Food for Thought: Key Ideas on Political Party Conversation

• Democrats—Left—Liberal• Republicans—Right—Conservative

• Moderates fall somewhere in between the two. No one believes in all Democratic or Republican ideas. You choose your party based on where you agree most.

The US Since Vietnam

A crash course in the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and today!

Goal 12: The United States since the Vietnam War (1973-present) - The learner will identify and analyze trends in domestic and foreign affairs of the United

States during this time period. • 12.01 Summarize significant events in foreign policy

since the Vietnam War.• 12.02 Evaluate the impact of recent constitutional

amendments, court rulings, and federal legislation on United States' citizens.

• 12.03 Identify and assess the impact of economic, technological, and environmental changes in the United States.

• 12.04 Identify and assess the impact of social, political, and cultural changes in the United States.

• 12.05 Assess the impact of growing racial and ethnic diversity in American society.

• 12.06 Assess the impact of twenty-first century terrorist activity on American society.

1970S

1970s Overview: “The Me Decade”• Women’s Movement gained

momentum• Many became interested in

health foods and fitness (taking care of “me”)

• Hippies: a subculture youth movement– Drug use– Woodstock Music Festival

occurred in 1969 for the first time

• Nixon’s resignation after the Watergate Scandal

Nixon’s New Federalism• Recall: Define federalism.– A system in which the national gov’t

shares power with constituent gov’ts (such as state gov’ts)

• Nixon (R) entered office in 1969 wanting a more conservative America.– Wanted to decrease the size of the

federal gov’t by allocating more power to state and local gov’ts

– Revenue sharing: state and local gov’ts could spend their federal money however they wished to within limits set by the federal gov’t

Nixon’s New Federalism (cont.)• Nixon presented the New Federalism programs to a

Democrat-controlled Congress.– Expansion of old programs

• Increased Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

• Made food stamps more accessible• Nixon attempted to kill other social programs such as the Job

Corps.– Impoundment: president’s ability to withhold funds from federal

programs• By 1973, Nixon had impounded almost $15,000 affecting over 100

programs• Federal courts later ruled that Nixon had to release the impounded funds

deeming that Congress had sole power to decide how funds are spent

Nixon’s Law and Order Politics• Nixon had to find a way to deal with the opposition

of Congress and the anti-war protests.• Use of the presidential office to monitor his

opposition. (Sometimes, the mode was illegal.)– FBI wiretapped office buildings in DC.– CIA investigated dissidents (those who disagreed with

the gov’t policy)– IRS was used to audit tax returns of antiwar

and civil rights activists

Nixon and Agnew• Nixon’s VP, Spiro Agnew

helped him last out against the opposition.

• Agnew particularly targeted anti-war protests.– Scorned the media saying

that they encouraged the antiwar movement.• “nattering nabobs of

negativism”

US Pulls out of Vietnam• President _________ unleashed the

“Christmas bombings” in 1972 leading to international protests.

• 1973, the truce was signed between the US and North Vietnam ending hostilities between the two.

• The war raged on for two more years. Who won the Vietnam War?______________________________

_______________________________

Nixon’s Southern Strategy for ‘72 • Nixon narrowly won the ‘68 election.• Solid South had slowly broken down as many

southerners felt that the Democrats had become too liberal.– Nixon wanted Southern Democrats to swing their

vote to the Republican Party

• In the ‘72 election, Nixon wanted to appeal to conservative Democrats who were upset with desegregation and a liberal Supreme Court.– Promised to name a southerner to the Supreme

Court

• To attract the voters in the South, Nixon began to slow down integration.

• Often violated the Brown decision of ‘54 (“with all deliberate speed”)– Nixon reluctantly began to desegregate schools in

the South– By ‘72, about 90% of children in the south

attended desegregated schools (only 20% had in ‘69)

• Trying to stop the policy of integration through busing.

Busing Controversy• 1971, Swann v. Charlotte-

Mecklenburg Board of Education decided that school districts could bus students to other schools to end segregation by district.– White parents in places like Boston

and Detroit protested busing– Nixon televised his opposition to

busing.• Although it continued to occur, Nixon

gained popularity in the South.

Nixon and the Supreme Court

• Four justices retired in Nixon’s first term including Chief Justice Earl Warren.– Nixon had condemned the court for being too

liberal.

• Nixon appointed conservative judges including Warren Burger.

• Although Nixon had tilted the court, they still did not always vote conservative.– 1971, court ruled for busing in the Swann case

26th Amendment• 1971, 26th Amendment was ratified which

lowered the voting age to 18 years old.– Expanded the opportunities for Americans

to participate in government.• Liberals supported the amendment because

they believed young people would tend to be liberal.– Many also argued it was unfair to fight and

die in Vietnam before you could vote.• Conservatives typically opposed the

amendment fearing more liberals voters.– Many argued that it would be too expensive

for states to administer polls and that 18 year olds were not mature enough to vote.

