The United States and Canada, 1980–2005: domestic policy and the end of the Cold War
Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is 'Reaganomics'?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 12 Flashcards — The United States and Canada, 1980–2005: domestic policy and the end of the Cold War
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is 'Reaganomics'?
Answer
Reagan's economic package of tax cuts, deregulation and cuts to social spending, based on supply-side theory.
Question
How much did the top US income tax rate fall under Reagan?
Answer
From 70% down to 28% by 1986.
Question
What broken campaign promise damaged GHW Bush?
Answer
'No new taxes' — he raised taxes in 1990 to control the deficit, hurting his 1992 re-election chances.
Question
What turned the US budget deficit into a surplus under Clinton?
Answer
Tax rises on higher earners combined with spending discipline and a booming economy, producing a surplus by 1998–2000.
Question
What was the 1996 welfare reform act and its effect?
Answer
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act replaced open-ended welfare with time-limited, work-tied support; popular but criticised for hurting the poorest.
Question
What treaty resulted from the Reagan–Gorbachev thaw?
Answer
The INF Treaty (1987), eliminating a whole class of nuclear missiles.
Question
Compare Reagan's and Clinton's approach to US foreign policy.
Answer
Reagan confronted the USSR directly (arms build-up) then negotiated after Gorbachev; Clinton, with no Soviet rival left, acted more unilaterally (NATO expansion, Balkans intervention) without needing superpower approval.
Question
What was the Canada–US Free Trade Agreement (1988) later expanded into?
Answer
NAFTA (1992), adding Mexico to the free trade zone.
Question
Why did the Meech Lake Accord (1987) collapse?
Answer
It needed unanimous provincial ratification by 1990; Manitoba and Newfoundland failed to ratify it in time.
Question
What happened in the 1993 Canadian federal election to Mulroney's party?
Answer
The Progressive Conservatives collapsed from 156 seats to just 2, one of the most dramatic collapses of a governing party in any democracy.
Question
What was the result of the 1995 Quebec referendum?
Answer
The vote to separate was rejected by an extremely narrow margin, about 50.6% No to 49.4% Yes.
Question
What did the Clarity Act (2000) do?
Answer
Set strict rules for any future Quebec secession referendum, requiring a clear majority on a clear question, making unilateral separation much harder.
Read the notes
Full study notes for The United States and Canada, 1980–2005: domestic policy and the end of the Cold War
Topic 19.18 hub
The Americas (1980–2005)
More from Topic 19.18
All flashcards in this topic
History exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free