31. From Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980-2000

The late 20th century in the U.S. saw a shift from Cold War politics to cultural conflicts, marked by the rise of conservatism under Ronald Reagan, who promoted supply-side economics and reduced government spending while increasing military strength. The AIDS crisis highlighted societal tensions, as the gay community mobilized for recognition amidst governmental neglect. The "war on drugs" led to mass incarceration, disproportionately affecting African Americans. The end of the Cold War was characterized by diplomatic efforts with the Soviet Union, culminating in arms reduction treaties. Bill Clinton's presidency focused on economic growth, healthcare reform, and navigating domestic terrorism, while the contentious 2000 election underscored political divisions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

Explain Ronald Reagan’s attitude towards government
Discuss the Reagan administration’s economic policies and their effects on the nation
Discuss the culture wars and political conflicts of the Reagan era
Describe the Religious Right’s response to the issues of the Reagan era
Describe the successes and failures of Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy
Compare the policies of Ronald Reagan with those of George H. W. Bush
Explain the causes and results of the Persian Gulf War
Discuss the events that constituted the end of the Cold War
Explain political partisanship, antigovernment movements, and economic developments during the Clinton administration
Discuss President Clinton’s foreign policy
Explain how George W. Bush won the election of 2000

Introduction#

Figure 31.1 This striking piece of graffiti from the Berlin Wall, now housed in the Newseum in Washington, DC, contains the name of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), a group formed in 1987 in New York City to combat the spread of AIDS and the perception that AIDS was the product of immoral behavior.

“Act up!” might be called the unofficial slogan of the 1980s. Numerous groups were concerned by what they considered disturbing social, cultural, and political trends in the United States and lobbied for their vision of what the nation should be. Conservative politicians cut taxes for the wealthy and shrank programs for the poor, while conservative Christians blamed the legalization of abortion and the increased visibility of gays and lesbians for weakening the American family. When the U.S. Centers for Disease Control first recognized the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in 1981, the Religious Right regarded it as a plague sent by God to punish homosexual men for their “unnatural” behavior. Politicians, many of whom relied on religious conservatives for their votes, largely ignored the AIDS epidemic. In response, gay men and women formed organizations such as ACT UP to draw attention to their cause (Figure 31.1).

Toward the end of the decade in 1989, protesters from both East and West Berlin began “acting up” and tearing down large chunks of the Berlin Wall, essentially dismantling the Iron Curtain. This symbolic act was the culmination of earlier demonstrations that had swept across Eastern Europe, resulting in the collapse of Communist governments in both Central and Eastern Europe, and marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War.