Stagflation• Stagflation: high inflation and high unemployment• ‘67-’73 US stagflation was caused by the economic issues of the

1960s and early 1970s.– LBJ’s policy of funding the war and social problems through

deficit spending– Flood of new workers (women and baby boomers)– International competition increased after WWII– Heavy dependency on foreign oil

• US depended mostly on the Middle East• US belonged to OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries) which gradually raised prices.– Stopped supplying oil to US when we aided Israel against

Egypt and Syria in ‘73. When they resumed sales in ‘74 the price was 4x what it had been in ‘73.

Nixon Battles Stagflation

• Attempted to raise taxes and decrease the federal budget (to offset deficit spending)– Congress denied the request

• Attempted to raise interest rates to reduce the amount of money in circulation– Caused a mild recession and slowed down

consumer spending

• Froze prices and wages for 90 days in 1971– The inflation eased, but the recession continued

Nixon and Foreign Policy• Wanted an honorable peace in Vietnam• Improved relations with Soviet Union and China (this is still

during the Cold War!)– Henry Kissinger’s realpolitik (“political realism”)

• Foreign policy should not be based on consideration of powers; even weak countries should not be ignored

• Recognized communist countries• Confronted powerful nations through negotiation and

military engagement• Cold War entered into détente (an easing of tensions)

– Nixon visited China and Moscow in ’72– Nixon and Brezhnev of the Soviet Union signed the SALT I

Treaty

Watergate: Nixon’s Crime• The Watergate Scandal was Nixon’s

administrations' attempt to cover up a burglary of the Democratic National Convention headquarters.

• Nixon feared losing elections throughout his career.

• Distancing himself from Congress, Nixon formed a loyal group of advisers within his cabinet.– These men, along with Nixon’s own idea of the

presidency, provided them the idea that the president was above the law.

Watergate: Nixon and Reelection• June 17, 1972 five men broke into

the campaign headquarters of the DNC at the Watergate Complex in DC.– These burglars were attempting

to photograph documents outlining Democratic campaign strategy and placing wiretaps on telephones

– One of these men was James McCord, former CIA agent and a coordinator for the Committee to Reelect the President (CRP).

Watergate: The Cover-Up• White House workers began destroying

evidence that may tie the office to the crime.• CIA and FBI were asked to stop their

investigations on the grounds of national security.

• CRP paid out $450,000 to the burglars to keep them silent after their indictment on September ‘72.

• Watergate actually did not have much media coverage in the ‘72 election.

• January ‘73 trial for the Watergate burglars began.– Judge John Sirica believed that the men had not

acted alone.– McCord sent a letter to Sirica in March, prior to

sentencing, stating that he lied under oath and hinted the Nixon’s administration had been involved in the break-in.

• Senate began to investigate the White House.– Nixon announced the resignations of many

cabinet members and denied on television any cover-up.

Watergate: Senate Trial of Nixon• June ’73: John Dean, former White House counsel, testified that

Nixon was involved in the cover-up.• July ’73: Alexander Butterfield, former White House aide,

revealed that Nixon had taped almost all of his presidential conversations.– A year-long battle ensued over the “Nixon tapes.”– Saturday Night Massacre: Prosecutor was fired after

requiring Nixon to turn over the tapes in October ‘73. (Nixon refused)• The new prosecutor was just as determined to get the

tapes.• Several months later, the House Judiciary Committee

began examining the possibility of impeachment.

Trial Hits the White House• VP Spiro Agnew resigned

after it was revealed that he had accepted bribes from Maryland engineering firms.– House minority leader,

Gerald Ford, was nominated by Nixon to become the new VP and confirmed by Congress.

• March of ‘74 seven presidential aides were indicted on various charges.

Nixon Releases Tapes• Spring ‘74, Nixon announced he

would release edited transcripts about Watergate claiming editing was required for national security.

• July 24, 1974, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Nixon must turn over unedited tapes.

• Without the unedited tapes, the House Judiciary Committee decided there was enough evidence for impeachment.– July ‘74 Nixon charged with

obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress for refusing to obey a congressional subpoena.

• August ‘74, Nixon finally released the tapes which still contained many gaps.

• One tape, dated June 23, 1972, there was evidence that Nixon knew about the burglary and was involved in the cover-up.

• August 8, 1974, Nixon resigned before he could be impeached. He did not admit guilt, but said that some of his judgments “were wrong.”

• Legacies of Watergate– 25 administration members were convicted and served

time due to Watergate– American public became cynical about public officials– Even presidents have to follow the law

“A Ford, Not a Lincoln”• Completed the term

after Nixon’s resignation (‘74-’77)– People viewed him as

a likable man upon becoming VP and as the new president.

• Pardoned President Nixon in September 1974 which cost him his popularity.

