The Civil Rights Movement
The civil rights movement is based on the elimination of division and discrimination based on skin color. The first case, “Brown v. Board, 1954,” presents a lawsuit, the essence of which was to end the separation of education for black and white students. The court passed a verdict on violation of the 14th amendment to the Constitution. The “Montgomery bus boycott, 1955” case was about countering discrimination in public transport. One day, a black woman did not want to give up her seat to a white citizen, resulting in which she was arrested and received a fine. After several similar incidents, African Americans decided to travel by other black’s cars. It led to the decline of the transportation economy, while African Americans made up about 70% of passengers (Boyer, 2018). The Little Rock Arkansas 1957 case results from the first case in which some states resisted a court ruling. Authorities set up guards with weapons outside the school to keep black students out. Later, the troops were removed, and the blacks continued their education despite the oppression. The civil rights movement was needed to eradicate inequalities in basic needs.
Feminism
Feminism emerged from inequality between men and women in job provision and payments. Educated women felt inferior, could not realize their personality through work; that is, their choice of activity was violated. It led to establishing the National Organization of Women (NOW) In 1966, at the Third National Conference of Commissions (Boyer, 2018). The community set its goals to fight against legislative violations on the equal rights of work. They fought to provide opportunities for full participation in American society on an equivalent status with men. Additionally, the women raised issues regarding their bodies, such as abortion. In the 1970s, feminists promoted the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) adoption, prohibiting any discrimination based on gender (Boyer, 2018). As a result, women achieved what they wanted, were able to study at military academies, and hold positions in government. Feminism has helped to ensure the right of choice and protection for women on an equal basis with men at the legislative level.
Politics and the economy
The political decisions of the authorities are directly related to the economic situation in the country. Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is a political debate over the need to drill. The dissonance is the cost-effectiveness of the intervention in wildlife. Some speculate that the Arctic has vast reserves of oil and natural gas, while others fear for the lives of animals. George W. Bush has issued a bill that provides incentives for oil companies, including drilling ANWR. Additionally, the president worked to improve the level of education and reduce taxes. He introduced compulsory testing in specific subjects to unify the level of education. This program involved the ability to send lagging students to specialized schools funded by the church. However, the idea violated the law, and Bush decided to finance it from the state budget. The requirement to cut taxes arose as a result of the surplus. In 2001, George W. Bush proposed a $ 1.6 trillion tax cut, but Congress decided to lower them by $ 1.35 trillion. The American authorities strive for a balance of economic performance and environmental protection, which leads to practical solutions.
Debating Iraq and Confronting Other Global Challenges
The conflict between the United States and Iraq came about as a result of the fears of the government of Saddam Hussein. George W. Bush believed that the neighboring country was producing weapons of mass destruction; therefore, it poses a danger to the international community. The matter was complicated by the reluctance of the Iraqi authorities to cooperate with the commission that controls the production of hazardous weapons. The US authorities decided to bring armed forces into Iraqi territory and overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein. North Korea withdrew from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and tested a long-range bomb, leading to massive protests. China has set itself the goal of developing its atomic bomb. To protect itself, the United States carried out a series of actions to neutralize the consequences of a probable attack. Relations between countries are strained because of differences of opinion and misinformation, so everyone tries to defend themselves.
Barack Obama
Barack Obama spoke for the Democratic Party and won his first election in 2008. After which, he was re-elected in 2012 and left his position in 2017. During his tenure, the President did many things to contribute to the country’s development, one of which was medical reform. Barack Obama has identified the high cost of health insurance, which does not match the services’ quality. The main problem was the unequal balance of insurance companies in the public and private sectors, which led to a budget deficit. The President proposed to make insurance compulsory for all citizens and to improve the quality of services provided. Additionally, he made special conditions for the poor and self-insurance centers. The President continued to conduct military action in Afghanistan, which was aimed at economic and social transformation. Barack Obama is a president who made difficult decisions and made tremendous contributions to the country’s history and economy.
A Conservative Revival and the End of the Cold War, 1980-2000
Conservatism is a commitment to old principles, orders, and social theories. In 1980-2000, the moment came, the Cold War ended, and a new president got the power. By the old principles with unique views, Ronald Reagan changed direction in both domestic and foreign policy of the United States. During this time, there was a conservative shift in culture and politics, focusing on domestic issues and economic growth.
The political shift took place towards republican principles since they raised important issues. Republicans won 11 Senate seats and focused on emotional issues like abortion and gun control. The culture has shifted based on memories of the simpler life of America, with a predominance of traditional values. Most of his ideas resonated with various categories of citizens; therefore, conservative views were positively accepted by society.
In 1993, Bill Clinton, who represented the Democratic Party, became the 42nd president of the United States. In his campaign, he pledged to cut unemployment, reform health care for the poor, regulate taxation and cut military spending. The global issue was stabilizing the economy, for which the President created the program «Partnership for Peace». The main disadvantage in the presidential administration was the focus on the country’s domestic problems.
For the first time in the long term, the country’s budget became surplus since the economy grew steadily. It happened because of several factors such as productivity growth, falling unemployment, and low inflation. Economic globalization contributed to the country’s overall development, but its well-being continued to depend on the world economy. A cultural trend was the black-and-white worldview onto the homefront culture and searched for the enemy within. Despite the AIDS epidemic, violence, and cultural divisions, the United States was booming at the end of the century.
The end of the twentieth century brought the US economy to a boom because of various changes. Political and religious views returned to conservatism, which resonated in the hearts of the people. Bill Clinton’s rule led to a focus on internal problems that were never fully resolved. The country’s economy has grown because of globalization, many issues associated with unemployment, productivity, and government budget surpluses have been resolved.
Reference
Boyer, P. S. (2018). The enduring vision: A history of the american People. Volume II: Since 1865 (9th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.