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9.7 Causation in Period 9

6 min readdecember 23, 2022

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

K

Krish Gupta

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

K

Krish Gupta

These topics are explained in detail in earlier sections, so use this section as a reminder and review.

Political Polarization

The US became more politically polarized, especially after the 1990s. The moved much of the country to the conservative right, but many in the 21st century began to push back against conservatives and/or continued to fight for the liberal legacy of programs like the and Great Society

in the United States has been a significant trend in the 21st century, with many Americans feeling increasingly divided along political lines. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this polarization, including:

  1. The role of and the internet: The rise of and the internet has made it easier for people to access and share information, but it has also made it easier for people to encounter and engage with political content that confirms their preexisting beliefs. This can lead to a phenomenon known as "," in which people are exposed to only one side of an issue, leading to increased polarization.

  2. The role of political parties: Political parties in the United States have become increasingly polarized in recent years, with the and the taking more extreme positions on a range of issues. This has made it more difficult for politicians to work together and find common ground, leading to increased polarization.

  3. The role of media: The media landscape in the United States has become increasingly fractured, with people able to access news and information from a wide range of sources. This has made it easier for people to access information that confirms their preexisting beliefs, leading to increased polarization.

  4. The role of : The role of money in American politics has long been a controversial issue, and many people believe that the influence of has contributed to . The ability of wealthy individuals and special interest groups to fund political campaigns has led to a system in which politicians are more beholden to their donors than to the general public, leading to increased polarization.

  5. : The United States is undergoing significant , with a more diverse and urban population. These changes have led to increased , as different groups have different political interests and priorities.

Overall, there are a number of factors that have contributed to the in the United States in the 21st century, including the role of , the role of political parties, the role of media, the role of , and .

Economic Changes

affected the United States greatly during this time period as the US economy moved to a post-industrial basis, focusing more on service-sector and high-tech jobs. This created problems for previous industrial centers (see the ) and worsened the country’s as the rich got richer and poor and middle class wages stagnated. 

There have been a number of significant in the United States in the 21st century, and a number of different factors have contributed to these changes. Here are five causes of in the United States in the 21st century:

  1. The Great Recession: was a major economic downturn that lasted from 2007 to 2009, and it had a significant impact on the economy of the United States. The recession was caused by a number of factors, including the collapse of the housing market and the financial crisis. The recession led to high levels of unemployment and a slowdown in economic growth.

  2. The COVID-19 pandemic: The has had a significant impact on the economy of the United States, with many businesses shutting down and millions of Americans losing their jobs. The pandemic has led to a slowdown in economic growth and increased levels of unemployment.

  3. Changes in tax policy: The United States has undergone a number of changes in tax policy in the 21st century, including the implementation of the in 2017. These changes have had a significant impact on the economy, with some people arguing that they have helped to stimulate economic growth, while others argue that they have led to increased income inequality.

  4. Changes in trade policy: The United States has undergone a number of changes in trade policy in the 21st century, including the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the renegotiation of trade agreements with countries like Mexico and Canada. These changes have had a significant impact on the economy, with some people arguing that they have helped to protect American jobs, while others argue that they have led to increased prices and reduced access to global markets.

  5. Changes in monetary policy: The , the central bank of the United States, has implemented a number of changes in monetary policy in the 21st century, including the implementation of low interest rates and the implementation of quantitative easing programs. These changes have had a significant impact on the economy, with some people arguing that they have helped to stimulate economic growth, while others argue that they have led to increased levels of inflation.

Overall, there are a number of factors that have contributed to the in the United States in the 21st century, including , the , changes in tax policy, changes in trade policy, and changes in monetary policy.

Demographic Changes

The US in the 21st century was much more diverse than the US of 1950 or even of 1980. Continued immigration from Latin America and Asia created tension within the US as the US—again—wondered about how to assimilate immigrant groups and to maintain a US identity. Women were more involved in the workforce than ever before, movement to the Sunbelt continued as Midwestern states lost population relative to the rest of the country.

There have been a number of significant in the United States in the 21st century, and a number of different factors have contributed to these changes. Here are five causes of in the United States in the 21st century:

  1. Immigration: The United States has a long history of immigration, and the 21st century has seen a significant influx of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. This has led to a more diverse population and has contributed to the growth of the Hispanic and Asian American populations.

  2. Changes in birth rates: The 21st century has seen significant changes in birth rates in the United States, with the fertility rate falling to its lowest level in more than three decades. This has contributed to the aging of the population and has led to a shift in the age structure of the population.