Ford’s Domestic Policy• Inflation and unemployment continued to rise

throughout Nixon’s presidency—Ford inherited the problem.

• “Whip Inflation Now” or WIN became Ford’s policy calling for citizen-action to save energy.– “Tight money” cut gov’t spending and the Federal Reserve

Board restricted credit by raising interest rates.• Triggered a terrible recession

• Ford vetoed over 50 pieces of legislation in his two year presidency as he battled a Democratic Congress.

Ford’s Foreign Policy• Continued Nixon’s policy of negotiations with Communist

China and the Soviet Union.– Kissinger remained Sec. of State– Helsinki Accords: series of agreements that promised

greater cooperation between the nations of Eastern and Western Europe.

*Considered Ford’s greatest presidential accomplishment• Asked Congress to assist South Vietnam, but Congress

refused.– South Vietnam fell to communism in _______ , ending the

Vietnam War, when North Vietnamese took over the South Vietnamese capital of __________.

• Communist government in Cambodia captured the US merchant ship Mayaguez in 1975 in the Gulf of Siam.– Ford used military force

to rescue 39 crew members onboard.

– 41 US soldiers died in the operation.

Election of 1976• Republican candidate—Gerald Ford– Ronald Reagan gained popularity as the former governor of

California

• Democrats—Jimmy Carter– Jimmy Carter was virtually unknown

• Peanut farmer• Former governor of Georgia

• Key issues were inflation, energy, and unemployment.• Carter won by a narrow election (40.8 million votes to

Ford’s 39.1 million)

Peanut Farmer Takes the White House

• Down to earth president who kept communication with the people through the radio and television.

• Refused to make deals with Congress which cost him some popularity even among the Democrats in Congress.– Both parties often worked together to sabotage

budget proposals and major tax and welfare policy reforms

Carter’s Domestic Agenda• Focused on battling the energy and economic

issues that had built through Nixon and Ford’s administrations.

• Energy Crisis– Carter believed that the US’ dependence on foreign oil

was the root of the problem. He urged citizens to cut their consumption of oil and gas.

– Battled Congress in attempts to conserve energy– National Energy Act removed price controls on oil and

natural gas from America and placed a tax on “gas-guzzlers.”• US dependence on oil weakened by 1979

• Carter could not solve the economic crisis.– Violence in the Middle East produced another fuel

shortage in the summer 1979– OPEC announced another price hike– 1979 inflation rose from 7.6% to 11.3%

• Carter’s “mailaise” speech made the American people feel like he had given up (and had no real economic policy at all)

• Standard of living in the US dropped from the 1st to the 5th in the world (Carter’s popularity dipped with it)

• Civil Rights– Pros of Carter and Civil Rights

• Administration included more women and African Americans than ever before.

• Named Andrew Young, a civil rights leader, as the US ambassador to the UN in ‘77 (he was the first African American to ever hold the position).

• Named 28 African Americans, 29 women (6 also being African American), and 14 Latinos to the judicial branch.

– Cons of Carter and Civil Rights• Many civil rights activists believed he fell

short on legislation because he focused on the energy and economy crisis.• Courts began to turn against

affirmative action

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

• 1978 decision: Affirmative action policies at the university were deemed unconstitutional – 16 out of 100 spots were being

reserved for racial minorities– Bakke, a white male, sued arguing

that he had not been admitted due to his race (his test scores, he argued, should have gained him admission)

Carter’s Foreign Policy• Rejected Nixon and Ford’s foreign policy of

____________.• Human Rights: Carter wanted to promote human rights

such as the freedoms outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights worldwide– Military aid cut off in Brazil and Argentina for

torturing imprisoned citizens– Critics of Carter’s human rights policy argued that it

cut alliances with some countries (such as Nicaragua which was a dictatorship, but anti-communist) and that it was inconsistent (supported dictators in South Korea and the Philippines).

• Yielding of the Panama Canal• Since 1941, the US had fully owned the canal• 1977 Carter’s administration announced that they were planning

to allow Panama ownership– Two treaties were signed between the nations; one of them

turned over ownership to Panama of the canal as of December 31, 1999 (Congress barely approved the treaty)

– US relations did improve with Latin America– Détente (period of _______________) broke down between the

Soviet Union and the US. • Carter disliked the treatment of Soviet dissidents• SALT II (June 1979) provided limits on the number of strategic

weapons and nuclear-missile launchers that each could produce– Senate thought SALT II would cause a military disadvantage.– December 1979, Soviets invaded Afghanistan and Carter let

the treaty die in Congress without ratification.

Carter in the Middle East• Camp David Accords: Carter helped Israel and

Egypt form a peace agreement– 12 days of negotiations at Camp David in Maryland– Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel• Israel would pull out of the Sinai Peninsula (Israel had taken

this from Egypt in 1967).• Egypt would recognize Israel’s right to exist.• Many issues were still unresolved.

