| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cold War | The prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, characterized by ideological conflict, nuclear arms race, and proxy wars, but without direct military confrontation between the superpowers. |
| conservative movement | A political movement after 1980 that emphasized traditional social values and a reduced role for government in American society. |
| demographic shifts | Significant changes in the size, composition, and distribution of American Indian populations caused by disease and other factors. |
| interventionist foreign policy | A foreign policy approach involving active U.S. military or political involvement in other nations' affairs, promoted by the Reagan administration. |
| manufacturing decline | The decrease in manufacturing production in the United States during the late 20th and early 21st centuries as the economy transformed. |
| terrorism | The use of violence and intimidation to achieve political goals, which became a major focus of U.S. foreign policy after September 11, 2001. |
| traditional social values | Established cultural and moral principles emphasizing family, religion, and conventional social structures. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| conservative beliefs | Political and social values emphasizing traditional institutions, limited government, and individual responsibility. |
| deregulation | The removal or reduction of government rules and restrictions on business and industry. |
| diversity | The presence of people from different racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds in society. |
| economic growth | An increase in the total output of goods and services produced by an economy over time. |
| family structures | The organization and relationships within families, including kinship bonds that African Americans worked to maintain and protect. |
| federal government | The central national government of the United States with authority over the states. |
| financial system reform | Proposed changes to the structure and regulation of banks, markets, and other institutions that manage money and credit. |
| free-trade agreements | International treaties that reduce tariffs and trade barriers between countries to promote commerce. |
| gender roles | Socially defined expectations and behaviors associated with being male or female in a particular society. |
| immigration policy | Government rules and regulations governing the entry, residence, and rights of foreign nationals in the United States. |
| liberal programs | Government social welfare and assistance initiatives typically supported by progressive political movements. |
| policy debates | Ongoing political discussions and disagreements about government decisions and their implementation. |
| size and scope of government | The extent of government's involvement in the economy and society, including the number and reach of its programs and agencies. |
| social safety net | Government programs designed to provide economic assistance and protection to individuals in need, such as welfare and Social Security. |
| tax cuts | Reductions in the amount of taxes that individuals or businesses are required to pay to the government. |
| traditional social values | Established cultural and moral principles emphasizing family, religion, and conventional social structures. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cold War | The prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, characterized by ideological conflict, nuclear arms race, and proxy wars, but without direct military confrontation between the superpowers. |
| communism | A political and economic ideology based on collective or state ownership of property and the elimination of social classes, viewed as a threat by many Americans during the Cold War. |
| diplomatic initiatives | Official efforts by the U.S. government to establish relationships and negotiate agreements with foreign powers. |
| Eastern Europe | The region of Europe under Soviet influence and control during the Cold War, including countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and East Germany. |
| military interventions | Direct military actions taken by one nation in the affairs of another nation, typically to influence political outcomes or protect interests. |
| nuclear weapons buildup | The rapid increase in the production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and delivery systems by the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War. |
| peacekeeping interventions | Military or diplomatic actions undertaken by the United States or international organizations to maintain peace and prevent conflict in regions of instability. |
| Soviet Union | The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the communist superpower that was the primary adversary of the United States during the Cold War. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| computing | The technology and processes involving computers and computational systems for processing information and performing calculations. |
| digital communications | Technologies and systems that enable information exchange through electronic means, including the internet and related digital platforms. |
| digital mobile technology | Portable electronic devices and systems, such as smartphones and tablets, that enable digital communication and information access. |
| economic inequality | The unequal distribution of income and wealth among individuals and groups in society. |
| economic productivity | The effectiveness of effort measured by the rate of output per unit of input, particularly in the context of economic growth and efficiency. |
| internet | A global system of interconnected computer networks that enables communication and information sharing worldwide. |
| manufacturing | The production of goods in factories using industrial methods, which became a major driver of economic growth in the Northern United States. |
| real wages | Worker compensation adjusted for inflation, reflecting the actual purchasing power of earnings over time. |
| service sectors | Industries that provide services to consumers and businesses rather than producing physical goods, such as retail, healthcare, and finance. |
| technological innovations | New developments and improvements in technology that introduce novel methods, tools, or systems to society. |
| union membership | Participation in labor unions, organizations that represent workers' interests in negotiations with employers. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| American South | The region of the United States comprising the southeastern states, which experienced significant population growth and increased political and cultural influence after 1980. |
| American West | The region of the United States comprising the western states, which experienced significant population growth and increased political and cultural influence after 1980. |
| Asia | The world's largest continent, from which international migration to the United States increased dramatically after 1980. |
| domestic migration | The movement of large numbers of people from one geographic region to another, changing the demographic distribution of a country. |
| international migration | The movement of people from one country to another, often in search of economic opportunity or to escape difficult conditions. |
| labor force | The total number of people available and willing to work in an economy, including both employed and unemployed individuals. |
| Latin America | The region of the Americas south of the United States, including Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, from which international migration to the U.S. increased dramatically after 1980. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | A country in Central Asia where the United States launched military operations beginning in 2001 to pursue terrorists and remove the Taliban from power. |
| civil liberties | Individual rights and freedoms protected by law, including freedom of speech, religion, and due process. |
| climate change | Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels. |
| fossil fuels | Energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned. |
| human rights | Universal fundamental rights and dignities owed to all people, including freedom from torture and arbitrary detention. |
| Iraq | A country in the Middle East where the United States engaged in a lengthy military conflict beginning in 2003. |
| Pentagon | The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, D.C., which was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. |
| superpower | A nation with the military, economic, and political power to influence global affairs and project power worldwide. |
| War on Terror | U.S. foreign policy efforts focused on fighting terrorism around the world following the September 11, 2001 attacks. |
| World Trade Center | The twin office towers in New York City that were destroyed in terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| American national identity | The collective sense of who Americans are as a nation, shaped by political, cultural, economic, and social changes. |
| Cold War | The prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, characterized by ideological conflict, nuclear arms race, and proxy wars, but without direct military confrontation between the superpowers. |
| conservative movement | A political movement after 1980 that emphasized traditional social values and a reduced role for government in American society. |
| demographic shifts | Significant changes in the size, composition, and distribution of American Indian populations caused by disease and other factors. |
| interventionist foreign policy | A foreign policy approach involving active U.S. military or political involvement in other nations' affairs, promoted by the Reagan administration. |
| manufacturing | The production of goods in factories using industrial methods, which became a major driver of economic growth in the Northern United States. |
| traditional social values | Established cultural and moral principles emphasizing family, religion, and conventional social structures. |
| War on Terror | U.S. foreign policy efforts focused on fighting terrorism around the world following the September 11, 2001 attacks. |