  3. Changes in family structure: The 21st century has seen significant changes in family structure in the United States, with an increase in and a decline in the number of married couples with children. This has contributed to changes in the demographics of the population.

  4. Changes in life expectancy: The 21st century has seen significant changes in life expectancy in the United States, with life expectancy increasing due to improvements in healthcare and technology. This has contributed to the aging of the population and has led to a shift in the age structure of the population.

  5. Changes in geographic mobility: The 21st century has seen significant changes in geographic mobility in the United States, with more people moving between states and regions. This has contributed to changes in the demographics of the population and has led to a more diverse and urbanized population.

Overall, there are a number of factors that have contributed to the in the United States in the 21st century, including immigration, changes in birth rates, changes in family structure, changes in life expectancy, and changes in geographic mobility.

Key Terms to Review (26)

Asia Immigration

: Asia Immigration refers to individuals moving from Asian countries - such as China, India, Philippines - into other countries for reasons including education, employment or family reunification.

Asian American Population Growth

: Asian American Population Growth refers to the increase in individuals who identify as Asian within the United States. This growth is primarily due to immigration from various Asian countries.

Campaign Finance

: Campaign finance refers to all funds raised in order to promote candidates, political parties, or policies in elections, referendums, initiatives, party activities, and party organizations.

COVID-19 Pandemic

: The COVID-19 pandemic refers to the global outbreak of coronavirus disease that began in late 2019. It has had significant impacts on public health, economies, and daily life around the world.

Democratic Party

: The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. Founded around 1828, it supports a range of social equality issues including affordable healthcare, education reform, labor rights and climate change action.

Demographic Changes

: Demographic changes refer to shifts in population characteristics such as age, race, gender, birth rate, death rate, education and income levels over time.

Echo Chambers

: Echo chambers refer to situations in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system and insulated from rebuttal.

Economic Changes

: Economic changes refer to shifts in the structure, performance, or conditions of an economy over time. These can include changes in policies, technology, population demographics, and global interactions.

Economic Inequality

: Economic inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society.

Federal Reserve

: The Federal Reserve is America's central banking system established in 1913 to provide the country with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system.

Globalization

: Globalization is the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Great Society

: The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States launched by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964–65 aiming to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Hispanic Population Growth

: Hispanic Population Growth refers to the rapid increase in individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latino within the United States. This growth is due both to immigration and higher birth rates among Hispanics compared to other racial/ethnic groups.

Latin America Immigration

: Latin America Immigration refers to individuals moving from countries in Latin America - such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina - into other countries for various reasons including economic opportunities or political asylum.

Life Expectancy Increase

: Life expectancy increase refers to the rise in the average number of years that individuals are expected to live based on current health and mortality trends.

New Deal

: The New Deal was a series of programs and projects instituted during the Great Depression by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that aimed to restore prosperity to Americans.

Political Polarization

: Political polarization refers to the divergence of political attitudes towards ideological extremes. It's when people's stances on issues become more extreme, and they are less likely to agree with one another.

Reagan Revolution

: The Reagan Revolution refers to the conservative shift in American politics during Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981-1989). His administration emphasized lower taxes, decreased government regulation, increased military spending, and free-market capitalism.

Republican Party

: The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, founded in 1854 to oppose the spread of slavery into new states and territories.

Rust Belt

: The Rust Belt refers to a region in the Northeastern and Midwestern US that was once dominated by manufacturing industries, but has seen economic decline, population loss, and urban decay due to the shrinking of its once-powerful industrial sector.

Single-Parent Households

: A single-parent household is a family structure where a child or children live with only one parent, either due to divorce, death, abandonment, or out-of-wedlock births.

Social Media

: Social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking.

Sunbelt Migration

: The Sunbelt Migration refers to the demographic shift from the mid-20th century onwards where a large number of people moved from the Northeast and Midwest regions (Rust Belt) to the South and West regions (Sunbelt) of the United States. This was due to factors like warmer climate, economic opportunities, lower cost of living, and later retirement.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a comprehensive tax reform law passed in 2017 by the U.S. Congress that significantly altered the federal income tax structure for both individuals and corporations, with most of its provisions set to expire in 2025.

The Great Recession

: The Great Recession was a severe global economic downturn that occurred from 2007 to 2009. It was sparked by a financial crisis due to risky lending practices in U.S housing market which led to widespread mortgage defaults.

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

: The TPP was a proposed trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries concerning various matters of economic policy, which was signed in 2016 but never entered into force as required ratifications were not met.