• 1979, Iran Hostage Crisis – Conflicts existed in Iran between shah (gov’t leader) and a Muslim group led by

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini• Rebels led by the ayatollah wanted strict adherence to the Qur’an• Shah fled Iran in January 1979

– October, Carter allows him to enter the US for cancer treatment– November, rebels in Iran took the embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans

hostage demanding the return of the shah. (Once the shah was returned, they would free the hostages.)

– A year long struggle ensued– January 20th, 1981 after a new president was inaugurated, the hostages were

released.» 444 days of captivity for hostages

Environmentalism of the ‘70s• Environmentalism began in the 1970sdue to the

realization of overconsumption and pollution in the 1960s.

• Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) warned against the dangers of pesticides. – Her warnings included:

• Pesticides poisoned the foods they were supposed to protect

• Killed many birds and fish– Chemical companies said it was a falsehood

and threatened legal action.– Many Americans saw it as an early warning.– Kennedy began an advisory committee to

investigate pesticide use.– DDT was outlawed in 1972

Environmental Concerns ?s• Nixon and Carter both found ways to take action against

pollution and to conserve energy. Answer the following:1. When was the first Earth Day and what was the purpose?2. Define the role Environmental Protection Agency formed

in 1970 by Nixon.3. Describe extended measures during Nixon’s administration

aimed at conservation of the environment.4. Explain the conversation efforts in Alaska during the 1970s.5. What is Three Mile Island and what was its significance to

the conservation movement?

1980s and early 1990s: A Conservative Tide

Conservative Movements in the US• The New Right emerged as grassroots movements supported single-issues.

– Issues such as abortion, ERA, busing, affirmative action, and school prayer.

• Conservative coalition formed beginning in the 1960s and grew throughout the 1970s.– Business leaders and, middle-class voters, disaffected Democrats, and

fundamentalist Christians argued their causes in newspapers.– Moral Majority were evangelicals who brought a religious revival in the

1970s strengthening the movement.• Literal interpretation of the Bible, they condemned liberalism and

wanted a return to traditional values.• Mass mailing campaigns and monetary donations supported

conservative candidates.

Ronald Reagan wins Election of 1980• Reagan (R) was previously a movie star and

governor of California.– Chose G.H. Bush as his running mate against

incumbent Carter (D).• Key issues for included abortion, evolution, and

prayer in public schools, the Iran hostage crisis, and high inflation.

• Reagan was relaxed and had name recognition.– Nicknamed the Great Communicator because

he could simplify situations and present clear answers.

• Reagan won with 51% percent of the popular vote, but enough states supported him so that he carried 44 states (489 of 538 electoral votes).

Election of 1980

“Reaganomics”• Reduced the size of the federal gov’t upon taking

office in attempts to encourage more private investments.

• Budget cuts in areas such as urban mass transit, food stamps, welfare benefits, job training, Medicaid, school lunches and student loans.

• Tax cuts encouraged savings.– Supply side economics: theory that if people pay

lower taxes, they save. Banks then can loan those savings to businesses who then invest in resources improving productivity. Supplies would increase causing lowering prices.

– Income taxes dropped by 25% over three years under Reagan’s recommendations to Congress.

• Increased defense spending offset cuts in social programs.– 1981-1984, the Defense Dept. budget almost doubled– Reagan revived controversial weapons (MX missile and B-1

bomber).– Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was a program to develop a

defense system that would keep America safe from enemy missiles.• Nicknamed Star Wars

• 1981 to 1982 the US experienced the most severe recession since the Great Depression.

• 1983 brought an economic upturn.– Increase consumer spending influenced by tax cuts,

declining interest rates, and lower inflation.– The economy continued to improve until 1987 when it

crashed due to computerized buying an selling systems.

Effects of Reaganomics

• Tax cuts helped the rich, but social welfare cuts hurt the poor.

• Budget deficits rose.• Reagan began to move away from supply-side

economics in 1982 creating new taxes, but it was not enough.– By the end of his first term, the national debt had

almost doubled.

Deregulation of the Economy

• Reagan’s reduction of the federal gov’t also called for deregulation.– Deregulation: cutting back the federal regulation of

industry

• Price controls on oil were removed• Eliminated health and safety inspections of nursing

homes by the federal gov’t• Cut the budget of the EPA

Republican Coalition• Reagan formed a coalition of conservative voters for

the Republicans by the Election 1984 consisting of:– Business people (wanted deregulation)– Southerners (wanted limits on federal power)– Westerners (resented federal controls on mining and

grazing)– Reagan Democrats: thought the Democrats had drifted

too far left and wanted limits placed on the federal gov’t

• These voters would help G.H. Bush in 1988 Election.

1984 Election

• Reagan and G.H. Bush (R)• Walter Mondale (Carter’s VP) and Geraldine

Ferraro (D)– Ferraro became the first women to be elected to

VP on a major party ticket.

