Weekly essays 32- 1990s & 2000s

1.) a-) One specific historical event that supports the position that the Reagan administration
helped to end the Cold War is the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces
(INF) Treaty in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union.This negotiation
ceased activity and production of all ground launched missiles with ranges between 500
and 5500 kilometers.

b-) One specific historical event that supports the position that political changes in the
Soviet Union and Eastern Europe helped to end the Cold War is the fall of the Berlin Wall
in 1989. The wall had been a symbol of division and separation between the two and fell
due to a series of political changes that developed during the mid-1980s

c-) One specific historical foreign-policy challenge for the United States that resulted
from the aftermath of the Cold War was the emergence of ethnic conflicts and civil wars
in several countries that had been previously held together by Soviet influence. This is
because after the Soviet collapse, parts of Europe and Asia had ethnic and nationalist
tensions rise. This posed a challenge for the U.S. who had to balance democracy and
stability with little capability to intervene.

2.) a-) One specific change in immigration patterns in the United States during and after the
1970s was the increased number of immigrants from Asia and Latin America. As a result
of the change in immigration patterns, there was a higher level of ethnic and racial variety
in America. Immigrants from Latin America and Asia also contributed to the cultural
diversity of the nation by bringing their own cultures, languages, and traditions.

b-) One specific effect of the growth of the Sun Belt on politics in the United States
during the 1990s and 2000s was the increasing political influence of conservative voters
and politicians in the region. due to of things like work opportunities, weather, and
reduced taxes, the Sun Belt saw a huge increase in population during this time. As a
result, the area developed into a vital political front, with conservative politicians and
voters having a large impact on national elections.

c-) One specific way that family structures were changing in the United States by the
2000s was the increasing prevalence of non-traditional family arrangements. This shift in
family structures had significant impacts on society, as it challenged traditional norms
and values regarding family and gender roles.

3.) a-) one historical perspective of the image was that the United States has been engaged in
a seemingly endless cycle of war since the 9/11 attacks. The image suggests that the
United States has been trapped in this cycle of war, with each new conflict leading to
another and no clear end in sight.

b-) One specific event or development in the Middle East after 2000 that contributed to
the perspective depicted in the image was the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. This is
 because because it represented the start of a new phase in the War on Terror, with the US
and its allies becoming involved in a prolonged conflict.

c-) One specific historical effect of increased US involvement in the Middle East after
2000 was the destabilization of the region, leading to increased violence and conflict. US
led invasions disrupted existing power structures and political systems, which led to a
power vacuum in many countries, making them vulnerable to extremist groups and
organizations.

4.) a-) One specific historical event or development that contributed to the Great Recession
of 2008 was the housing market bubble and its downfall. The influx in the housing
market, with low-interest rates lead to an increase in mortgage lending and housing
prices. But these prices were unsustainable, and when housing prices began to decline, it
led to a wave of mortgage defaults and contributed to the financial crisis.

b-)One specific political impact of the Great Recession of 2008 was a loss of public trust
in government institutions and political leaders. This led to a rise in populism and anti-
establishment sentiment, with many people calling for more accountability and
transparency in government policies and decision-making.

c-) One specific program created by the Obama administration to deal with the Great
Recession was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This act
was a stimulus plan that included money for various public works and development
efforts, tax breaks, and other efforts to increase economic activity and generate jobs in an
effort to address the economic crisis.