Choose one of the following topics and write an essay. Some areas for you to consider including in writing your essay are provided – you are not limited to these. Keep in mind that these topics and questions seek your opinion – you need to not only give your opinion but also explain how you formed it with reference to sources and citations. Post your essay as a New Thread by Thursday.

The rise of conservatives, and the end of the Cold War

• What were some of the long-term effects of the Reagan Revolution and the rise of conservatives?
• What events led to the end of the Cold War? What impact did the end of the Cold War have on American politics and foreign policy concerns?
• Which issues divided Americans most significantly during the culture wars of the 1980s and 1990s?

After the Cold War

• In what ways was Bill Clinton a traditional Democrat in the style of Kennedy and Johnson? In what ways was he a conservative, like Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush?
• Describe American involvement in global affairs during this period. How did American foreign policy change and evolve between 1980 and 2000, in both its focus and its approach?

Into the 21^st Century

• In what ways are Barack Obama’s ideas regarding the economy, education, and the environment similar to those of Bush, his Republican predecessor? In what ways are they different?
• In what ways has the United States become a more heterogeneous and inclusive place in the twenty-first century? In what ways has it become more homogenous and exclusive?

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