Wrapping things up...

Our final unit examines the administrations of Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, two presidents named Bush serving before and after Bill Clinton, and finally, the election of President Obama.  The following resources should help you in your study of the topic.  While recent history is too new for us to see the true impact of it, and analyze all of its effects, the events of the 70s and 80s can be put into some sort of historical perspective.  In looking at this material, a number of topics could come up.  The closer in time to the present that an event took place doesn't diminish its historical significance, but it does diminish its likelihood to be on the AP Exam in May.  That being said, "APUSH tests typically include only a few questions covering the period from 1980 to the present.  Questions on recent history have focused on Reaganomics, the key demographic trends, and key economic events of the Clinton administration," which, perhaps, means we can expect more of the same from College Board (though nothing is guaranteed).

Vocabulary:  Apparently, until we get things fixed up with the school network, these will be blocked.  Feel free to copy and paste into a Word document, or even use docs.google.com
Chapter 42 - Stalemated Seventies
Chapter 43 - The Resurgence of Conservativism
Chapter 44 - The American People Face a New Century

Brief thematic outlines:
What was Chapter 42
What was Chapter 43
A look at the 90s from 2006
What was Chapter 44

Topic Outlines
The US since 1974
Chapter 42 - Stalemated Seventies
Chapter 43 - Resurgence of Conservatism
The Clinton and Bush Administrations


Class Presentation & Notes
Unit 17 Nixon to Obama


Interactive Lessons

1. Nixon & Foreign Policy: Vietnam
2. Nixon & Foreign Policy: Detente, SALT & the Yom Kippur War
3. Nixon & Domestic Policy: Supreme Court
4. Nixon & the Economy
5. Nixon & Watergate
6. Ford and the Energy Crisis
7. Jimmy Carter's Administration & Hostage crisis in Iran
8. Reagan, Neo-Conservatism, the Fall of Communism, and Reaganomics
9. George H. W. Bush, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the Persian Gulf War
10. Clinton, the last Federal Shutdown, a Global Economy, and Impeachment
11. W, the election of 2000, 9/11
12. Immigration and a changing American Society
13. The end of the Bush Administration and Reflection

Online Quizzes:
Chapter 42 Online Quiz
Chapter 43 Online Quiz
Chapter 44 Online Quiz


The following clips are Presidential speeches or excerpts from the news over the past 40 years.  These primary documents may help clarify key topics, or provide context.


Carter Addresses the Nation on the Energy Crisis

US Dept. of Energy PSA - Fuel Shortage

National Archives - The Iran Hostage Crisis

Ayatollah Khomeini - On the Hostage Crisis @ the US Embassy in Iran

Reagan on the Assassination Attempt

Reagan on the Iran-Contra Situation

Reagan from Berlin, on Communism

ABC News, the start of Desert Storm

Bush/Clinton/Perot Debate

Clinton on NAFTA

Clinton on Health Care Reform

CNN reflection on Election of 2000