The Modern Era

1. The Modern Era Bush, Clinton, and the 90s

2. President George H.W. Bush: • Connecticut Family • Director of the CIA • VP to Reagan • Elected President in 1988. • Pres. George H.W. Bush pledged to continue Reagan’s policies with his famous promise, “Read my lips. No new taxes.”

3. However, by 1990, the economy was in a recession, forcing Bush to raise taxes. • -End of Cold War  less defense jobs • -Companies downsized to become more efficient • -Huge debt due to heavy borrowing during the 1980s and deficit due to Reagan’s economic policies • Bush lost reelection to Bill Clinton in 1992

4. “New World Order” • Phrase coined by Bush to describe the unpredictable world post-Cold War. • 1990s sees the U.S. becoming the “police force” of the world. • Foreign policy crisis: Tiananmen Square • 1989: Pro-democracy protests, led by students, were crushed by the Chinese military. • Soldiers with tanks and guns killed or wounded thousands. • Hundreds were arrested, and some were sentenced to death. • U.S. placed economic sanctions on China for a few years in response.

5. Panama • Manuel Noriega of Panama was aiding drug traffickers and had stopped cooperating with the U.S. • U.S. invaded Panama to arrest Noriega and help Panamanians hold new elections. • Noriega stood trial for drug charges in a Florida Federal Court and was convicted and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.

6. Persian Gulf War • When Saddam Hussein sent Iraqi military to invade Kuwait, the U.S. feared that Iraq’s ultimate goal was to capture Saudi Arabia for its oil. • The U.S. and a coalition of other U.N. forces imposed economic sanctions on Iraq to try and persuade Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. • When Iraq refused, the coalition launched Operation Desert Storm (Persian Gulf War). • Air attack lasted for 6 weeks; ground attack lasted 100 hours. • Iraq was pushed out of Kuwait and Bush declared victory.

7. Bill Clinton • Arkansas Gov. • Working class, single parent household • Charismatic • Opposed Vietnam War • “New Democrat” • Fiscally conservative (cut middle class taxes and gov. spending) • Socially moderate

8. Clinton’s Domestic Policy • The Economy • Under Reagan and Bush, the budget deficit quadrupled and debt increased. • To balance the budget and bring down the deficit, Clinton raised taxes on higher earners, which was very unpopular. • He also cut government spending and increased tax credits for low income families. • Tried to reform health care system to benefit the poor and uninsured. • Appointed task force headed by First Lady Hillary Clinton to develop a plan to provide health benefits for all Americans. • Failed. Pharmaceutical industry, doctors, Republicans opposed it.

9. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) • Success! • Employers required to give up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave for birth/adoption or sick family member • “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” • Clinton’s compromise with Congress. • Prohibited discrimination or harassment of homosexual service members, but prohibited these service members from revealing their sexual orientation. • Repealed in 2011. • Gun control • Signed Brady Bill: waiting period on handguns, background checks • NAFTA (1993) • Free trade agreement between U.S., Canada, and Mexico

10. Clinton and Congress • Trouble in 1994-Clinton’s popularity was down, allowing Republicans to take control of Congress. • “Contract with America”-Republican’s plan to lower taxes, reform welfare, and balance the budget • After a battle over the budget, Clinton and the Republicans negotiated an agreement to balance the budget. • By 1996, the economy was booming, allowing Clinton to win reelection. • By 1997, the budget was balanced, and the following year, the government had a surplus.

11. Scandal and Tragedy • 1993: first World Trade Center bombing • 1995: Oklahoma City Bombing-domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh • 1998: U.S. embassies bombed in Kenya and Tanzania • Monica Lewinsky scandal (1998) • Perjury & obstruction of justice • Impeachment! • House: Articles of Impeachment • Senate: No

12. Clinton’s Foreign Policy • The Balkans • After Yugoslavia split in 1991, civil war broke out. • To end the fighting and reported ethnic cleansing, U.S./NATO forced used military force to encourage negotiations. • Middle East • Attacks on Iraqi military targets. • Clinton tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to negotiate peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

13. Society and Culture of the 1990s • The “electronic age” • Internet was born in 1992, revolutionizing numerous areas of American life. • Cell phones became much more common by the end of the decade. • Fashion ranged from grunge to prep to hip hop. • Globalization-free trade and technology allows the spread of American goods and culture to other parts of the world.

14. The 2000 Elections • Most bitterly contested election in 100 years • Gore/Lieberman • Bush/Cheney • Roughly ½ of eligible voters went to polls

15. Close election in Florida • Bush had a slight lead in the popular vote • State law required a machine recount in such a close election, which still put Bush ahead • Gore wanted hand recount in 4 Democratic counties • Ballot irregularities, inaccurate registration, incomplete lists, old voting machines, butterfly ballots, hanging chads • Hand recounts wouldn’t be done by deadline, though, so Gore went to court, and Florida Supreme Court approved deadline extension for recount. • Bush appealed to U.S. Supreme Court • Court ruled that hand recounts as they were being conducted violated equal protection clause, and there wasn’t enough time left to conduct a constitutional hand recount. • Gore won national popular vote. • Bush won electoral college vote.

16. “Unprecedented” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OliETWsZxc0