Context: Present Day America
Grace Lewis
7 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers major 21st-century political shifts in the US, focusing on the presidencies of Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden, along with key policy changes and controversies. It examines economic and demographic transformations, including the Great Recession, the CARES Act, immigration trends from Latin America and Asia, and the growing Hispanic and Asian American populations. Finally, it discusses foreign policy changes post-Cold War, including the War on Terror, interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Camp David Accords, and the Iran nuclear deal.
#Political Changes
If the mid-20th century was defined by the New Deal and its liberal legacy, the end of the 20th century was defined by the Reagan Revolution and its conservative legacy, especially after 1980. The 21st century has been a time of significant change and upheaval in American politics. In the early years of the century, the United States was led by President George W. Bush, who was in office from 2001 to 2009. During his presidency, the United States was involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and there were a number of domestic policy controversies, including debates over healthcare and tax policy.
After President Obama took office in 2009, the United States experienced a number of significant political and social changes. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was passed in 2010 and expanded access to healthcare for millions of Americans. The Obama administration also implemented a number of other policy initiatives, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In 2016, President Donald Trump was elected to office, and his presidency was marked by a number of controversial policy decisions and political controversies. The Trump administration implemented a number of significant policy changes, including the repeal of Obamacare's individual mandate and the implementation of a number of trade and immigration policies that were opposed by many Americans. The Trump presidency was also marked by a number of ongoing investigations and legal controversies, including an impeachment trial in 2019. In 2020, President Joe Biden was elected to office, and his presidency has been marked by a number of significant policy initiatives, including the implementation of the American Rescue Plan, a major stimulus package ...
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