1976- 2006 U.S. History

1. Election of 1976: Jimmy Carter, Democrat defeated Gerald Ford, Republican. 
    Pardon of Nixon and Poland flub up in TV Debate

2. Jimmy Carter with VP Mondale - dealt with high inflation, energy crisis 1979 
    and stressed human rights foreign policy, offered amnesty of Americans who 
    had fled to other countries to avoid the draft for the Vietnam War.

3. Panama Canal Treaty - Passed by President Carter, these called for the 
    gradual return of the Panama Canal to the people and government of 
    Panama. They provided for the transfer of canal ownership to Panama in 1999 
    and guaranteed its neutrality.

4. Camp David Accords- Peace talks between Egypt and Israel mediated by 
    President Carter. Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty: Menachem Begin, Anwar Sadat 
    Sadat represented Egypt and Begin represented Israel. Israel returned land to 
    Egypt in exchange for Egyptian recognition. Earned both men the Noble 
    Peace Prize.

5. Afghanistan, 1979 - The Soviet Union sent troops into neighboring 
    Afghanistan to support its Communist government against guerilla attacks by 
    fundamentalist Muslims. Osama Bin Laden (U.S. assisted Bin Laden)

6. Olympic Boycott, 1980 - U.S. withdrew from competition held in Moscow to 
    protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 64 other nations withdrew 

7. Iranian Crisis, the Shah, the Ayatollah Khomeini 1978 - a popular uprising 
    forced the Shah to flee Iran, Muslim leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, 
    establishes an Islamic Republic based on the Koran. Carter allows the Shah 
    to come to the U.S. for medical reasons. Young Iranian militants take over the 
    U.S. Embassy in Tehran and keeps hostages for 444 days, freed Jan. 1981

8. Election of 1980: Ronald Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter, Democrat and John 
    Anderson, Independent. issues inflation and hostages & traditional values.

9. Reaganomics -Reagan's theory if you cut taxes, it will spur the growth of 
    public spending and improve the economy. It included tax breaks for the rich, 
    "supply-side economics," and "trickle down" theory.

10. Supply side economics - Reaganomics policy, theory that allowing 
      companies the opportunity to make profits, and encouraging investment, will 
      stimulate the economy and lead to higher standards of living for everyone. 
      Argued that tax cuts can be used stimulate economic growth. Move money 
      into the hands of the people and they will invest, thus creating prosperity.
11. Criticisms - creates deficits from tax shortfall leads to higher debt, greater 
      borrowing & high interest rates threatens domestic programs, or purposeful 
      attempts to cut programs (starve the beast)

12. Sandra Day O'Connor - Reagan appoints first female to the Supreme Court.

13. Three Mile Island 1979 - A mechanical failure and a human error at a power 
      plant in Pennsylvania lead to an escape of radiation over a 16 mile radius. 
      China Syndrome

14. "Moral Majority" Jerry Falwell - “Born-Again" Christians become politically 
       active. Elected  Reagan, traditional family values, voted Republican

15. Supreme Court: Bakke v. Board of Regents, University of California at Davis, 
      1978, bars colleges from admitting students solely on a basis of race, but  
      allows race as a factor in admission - affirmative action - reverse discrimination       
     
16. Supreme Court: Roe v. Wade, 1973 ruled unconstitutional most state statutes
      restricting abortion set up three trimester standard, issues of privacy 

17. Women’s rights - NOW, Betty Freidan, The Feminine mystique Gloria Steinhem
      Ms. Magazine, the glass ceiling

18. Started by Nixon, furthered by Reagan “New Federalism” Reagan deregulation of
      many federal agencies relaxed restriction on business practice, admired Coolidge 
     administration - PATCO strike,  employees fired by Reagan in 1981

19. 1983 Marines killed in Beruit Lebanon, invasion of Greneda

20. Ceasar Chavez represents migrant Hispanic farm workers - California

21. ERA both parties support in 1970’s , dropped from Reagan agenda

22. 1984 election W. Mondale, G. Ferraro defeated by Reagan and Bush

23. 1985 Gorbachev, perestroika, glasnost , INF 1987 (result of Iran- Contra affair)

24. 1986 Challenger explosion, 1981 John Hinckley tries to assassinate Reagan

25. 1986 Iran-Contra affair, J. Poindexter, Oliver North, (Nicaragua Sandanistas 1979)
       
26.  1986 attack on Libya (Muammer al-Quaddafi), Syrian responsibility, 

27. Strategic Defense Initiative “star wars,”  INF Treaty with Gorbachev

28. 1988 election G.H.W. Bush and D. Quayle defeats M. Dukakis and L Bentsen
       Willie Horton, Boston Harbor, Lee Atwater, Flag factory,  Dukakis in tank

29. 1989 overthrow and arrest of Manuel Noriega , Panama

30. 1991 C. Thomas appointed to replace Thurgood Marshal Supreme Court

31. 1990 -91 Saddam Hussein attacks Kuwait, repelled by U.S. led coalition of 17 
       nations with UN security council support Operation Desert Shield and Storm

32. Savings and loan scandal and bail-out, Neil Bush involved

33. Fall of Communism and demise of USSR Oct-Dec 1992 (Berlin Wall falls 1989 
      Germany reunited , Iron curtain down across Eastern Europe 1989-1990

34. 1992 B. Clinton and Al Gore defeats, Bush as well as Ross Perot

35.  Clinton executive order - gays in the military  replaced with “don’t ask don’t tell” 

36. 1994-95 GATT and NAFTA

37. 1994 Republican take-over of both houses of Congress, Newt Gingrich

38. 1996 election Clinton Gore defeat B. Dole and J. Kemp (Ross Perot also)

39.  Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky scandals, 1998-1999 Kenneth Star, Whitewater,
      Impeachment, Hyde, Coats, Newt Gingrich outed by L. Flint investigations

40. 1999 Kosovo rescued from Serbian genocide, (failure to act in Ruanda earlier)

41. 2000 election G. W. Bush and D. Cheney defeat A. Gore and J. Lieberman
      Florida cliffhanger for over a month, Supreme court intervention, Gore greater  
      popular vote,  first time since 1888 , republicans retain both houses

42. 2001 , tax cuts, Sept11, 2001 Attack on WTC and Pentagon , Bin Laden, al-Quada
       War in Afghanistan 2001, Bin Laden escapes 

43. 2003, war in Iraq Saddam Hussein, WMD (not found) 

44. 2004 election Bush and Cheney defeat J Kerry and J. Edwards (Ohio vote)

45. ‘Political capital” Bush attempt to privatize 10% of social security (fails)

46. 2003- ? After Baghdad taken, counter insurgency last for years, Sept 2005 Katrina hurricane New Orleans, 2006 poll numbers drop drastically for Bush with Iraq quagmire

47. 2006 Midterm Election  Democrats take control of both houses