Chapter 31: Toward a Transnational America

1. Chapter 31: Toward a Transnational America AP United States History West Blocton High School Mr. Logan Greene

2. Chapter Objectives • How did the Presidency of George H.W. Bush define the end of the conservative ascendency? • How did Bill Clinton dominate the politics of the “center?” • What impact did information technologies have on the economy of the 1990s? • How did the make up of the American population change in the 1990s? • What were the policies of George W. Bush during his early presidency? • How did 9/11 affect American views on security and affairs?

3. George H.W. Bush • Reagan’s VP, George H.W. Bush succeeded him by winning the 1988 election comfortably over Democrat Michael Dukakis • Bush immediately distanced himself from Reagan by promising a kinder gentler America • Bush assumed office with little agenda and democratically controlled Congress

4. Persian Gulf War • Bush’s Presidency became defined by the Persian Gulf War • In August 1990 the Middle Eastern country of Iraq invaded its small oil rich neighbor Kuwait • By January 1991 Congress passed a resolution to use military force to control the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, this led to Operation Desert Storm • The Persian Gulf War lasted a scant 100 hours as Hussein was forced out of Kuwait • However, Hussein was not forced out of power

5. Reaction to Persian Gulf War • 100,000 Iraqis died compared to 124 Americans • American occupation of Islamic cities in Saudi Arabia intensified Muslim distrust and anger towards Americans • This anger included a young Saudi millionaire: Osama Bin Laden • The ecological damage to the Persian Gulf area was intense and long lasting

6. The Economy and Election of 1992 • Publically, the Persian Gulf War skyrocked Bush’s popularity and approval ratings • However, Bush would soon be haunted by the ghosts of Reagan’s economic policies • As a serious recession hit in early 1992 Bush had zero response as he had promised to not raise taxes but had been forced too • The new Democratic candidate Bill Clinton defeated Bush in the 1992 election by focusing on a logical response to the economy and a centrist agenda

7. The New Democrat: Clinton • Bill Clinton represented a new type of politician not seen since the days of Dwight Eisenhower: a centrist • Clinton, although a Democrat, believed in creating a cohesive coherent agenda that the middle class of America could believe in

8. In the White House • Clinton built on momentum from Reagan and Bush to expand US markets by passing two landmark trade agreements • NAFTA: The North American Free Trade Agreement that eliminated tariffs between Mexico, the US, and Candad • WTO: Established the World Trade Organization to mediate commercial disputes among 117 nations • Many critics worried about the damage to the US industry base but the agreements drastically improved trade

9. In the White House • Clinton’s major setback during his first term was a failure to pass sweeping health care reform • In 1994 with a Republican sweep of the House and Senate the stage was set as Clinton faced off against Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich • However, Clinton was able to take many Republican ideals and adapt them to continue his momentum

10. 1996 Election • Clinton headed into the 1996 election with a good deal of momentum • Clinton easily defeated the Republican candidate Bob Dole who was struggling with the Republican parties internal power struggle between pro business Republicans and religious conservatives • Clinton promised to continue to reduce the government and the debt, but in a logical safe way

11. Clinton Internationally • Clinton struggled with international issues • Bosnia: The continued human rights issues in the former Communist country compelled Clinton to act as thousands of people were dying due to ethnic cleansing. Sadly American troops were dragged into a long and costly conflict • Kosovo: Clinton used American forces, again with NATO allies, to control a violent uprising in Serbia

12. Economics • Clinton bore witness to one of the greatest economic booms in American history • Oil production skyrocketed lowering prices, 20 million jobs were created, the unemployment rate stayed below 4% • The stock market grew due to new tech stocks • The only major downside to the growing economy was the gluttonous salaries of CEO’s and other leaders

13. Silicon Valley and the Internet • The new capital and center of the 90s economy was Silicon Valley California • Silicon Valley was the home to new tech giants profiting from a new invention: the internet

14. The Electronic Culture • The tech developments of the 90s led Americans to become an electronic culture • Most Americans enjoyed cable television and demanded instant communication • The new internet led to a complete change in the way information was disseminated and gathered

15. The Racial Divide • Spring of 1992 saw major riots in Los Angeles following the beating of an African American man by LAPD • Over 50 people were killed as it became apparent there was a serious racial divide in America • Segregation was on the rise in America as African Americans and white separated

16. FEAR • During the 1990s terrorism rose and Americans began living in constant fear of attack • Attacks on Oklahoma City, the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, the Waco debacle in 1995, and abortion clinic bombings across the nation disturbed the American public about their safety at home

17. Culture Wars • As American society grew more diverse a culture war broke out • A conservative backlash against multiculturalism and the advancement of professional women occurred as these items became a new center of attack now that communism was dead • As well, homosexual rights and stem cell research became hotly contested issues

18. Clinton’s Misdoings • Whitewater involved a real estate deal gone bad that the Clintons had invested in • Despite major investigations no evidence was found of fraudulent behavior by the President or First Lady • Clinton was caught up in a scandal involving an affair with a white house intern, Monica Lewinsky • Although impeached, Clinton was not removed from office and kept most of his momentum to finish his term

19. Globalization • As the new millennium approached and came the idea of globalization • Globalization was the idea of the economies of the world working together to interact and improve overall stability • This depended on work from the WTO and the IMF or International Monetary Fund • However, the idea of a single international market was not well received

20. 2000 Election • The 2000 Election pitted Democrat Al Gore (Clinton’s VP) vs. Republican George W. Bush • Bush won a highly contentious election in which he lost the popular vote to Gore and the Florida vote was stepped in controversy • Bush promised to bring back the ideals of Conservative Americans and move the country back to the ideals of pure capitalism and Reagan

21. The War On Terror • Bush II’s presidency became completely dominated by the War on Terror • On September 11, 2001 two planes hijacked by Islamic terrorists flew into the World Trade Center while another hit the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania • President Bush immediately called for a War on Terror and to hunt down the persons responsible

22. New US Foreign Policy • A new style of US foreign policy emerged as America was sworn to hunt down terrorist sects • This led to invasions in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as US involvement in numerous other areas in attempt to improve US security

23. Chapter Objectives • How did the Presidency of George H.W. Bush define the end of the conservative ascendency? • How did Bill Clinton dominate the politics of the “center?” • What impact did information technologies have on the economy of the 1990s? • How did the make up of the American population change in the 1990s? • What were the policies of George W. Bush during his early presidency? • How did 9/11 affect American views on security and affairs?