• In 1984 the economy was strong and Reagan won by a landslide (even carrying Mondale’s home state of Missouri).

1988 Election• G.H. Bush (R) v. Michael Dukakis (D)• Most Americans were comfortable and saw no reason

for change.• “Read my lips: no new taxes.” –Bush• Bush’s campaign appealed to the Moral Majority, but

also ran attack ads against Dukakis calling him an ultraliberal.

• Lowest voter turnout in 64 years (50% of register voters)• 53% of popular votes went to Bush who won 426

electoral votes.

1988 Election Results

Judicial Shift to the Right in the 1980s• Reagan appointed four Supreme Court justices

during his presidency.– Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female

justice.– William Rehnquist, staunch conservative,

appointed as chief justice.• G. H. Bush appointed two justices.

– Clarence Thomas accused of sexual harassment by Anita Hill who worked for him in the 1980s.• Televised Senate hearings during him

approval process.• The court had been liberal since FDR’s presidency.

– 1989 restricted women’s rights to abortion.– 1990-91 rights were narrowed for arrested

person.

Health, Education, and Urban Crises• AIDS epidemic spread to more heterosexuals causing more interest in preventive

measures and searching for a cure.• Abortion rights were limited in July of 1989 with the Webster v. Reproductive

Health Care Services case.– Restrictions were decided by states.

• Education concerns increased as reports indicated the US was falling behind other industrialized nations.– A Nation at Risk published in 1983 stated that 23 million Americans could not

follow simple instructions or fill out a job application.– Recommended solutions included more homework, longer school days, longer

school year, higher pay for teachers.• Focus should be placed on English, math, science, social studies, and

computer science.• 1991, G.H. Bush (as president) announced “America 2000” introducing a

voucher program (public funds used to send• students to the school of their choice).

• Urban issues were closely connected to education issues.– 1970s saw suburbanization as whites moved to

larger homes with larger yards outside the cities. Businesses moved too.

– Cities saw high unemployment, poor buildings, poor sanitation, poor health services, poor schools, and various social problems.• Homelessness• Divisions of wealth

Equal Rights Struggle Continues• In the early 1980s, women sought the ratification of the ERA.

– Congress had passed it in 1972, but it had not been ratified by the states.

– If ratification did not occur by June 30, 1982, the amendment would die.

– 3/5 of states must ratify an amendment (38),• The ERA only received 35 and did NOT become law.

• With the failure of the ERA, women focused on electing officials to gov’t offices.– Ferraro in 1984 election (VP nominee).– 1983, Elizabeth Dole became the secretary of

transportation and Margaret Heckler became secretary of health and human services.

– Numbers of women in the House and Senate rose.• House increased from 23 to 47 in 1992.• Senate increased from 2 to 6 in 1992.

Inequality Continued for Women• “Feminization of Poverty”

– More women were working, but in 1992 women only made $0.75 to every $1 a man earned.

– Female college grads only made slightly more than male high school grads.– 31% of households headed by women lived in poverty.

• Poverty rates were even higher for African American women.– New laws in divorce laws cut alimony payments in undisputed divorces and

child support payments were not strictly enforced.• Women’s organizations and unions proposed pay equity (pay rated on education

and physical strength along with the number of people under supervision of the employee—pay based on requirements)– By 1989, 20 states were adjusting pay rates.

• Women also pushed for improvements in the workplace.– Family benefit plans including maternity leave, flexible hours, job sharing,

and work-at-home arrangements.– Reagan cut some of these programs including the budget for daycare.

Civil Rights Struggle Continues• African Americans made political gains in the

1980s.– Mayors in cities such as LA, Detroit, Chicago,

Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.• 1990, L. Douglas Wilder of VA became the

first African American governor.• Jesse Jackson (D) ran for the presidential

nomination in 1984 and 1988.• African Americans saw gains in the workplace

serving in more professional and managerial positions. However, there were still setbacks.– Richmond v. J.A. Croson Company limited the

scope of affirmative action.

• Latinos became a growing majority in the 1980s.– Toney Anaya became governor of New

Mexico and Robert Martinez became governor of Florida.

– 1988, Reagan appointed Lauro Cavazos as secretary of education.

– 1990, G. H. Bush named Dr. Antonia Coello Novello as surgeon general.

– Bilingualism had grown in public schools due to the Bilingual Education Act of 1968.• Critics said it slowed down the

assimilation of Spanish-speakers into the mainstream. Fears began that the nation would one day be split between English and Spanish speakers.

• Native Americans began to demand their rights.– Began teaching young Native Americans of their past.– Began fighting for the return of ancestral lands.– Reagan’s budget cuts affected aid for Native American

health and education services.• Led to an increase in casinos on reservation lands to provide

additional funding

• The Asian-American population became the second-fastest growing minority in the US in the 1980s.– Success stories include low crime rates, low school

dropout rates, and low divorce rates.– Downfalls include higher unemployment and poverty

rates than other national figures.

