Chapter 41 America Confronts the Post Cold War Era

Chapter 41 America Confronts the Post–Cold War Era, 1992– 2011

APUSH ‘themes’ (B. A. G. P. I. P. E. ) B = Belief Systems (ideas, ideologies, culture) A= American in the World (global context) G= Geography & Environment P= Peopling (movement & migration) I= Identity (gender, class, race, ethnic) P= Politics & Power E= Economy (work, trade, technology)

I. Bill Clinton: The First Baby-Boomer President • 1992 presidential race – Democrats – Bill Clinton • Clinton claimed to be a “new” Democrat – Republicans-George HW Bush • Continue “social issues”, family values” – Independent candidate Perot • Election results (55% voter turn out) – Clinton 44 mil - Bush 39 mil - Perot 19 mil – Electoral count 370 Clinton; 168 Bush; 0 Perot – Democrats won majorities in both houses

p 966

Map 41 -1 p 966

II. A False Start for Reform • Gays & lesbians in the military – Settled for a Don’t Ask, Don’t’ Tell” policy • Health-care reform – Hillary Rodham Clinton’s proposal failed • Deficit reduction bill 1993 – By 2000 budget surpluses • Antigovernment mood persisted / grew – Oklahoma City bombing

p 967

III. The Politics of Distrust • Republicans and the Contract with America – Newt Gingrich led – Republicans gained control of both houses (1994) – Government shutdown (1995) • People blamed Gingrich & Reps • Welfare Reform Bill (1996) – Made deep cuts in welfare grants • Election campaign of 1996 – Clinton’s 47, 401, 898 -Dole’s 39, 198, 482 - Perot 8, 085, 285 – Clinton won 379 electoral votes and Dole 159

p 968

IV. Clinton Again • Second term, Clinton’s modest legislative goals – Affirmative action: “mend it, not end it” • Clinton’s advantage was the roaring economy – Longest period of growth, low unemployment • Trade agreement controversies – North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – World Trade Organization (WTO) • Critics railed against “globalization”

p 969

V. Problems Abroad • Clinton no policy to replace anticommunism • Clinton continues China trade policy • Tormented Balkans back treaty • US led NATO troops, Dayton Peace Accords • Clinton as an international peacemaker • Middle East, Northern Ireland, N & S Korean • India and Pakistan (nuclear rivals)

Before 1991 After 1995

VI. Scandal and Impeachment • Whitewater – Real estate deal in Arkansas (no indictment) • The Lewinsky affair – Clinton had sexual affair with an intern (Lewinsky) – Lied under oath about this affair – House passed articles of impeachment – Senate found Clinton not guilty

p 970

p 971

VII. Clinton’s Legacy and the 2000 Election • Clinton’s legacy was mixed – Economic success, “New Democrat” social policies – Personal conduct increased political cynicism • Election 2000 – Democrat, Albert Gore – Republican challenger, George W. Bush • Election results – – – Florida’s electoral votes determined the winner 5 week political standoff over counting votes Florida Supreme Court 5 -4 to stop recount Bush electoral count 271 to 266 for Gore Popular vote Gore: 50, 999, 897 to 50, 456, 002 for Bush

p 972

Map 41 -4 p 973

VIII. Bush Begins • Bush as president – Limited ‘stem cell’ research – Repudiated Kyoto Treaty – OKd new oil exploration in Alaska – Got passed a $1. 3 trillion tax cut – 9/11, Afghan War, Iraq War • Wide public support – Deficit reached more than $400 billion in 2004

Figure 41 -1 p 974

IX. Terrorism Comes to America • September 11, 2001, America attacked – NYC’s World Trade Center, Pentagon, 4 th plane • Bush’s response – Afghan War – ID Osama bin Laden, head of Al Qaeda – American/Afghan rebel forces overthrew the Taliban • USA Patriot Act (Oct 2001) • Department of Homeland Security (2002) • Guantanamo Detention Camp (Cuba) – Isolated prisoners, legal limbo

p 974

p 975

p 976

X. Bush Takes the Offensive Against Iraq • Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an “axis of evil” – Nuclear desires hurt American security • Congress Okd the use of force – UN Weapons inspectors hindered by Iraq • US & Britain invade Iraq (2003) – Iraq fell a month later – Saddam Hussein found (2004) & executed (2006)

Map 41 -5 p 977

XI. Owning Iraq • Post-Saddam Iraq- anarchy & violence – U. S. decides to disband the Iraqi army • US Troops faced three threats – Shia-Sunni ethnic violence (civil war? ) – Counter-occupation insurgency – Jihadist terrorism (Al Qaeda related) • Iraq elections and new constitution in 2005 • Last US Combat troops leave – Dec 2011

p 977

p 980

p 978

XII. Reelecting George W. Bush • Republicans select Bush for reelection – Tax cuts, good economy, conservative social values – Championed No Child Left Behind Act (2002) • Democrats Chose John Kerry – Pushed progressive visions of government – Decorated Vietnam Vet (war experience) • Election results: – Popular vote - Bush 60, 639, 281 to 57, 355, 978 – Electoral College, Bush 286 to Kerry 252

XIII. Bush’s Second Term • Bush more aggressive domestic agenda – Appointed 2 conservative SCOTUS justices – Proposed radical privatize Social Security plan • Scandals – VP Cheney convicted of perjury – Illegal wiretap surveillance – Hurricane Katrina: (late August 2005)

p 982

Table 41 -1 p 981

XIV. Midterm Elections of 2006 • Democrats regained both houses of Congress – Nancy Pelosi first woman Speaker of the House • Biggest factor - the war in Iraq – WMD, Al Qaeda, 9/11 connections all false – Death toll, Iraqi & American alike, continued to rise – 2007 surge brought measured stability to Iraq – 2008 Public opinion solidified against the war • President Bush’s approval ratings sank to~ 30%

p 982

XV. The Presidential Election of 2008 • 2007 -8 = The “Great Recession” starts – Bush nationalized mortgage & insurance companies – Bush supports Trouble Assets Relief Program (TARP) • First truly “open” POTUS election in 80 years – Democratic candidate: Barack Obama – Republican candidate: John Mc. Cain • Election results – Obama wins 53% of vote, Electoral College 365 -173 – Democrats bigger majorities in both houses • Obama’s election – New chapter in American race relations history

Figure 41 -2 p 984

41 -6 p 985

p 983

XVI. Obama in the White House • “Stimulus”— American Relief & Recovery Act – Tax cuts, job spending, $ to state/local gov’ts – Slow recovery (high unemployment, foreclosures) – Federal budget deficits ballooned • The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – Health-care law (“Obamacare”) – Mandated all Americans to buy health insurance • Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act – Overhaul of the nation’s financial system

XVII. A Sea of Troubles • The “Tea Party” (Anti-tax Republicans) – Saw “big government” & “socialism” in changes – Determined to stop Obama • Obama’s successes – Appointment of two new Supreme Court Justices – Reelected (2012) • Obama’s failures – 2010 Midterms Republicans gain control of H of Rep – Didn’t pass DREAM Act, immigration reform

XVIII. Wars, Oil Spills, and Political Backlash • The Taliban/Al Qaeda in unstable Pakistan – Osama Bin Laden killed 2011 • BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig in Gulf exploded – Worst oil disaster in U. S. history • Federal debt ceiling had to be raised • Demographic changes altering politics

p 987

41 -7 p 988

p 989