9.7 Causation in Period 9

6 min readdecember 23, 2022

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

K

Krish Gupta

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

K

Krish Gupta

These topics are explained in detail in earlier sections, so use this section as a reminder and review.

Political Polarization

The US became more politically polarized, especially after the 1990s. The moved much of the country to the conservative right, but many in the 21st century began to push back against conservatives and/or continued to fight for the liberal legacy of programs like the and Great Society

in the United States has been a significant trend in the 21st century, with many Americans feeling increasingly divided along political lines. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this polarization, including:

  1. The role of and the internet: The rise of and the internet has made it easier for people to access and share information, but it has also made it easier for people to encounter and engage with political content that confirms their preexisting beliefs. This can lead to a phenomenon known as "," in which people are exposed to only one side of an issue, leading to increased polarization.

  2. The role of political parties: Political parties in the United States have become increasingly polarized in recent years, with the and the taking more extreme positions on a range of issues. This has made it more difficult for politicians to work together and find common ground, leading to increased polarization.

  3. The role of media: The media landscape in the United States has become increasingly fractured, with people able to access news and information from a wide range of sources. This has made it easier for people to access information that confirms their preexisting beliefs, leading to increased polarization.

  4. The role of : The role of money in American politics has long been a controversial issue, and many people believe that the influence of has contributed to . The ability of wealthy individuals and special interest groups to fund political campaigns has led to a system in which politicians are more beholden to their donors than to the general public, leading to increased polarization.

  5. : The United States is undergoing significant , with a more diverse and urban population. These changes have led to increased , as different groups have different political interests and priorities.

Overall, there are a number of factors that have contributed to the in the United States in the 21st century, including the role of , the role of political parties, the role of media, the role of , and .

Economic Changes

affected the United States greatly during this time period as the US economy moved to a post-industrial basis, focusing more on service-sector and high-tech jobs. This created problems for previous industrial centers (see the ) and worsened the country’s as the rich got richer and poor and middle class wages stagnated. 

There have been a number of significant in the United States in the 21st century, and a number of different factors have contributed to these changes. Here are five causes of in the United States in the 21st century:

  1. The Great Recession: was a major economic downturn that lasted from 2007 to 2009, and it had a significant impact on the economy of the United States. The recession was caused by a number of factors, including the collapse of the housing market and the financial crisis. The recession led to high levels of unemployment and a slowdown in economic growth.

  2. The COVID-19 pandemic: The has had a significant impact on the economy of the United States, with many businesses shutting down and millions of Americans losing their jobs. The pandemic has led to a slowdown in economic growth and increased levels of unemployment.

  3. Changes in tax policy: The United States has undergone a number of changes in tax policy in the 21st century, including the implementation of the in 2017. These changes have had a significant impact on the economy, with some people arguing that they have helped to stimulate economic growth, while others argue that they have led to increased income inequality.

  4. Changes in trade policy: The United States has undergone a number of changes in trade policy in the 21st century, including the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the renegotiation of trade agreements with countries like Mexico and Canada. These changes have had a significant impact on the economy, with some people arguing that they have helped to protect American jobs, while others argue that they have led to increased prices and reduced access to global markets.

  5. Changes in monetary policy: The , the central bank of the United States, has implemented a number of changes in monetary policy in the 21st century, including the implementation of low interest rates and the implementation of quantitative easing programs. These changes have had a significant impact on the economy, with some people arguing that they have helped to stimulate economic growth, while others argue that they have led to increased levels of inflation.

Overall, there are a number of factors that have contributed to the in the United States in the 21st century, including , the , changes in tax policy, changes in trade policy, and changes in monetary policy.

Demographic Changes

The US in the 21st century was much more diverse than the US of 1950 or even of 1980. Continued immigration from Latin America and Asia created tension within the US as the US—again—wondered about how to assimilate immigrant groups and to maintain a US identity. Women were more involved in the workforce than ever before, movement to the Sunbelt continued as Midwestern states lost population relative to the rest of the country.

There have been a number of significant in the United States in the 21st century, and a number of different factors have contributed to these changes. Here are five causes of in the United States in the 21st century:

  1. Immigration: The United States has a long history of immigration, and the 21st century has seen a significant influx of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. This has led to a more diverse population and has contributed to the growth of the Hispanic and Asian American populations.

  2. Changes in birth rates: The 21st century has seen significant changes in birth rates in the United States, with the fertility rate falling to its lowest level in more than three decades. This has contributed to the aging of the population and has led to a shift in the age structure of the population.