• Gay rights activism increased calling for an end to discrimination.– 1992, several Republican National Convention

speakers condemned gay rights activism– 1993, 7 states had banned anti-gay discrimination

The Middle East Becomes Trouble• Iran-Contra Affair: 1983, terrorist groups took Americas hostage in

Lebanon.– Reagan denounced Iran and stated that “America will never make

concessions to terrorists,” in 1985. Reagan urged the US not to sell arms to Iran for its ongoing war against Iraq.• 1986, Reagan contradicted himself by selling arms to Iran in

exchange for the release of 7 American hostages. Part of the money from the sale of arms was sent to contras in Nicaragua violating prior legislation.

– In Senate hearings, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, a member of the National Security Council, was found guilty of covering up the scandal. He paid a fine and served community service. (Bush pardoned many of the officials involved in December 1992).

• Persian Gulf War– August 2, 1990 Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait which

Saddam Hussein claimed was part of Iraq. After looting Kuwait, the troops moved toward Saudi Arabia and its oil fields.

– The US feared that Iraq would control ½ of the world’s oil fields if they defeated Saudi Arabia.

– President Bush, with Congress and UN support, launched Operation Desert Storm in January, 16 1991 to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi control. • February 23, there was a successful land

attack in Saudi Arabia leading to a cease-fire on February 28, 1991.

– Less than 400 casualties among UN coalition forces• Iraq saw an estimated 100,000 deaths

between military and civilians. Outbreaks of disease led to deaths, particularly for Iraqi children, after the war.

Rodney King Beating• Who: four white police officers, Rodney King (an

African American), video-taping bystander• What: video footage was taken of white police

officers beating Rodney King who had fled the police in his car

• When: 1992• Where: Los Angeles• Impact: An all-white jury found 2 of the officers guilty

and acquitted the other two officers. A series if riots began lasing 5 days and leading to the deaths of 53 people.

Rodney King

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G. H. Bush’s Domestic Policy• Rising deficits and a recession

destroyed Bush’s chance for reelection.– Recession lasted from 1990-

1992– NEW TAXES broke his

campaign promise of 1988 causing his approval ratings to drop in 1992 to 49%.

• G. H. Bush’s failure to be reelected ended a 12 year stretch of Republican presidents.

The 1990s and the New Millennium

Bill Clinton Ends Republican Stretch in 1992

• Candidates– G.H. Bush (R), incumbent– William “Bill” Clinton (D), a “new Democrat” moving toward

the moderate center; ran a personal campaign by reaching out to every walk of life (including the youth)

– Ross Perot, an independent candidate aiming to “take out the trash and clean up the barn”

• Key issues: federal spending and the budget deficit (economic recession in progress)

• Outcome: Clinton won by appealing to both Democrats and Republicans. Example: He stated that he wanted to get people off welfare and supported private business.

1992 Election Results

Clinton’s Moderate Reforms• Clinton promised to provide

affordable health care to all Americans through health care reform.– First lady, Hillary Clinton,

headed the team for reform.– The reform bill died in Congress

in 1994 after a year of debate. Republicans said it supported “big government. Congress never even voted on the bill.

• Clinton was more successful in balancing the federal budget.– Clinton, with a Republican Congress, agreed in ‘97

to balance the budget by ’02 by cutting spending, lowering taxes, and implementation of programs to help children and improve health care.

– ‘98, Clinton announced that there was a budget surplus for the first time in almost 30 years.• An economic boom helped create the surplus.

Unemployment rates fell and the stock market recovered as Clinton entered office.

• Welfare Reform– In ‘96, a bill was proposed to

limit how long a person could receive benefits.• Ended federal guarantee of

welfare creating “block grants” that states could use on welfare or other social issues.

– In the next few years, millions of people left welfare for jobs (partially due to the economic boom).

Crime and Terrorism during Clinton’s Administration

• Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, April 1999– 12 students and a teacher killed, 23

wounded before the 2 shooters turned their guns on themselves

– Triggered a string of copycat crimes leading to calls for tougher gun-control laws and placing limits on violent images on television.

• World Trade Center bombing in 1993– Bombs exploded in the basement

• Oklahoma City Bombing, 1995– 168 men, women, and children killed in a nine-

story federal office building– Timothy McVeigh, a Gulf War veteran was found

guilty and executed in 2001.• This was the first use of the death penalty in the US in

38 years.

New Foreign Policy Changes

• Cold War enemies, the Russia and China, had built strong relationships with the US leading up to the ‘90s.– These relations were strained during the ‘90s due

to conflicts in Yugoslavia, Chechnya, and China’s failure to grant its citizens more democratic rights.

– Clinton focused on trade with China and granted the country permanent trade rights in 2000.

