 billion.
What were the causes and effects of Bush breaking his 'no new taxes' pledge?
Cause: Soaring budget deficit and pressure from Congress. Effect: Anger from voters and a slow recession.
What were the causes and effects of the Columbine shooting?
Cause: Two teens went on a shooting spree. Effect: Prompted a national debate on gun control and school safety.
What were the causes and effects of Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky?
Cause: Affair between President Clinton and a White House intern. Effect: Impeachment proceedings, but acquittal by the Senate.
What were the causes and effects of the Oklahoma City bombing?
Cause: Extremist anti-government sentiment. Effect: Increased scrutiny of militia movements and a somber national mood.
Define 'Stagflation'.
High inflation combined with high unemployment and slow economic growth.
What is 'Supply-side economics'?
Economic theory that tax cuts and reduced government spending will increase private sector investment, production, jobs, and prosperity.
Define 'Keynesian economics'.
Economic theory that government spending during downturns can boost consumer income and demand.
What is 'Trickle-down economics'?
The idea that cutting taxes on the rich will produce new investment and new businesses, which will then create new jobs or raises for middle- and working-class people.
What is a 'Trade deficit'?
The amount by which the cost of a country's imports exceeds the value of its exports.
What is the 'Just Say No' campaign?
An anti-drug initiative encouraging children to reject experimenting with or using drugs by simply saying 'no'.
Define 'AIDS'.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a disease that weakens the immune system.
What does it mean to get 'borked'?
Having a judicial nomination turned down, often due to extreme or controversial views.
What is a 'New Democrat'?
A Democrat who pursues some conservative policies.
What is 'hate-crime legislation'?
Laws that provide enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by bias or prejudice.
What does 'gay-panic defense' mean?
A legal strategy that claims a defendant's actions were caused by sudden, uncontrollable impulse due to the victim's homosexuality.
Define 'Domestic terrorism'.
Terrorism perpetrated within a country by its own citizens against their own government or population.
What is the 'motor voter' law?
Enabled citizens to register to vote as they received their driver’s licenses.
Compare supply-side and Keynesian economics.
Supply-side focuses on tax cuts and reduced government spending to stimulate investment. Keynesian economics relies on government spending during downturns to boost demand.
Compare the domestic policies of Reagan and Clinton.
Reagan focused on tax cuts and deregulation. Clinton, as a 'New Democrat,' adopted some conservative policies while maintaining some liberal initiatives.
Compare the approaches to the AIDS epidemic under Reagan and later administrations.
The Reagan administration was initially slow to respond, while later administrations increased spending on treatment and prevention.