  3. Changes in family structure: The 21st century has seen significant changes in family structure in the United States, with an increase in and a decline in the number of married couples with children. This has contributed to changes in the demographics of the population.

  4. Changes in life expectancy: The 21st century has seen significant changes in life expectancy in the United States, with life expectancy increasing due to improvements in healthcare and technology. This has contributed to the aging of the population and has led to a shift in the age structure of the population.

  5. Changes in geographic mobility: The 21st century has seen significant changes in geographic mobility in the United States, with more people moving between states and regions. This has contributed to changes in the demographics of the population and has led to a more diverse and urbanized population.

Overall, there are a number of factors that have contributed to the in the United States in the 21st century, including immigration, changes in birth rates, changes in family structure, changes in life expectancy, and changes in geographic mobility.

Key Terms to Review (26)

Asia Immigration

: Asia Immigration refers to individuals moving from Asian countries - such as China, India, Philippines - into other countries for reasons including education, employment or family reunification.

Asian American Population Growth

: Asian American Population Growth refers to the increase in individuals who identify as Asian within the United States. This growth is primarily due to immigration from various Asian countries.

Campaign Finance

: Campaign finance refers to all funds raised in order to promote candidates, political parties, or policies in elections, referendums, initiatives, party activities, and party organizations.

COVID-19 Pandemic

: The COVID-19 pandemic refers to the global outbreak of coronavirus disease that began in late 2019. It has had significant impacts on public health, economies, and daily life around the world.

Democratic Party

: The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. Founded around 1828, it supports a range of social equality issues including affordable healthcare, education reform, labor rights and climate change action.

Demographic Changes

: Demographic changes refer to shifts in population characteristics such as age, race, gender, birth rate, death rate, education and income levels over time.

Echo Chambers

: Echo chambers refer to situations in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system and insulated from rebuttal.

Economic Changes

: Economic changes refer to shifts in the structure, performance, or conditions of an economy over time. These can include changes in policies, technology, population demographics, and global interactions.

Economic Inequality

: Economic inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society.

Federal Reserve

: The Federal Reserve is America's central banking system established in 1913 to provide the country with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system.

Globalization

: Globalization is the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Great Society

: The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States launched by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964–65 aiming to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Hispanic Population Growth

: Hispanic Population Growth refers to the rapid increase in individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latino within the United States. This growth is due both to immigration and higher birth rates among Hispanics compared to other racial/ethnic groups.

Latin America Immigration

: Latin America Immigration refers to individuals moving from countries in Latin America - such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina - into other countries for various reasons including economic opportunities or political asylum.

Life Expectancy Increase

: Life expectancy increase refers to the rise in the average number of years that individuals are expected to live based on current health and mortality trends.

New Deal

: The New Deal was a series of programs and projects instituted during the Great Depression by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that aimed to restore prosperity to Americans.

Political Polarization

: Political polarization refers to the divergence of political attitudes towards ideological extremes. It's when people's stances on issues become more extreme, and they are less likely to agree with one another.

Reagan Revolution

: The Reagan Revolution refers to the conservative shift in American politics during Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981-1989). His administration emphasized lower taxes, decreased government regulation, increased military spending, and free-market capitalism.

Republican Party

: The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, founded in 1854 to oppose the spread of slavery into new states and territories.

Rust Belt

: The Rust Belt refers to a region in the Northeastern and Midwestern US that was once dominated by manufacturing industries, but has seen economic decline, population loss, and urban decay due to the shrinking of its once-powerful industrial sector.

Single-Parent Households

: A single-parent household is a family structure where a child or children live with only one parent, either due to divorce, death, abandonment, or out-of-wedlock births.

Social Media

: Social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking.

Sunbelt Migration

: The Sunbelt Migration refers to the demographic shift from the mid-20th century onwards where a large number of people moved from the Northeast and Midwest regions (Rust Belt) to the South and West regions (Sunbelt) of the United States. This was due to factors like warmer climate, economic opportunities, lower cost of living, and later retirement.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a comprehensive tax reform law passed in 2017 by the U.S. Congress that significantly altered the federal income tax structure for both individuals and corporations, with most of its provisions set to expire in 2025.

The Great Recession

: The Great Recession was a severe global economic downturn that occurred from 2007 to 2009. It was sparked by a financial crisis due to risky lending practices in U.S housing market which led to widespread mortgage defaults.

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

: The TPP was a proposed trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries concerning various matters of economic policy, which was signed in 2016 but never entered into force as required ratifications were not met.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.