• President Clinton sent troops abroad to try to end regional conflicts.– 1991, Haitian military leaders pushed the elected president out of office. 1994,

Clinton sent troops to force the military officials to step down.– 1991, Yugoslavia broke into 5 nations with the fall of the Soviet Union. A group

of Serbs in Bosnia, one of these new nations, began “ethnic cleansing.”• 1995, the US assisted in negotiating a peace treaty in Bosnia. NATO forces,

with US troops included, were sent to ensure that the agreement was kept.– 1998, Serbs forces again struck in Kosovo, another nation from prior-

Yugoslavia.• US and NATO forces began air strikes on Serbian targets in 1999 forcing the

Serbs to back down.

Trade and Global Economics

• NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement) was presented by Clinton to include Mexico in a free-trade agreement already existing with Canada.– Supporters argued it would create more jobs and

strengthen the economies of all three countries– Opponents said jobs would move to Mexico were

lower wages would increase profit.– Treaty was ratified by Congress and took effect on

January 1, 1994.

Partisan Politics• Partisan politics: voting for the party with which you are

registered (typically straight ticket voting)• By 1994, many of Clinton’s reforms had failed.

– Republican congressman Newt Gingrich drafted a “Contract with America.”• Included 10 things that Republicans promised if they

were given control of Congress including congressional term limits, a balanced-budget amendment, tax cuts, tougher crime laws, and welfare reforms.

– The 1994 mid-term elections created a Republican Congress in which they gained control of both houses.• Gingrich became Speaker of the House.• Clash began between president and Congress.

1996 Election

• Bill Clinton (D), incumbent with a record for correcting the budget deficit and creating a strong economy

• Bob Dole (R), US Senator• Ross Perot, Reform Party candidate• Clinton won with only 49% of the popular vote– Congress remained under control of the

Republicans, but made agreements to be more cooperative.

1996 Election Results

Presidential Investigation: Whitewater

• During the 1970s, Clinton had been involved in a land deal with Whitewater Development Company in Arkansas. He was accused with improperly using some of the land money to fund a campaign.– Kenneth Starr, independent counsel, was hired to

investigate the matter in August 1994.• Starr was replaced by Robert Ray would cleared Clinton of

wrongdoing in for this case in 2000.

• However, the case expanded to other issues outside of the land money dispute.

Monica Lewinsky Scandal• Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, reported

an affair with the president.– Clinton had allegedly lied under oath about

their affair.• 1998, Clinton admitted to an improper

relationship, but did not admit to lying about the incident.

• The American people supported Clinton’s job performance, but the House voted to impeach him in December 1998.– Charged with perjury and obstruction of

justice launching a trial in the Senate.• January 1999, the trail in the Senate

began. The Senate vote fell short for conviction and Clinton remained in office to complete his term.

2000 Election• Al Gore (D), Clinton’s VP• George G. Bush (R),

governor of Texas and son of G. H. Bush

• Ralph Nader, Green Party (driven by environmental issues)

• Americans knew it would be a close race, but they did not know it would take a month to determine the winner.

2000: Dispute in Florida• Gore and Bush were projected to win Florida at

different times on election night. (It had become obvious whoever won Florida’s electoral votes would win the election.)– Gore won the popular vote by 500,000 votes.– Bush had narrowly won Florida gaining him the

electoral votes for the presidency.• A recount began to ensure that Bush had won Florida.

– Less than 300 votes gave Bush the state after recounts.

– Bush’s brother, Jeb Bush, was governor of Florida.– Confusing ballot designs may have made voters

vote for the wrong candidate or punched two names (making their votes invalid).• As a result, in May 2001, Florida outlawed

punch card ballots.

2000: The Dispute Goes to Court• Manual recounting of votes began November

12, 2000.– Republicans sued to stop the recounts

starting a month-long court battle.• Supreme Court decided 5-4 on December 12

to stop the recounts giving the electoral votes to Bush.– Manual recounts lacked uniform standards.

• Bush entered into the presidency with a 50-50 split in Congress with predictions of legislative gridlock.

Bush Enters the Presidency• Bush had not won the popular vote, but inherited

a budget surplus and economic stability. Public support for the president was steady at his 6th month as president.

• Bush presented tax cuts, declared plans to reform education, and plans to privatize Social Security.

• Bush’s public support would soar in 2001 and support from Congress would as the American people entered a new struggle.

September 11, 2001

• Two hijacked planes struck the twin towers of the World Trade complex.– A third plane struck the

Pentagon.– A fourth plane was reportedly on

the way to the White House when its passengers took over the plan. This plan crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

• Over 3,000 deaths, including rescue personnel, in NYC alone.

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Aftermath of 9-11• Patriotism spread throughout the US as people rallied behind Bush.

– Sparked the beginning of the War on Terror • Search for Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan (ongoing)• Search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq (none found,

Saddam Hussein killed, but US presence still exists in Iraq today.)

