HIS 204 week 5 DQ 1

  

Ashford 6: - Week 5 - Discussion 1

The Age of Reagan

  

   Background: Most   of us have lived much of our lives in the “Age of Reagan,” a period    that dates from 1980 and that may still be ongoing today. Historians   increasingly agree that the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 represented a   “revolution” in American society and, particularly, its politics. Review   Reagan’s presidential career to explain what about it precisely was so   “revolutionary.” 

Resources: When writing your response, draw from material in the   following video:

1. Isbouts, J. & Johnson, B.        D. (Writers) & Johnson, B. D. (Director). (1998).  Powerplay: End of        the empire [Television series episode].        In J. Florescu, J. Isbouts, & B. Johnson (Executive producers),        Inside the Cold War with Sir David Frost. Los Angeles, CA:        Porchlight Entertainment & David Paradine Television. Retrieved from        http://digital.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=8398&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref=

Also, draw from AT LEAST TWO of the documents   listed below:

1. (1994).  “Equal rights are        not special”: Advocates call for an end to anti-gay employment        discrimination.  In Employment        Discrimination Against Gay Men and Lesbians, 103d Congress, 2d        Session, June 20, 1994. Retrieved from        http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6463 
2. Alley, R. (2001). Experimenting with our liberties. Retrieved from http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5666         
3. Apuzzo, V.        (1983).  “A time bomb        inside of you”: Social service organizations advocate an improved        federal response to AIDS.        In Federal Response to AIDS: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the        Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, 98th        Cong., 1st Sess., August 1 and 2, 1983. Retrieved from        http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6893  
4. Barack, O. (2009, Sept. 9). Address to Congress. Retrieved from        http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-250_162-5299229.html 
5. Buchanan, P. (1992,        Aug. 17). Address to the Republican national convention. Available at        http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/patrickbuchanan1992rnc.htm 
6. Carter, J. (1979, July 15). A crisis of confidence. Retrieved from        http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/carter-confidence.htm 
7. Clinton, W. (1995, April 23). Oklahoma bombing memorial prayer service        address. Retrieved from        http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjcoklahomabombingspeech.htm 
8. Cosby, B. (2004, May 17). Address at the NAACP on the 50th anniversary of        Brown v. Board of Education.        Retrieved from        http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm 
9. Hill, A. (1991, Oct. 11). Testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee. Retrieved from        http://www.speeches-usa.com/Transcripts/126_hill.html
10. Houghton, T. (1992). “There’s been no real creative response”: Ted        Houghton on homelessness in New York City. Retrieved from        http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/7045 
11. Kennedy, E. (1980, Aug. 12). Address to the Democratic national convention. Retrieved from        http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/tedkennedy.h 
12. Reagan, R. (1982, June 8). Address to British Parliament. Retrieved from        http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-parliament.htm 
13. United States Supreme Court.        (1973, Jan. 22). Roe v. Wade majority decision. Retrieved from        http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/texts/roevwade.html 

Instructions:   After reviewing your Instructor’s Guidance and completing the weekly reading   assignments (including those in the resource section below), please post a   substantive discussion post of at least 200 words that analyzes the “Reagan   Revolution” and its impact on American society and culture. Please use the   following questions as the basis of your analysis:
 

  Compare his approach to politics and foreign affairs with those of his   predecessors, and assess the ways that his successors either built upon or   attempted to reverse his legacy. Explain why so many Americans opposed   Reagan’s policies and those of his successors. Consider also the social and   cultural changes that took place during the Age of Reagan. Finally, assess   the success of the “Reagan Revolution” by identifying which problems it   ameliorated and which it exacerbated. In your response, consider AT LEAST TWO   of the following topics, with regard to how both Reagan and his successors   handled or contributed to them: 

1. The economy 
2. The federal debt 
3. Federal regulation 
4. Social welfare 
5. Public health 
6. Race relations 
7. Gender equality 
8. Foreign affairs 

Before writing your response, reflect upon the topic by   considering the following questions: 

• How revolutionary was the        Reagan Revolution and how was it revolutionary? Consider the following        topics and look at one or two in detail:  
  • The economy 
  • The federal debt 
  • Federal regulation 
  • Social welfare 
  • Public health 
  • Race relations 
  • Gender equality 
  • Foreign affairs 
• In what ways was it        beneficial to the American nation and in what ways was it        detrimental? 
• Did the positives outweigh        the negatives or vice versa? 
• Did the Reagan Revolution        make the American nation more united or more divided? 
• What cultural issues caused        the most friction during the Age of Reagan? 
• Is the Age of Reagan still        underway? 

Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length.   Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and properly   cite any references. You may use additional scholarly sources to support your   points if you choose. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by   Day 7 in at least 100 words. When responding to classmates, you should refer   to the material from one of the sources which you did not reference in your   initial post.