• Creation of Homeland Security to guard the US from terrorism.– This office can authorize anti-terrorist military action overseas.– Tightening of airport security (has tightened even more

recently)

“The New Economy”• New jobs from 1993-1999; by 2000 unemployment was at its lowest since

1970.– More service sector jobs

• By 2000, nearly 80% of workers in the US were teachers, medical professionals, lawyers, engineers, store clerks, waitstaff, or other service workers.

– Low-paying jobs grew at the largest rate.• Lower wages, less benefits, less stability

• Farms and factories declined.– Union membership fell– New technologies decreased the need for industrial workers.– Many factory jobs moved out of the country were lower wages can be

paid to workers.

New Industries• Bill Gates and Microsoft

– In 2000, Gates was named the wealthiest person in the world with assets estimated at $60 billion.

• NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System) increased interest in the stock market by making it accessible on the internet.– Businesses nicknamed dotcoms

expanded attracted young talent to create start-up companies online.• Napster—Shawn Fanning, 18 years

old• Google

Changing Global Economy

• Under Clinton in 1994, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) lowered trade barriers and established the World Trade Organization (WTO) to resolve trade disputes.– Clinton said the Group of Seven (7 leading

industrial powers) that “Trade as much as troops will increasingly define the ties that bind nations in the twenty-first century.”• This became the Group of Eight in 1996 when Russia

joined.

• International competition increased as other countries could produce goods at lower rates.– Many jobs were lost to Mexico in the 1990s.– Wages remained low in US industries who were

competing with companies that had outsourced to poorer nations.

– Many poor nations were willing to allow US industry to evade the environmental regulations of the US.

• Many began to fear that the US would be left behind; others saw hope in new technologies.

New Technology and Modern Life• Computer Age of the 1980s– Desktops– The US wanted to form an

information superhighway (network of computer devices linking people and institutions across the nation and the world).

• 1990s—Internet Age– By the mid-1990’s, Internet was a

household word.– World Wide Web

• The internet provided long-distance video communication, online shopping, news broadcasts, research information, streaming video, and email.

• 1990s, many schools used long-distance communication to connect students across the nation.

• CD-ROMs and floppy disks– 2000s, we use USBs

Scientific Advances

• Artificial Intelligence (computer’s ability to perform activities that require intelligence)– Flight simulators used to train

pilots and astronauts– Laparoscopic medical procedures

reduce the need for incisions.– Robotic surgery– Computer gaming

• Biotechnology– The Human Genome Project, an international program,

helped map the genes of the Human body. By developing a better understanding of DNA, scientists are finding new ways to treat inherited diseases.• DNA evidence used at crime scenes

– Genetic engineering allows for alteration of cells to alter an organism. This allowed for modification in foods.• Many thought this may be dangerous, but the FDA states that

these foods are safe,• Heated debates surround the idea of genetically engineering of

human cells.

• Medical Progress– Cancer survival rates

are on the rise due to new treatments.

– Increased tracking of the AIDS virus and new treatments.• More information leads

to more protection against the AIDS virus.

The Changing Face of America

Urban Flight

• Urban flight: movement to the suburbs• Causes:– Overcrowding in cities– Crime rates– Urban areas provide more space, privacy, and

security• Families found less crowded schools.

• Urban areas have become poorer as the suburban areas have become wealthier.

“The Graying of America”

• American is getting older.• The baby boom and

longer life expectancies have created an older America.– This has caused a strain on

programs for the elderly such as Medicare and Social Security.

A Changing Population

• Since the 1960s, 45% of immigrants coming into American are from the Western Hemisphere, mostly from Mexico, and 30% from Asia.

• Immigration has changed the ethnic and racial makeup of the United States.– California is considered a majority minority state.– Estimates report that if trends continue, by 2050

Latinos will become the nation’s largest minority community surpassing African Americans.

Native Americans Continue Legal Battles

• In 2001, about 32% of Native Americans lived below the poverty line.– This is more than 3x the amount of whites.

• Suicide rates for Native Americans are 72% higher than the general population. (The rate for alcoholism is 7x higher than whites.)

• Many tribes have used the courts to gain recognition and assistance as repayment for the loss of tribal lands.– Some tribes have regained the lands lost.

America in the 21st Century: Discussion

• Our history book ends here. The book reports that their will be many issues in the 21st Century—some old and some new. If you were to finish the story to catch it up, what would you include?– Think about newly elected officials, new

technologies, new global disputes…the possibilities are endless.

2008 Election

John McCain (R) and Sarah PalinBarack Obama (D) and Joe Biden

• The United States, looking for a change in policy in the War on Terror (and several other issues), turned to a Democratic president.–Congress became controlled by the Democrats as well.

• Barack Hussein Obama became the first African American president in US history upon his inauguration in January of 2009.

2008 Election Results

2010 Midterm Elections• Voters, showing their unhappiness with the

policies thus far in the Obama administration, voted for a Republican Congress.