UNIT 14: Modern America Essential Questions: 1. How has the nature of politics changed post-Cold War? 2. How do nations decide their role in a global society.

UNIT 14: Modern AmericaUNIT 14: Modern AmericaEssential Questions:Essential Questions:

1.1. How has the nature of politics changed How has the nature of politics changed post-Cold War?post-Cold War?

2.2. How do nations decide their role in a How do nations decide their role in a global society while meeting their global society while meeting their

domestic needs? domestic needs? Key Vocabulary TermsContract with AmericaNational Rifle AssociationPersian Gulf WarNAFTAImpeachment9/11War on TerrorPatriot ActTARP

Picture Ideas:Fall of Berlin Wall9-11TerrorismImmigrationHealthcareAccusationsRust

Write the following titles on 2 Write the following titles on 2 separate pages in your notebooks, separate pages in your notebooks,

skip 1-2 lines between each of them:skip 1-2 lines between each of them:Top Defining Moments of the 1990s:10. OJ Simpson Trial10. OJ Simpson Trial9. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell9. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell8. Rodney King Riots8. Rodney King Riots7. NAFTA7. NAFTA6. Oklahoma City Bombing6. Oklahoma City Bombing5. Balanced Budget5. Balanced Budget4. Monica Lewinsky 4. Monica Lewinsky

ScandalScandal3. Columbine High School 3. Columbine High School

MassacreMassacre2. Operation Desert Storm2. Operation Desert Storm1. Internet1. Internet

Top Defining Moments of the 2000s:10. Steroids in Sports10. Steroids in Sports9. Corporate Scandals9. Corporate Scandals8. Same Sex Marriage Legalized8. Same Sex Marriage Legalized7. USA Patriot Act7. USA Patriot Act6. Social-Local-Mobile6. Social-Local-Mobile5. Hurricane Katrina5. Hurricane Katrina4. Econopocalypse4. Econopocalypse3. Election of Barack Obama3. Election of Barack Obama2. Decade of War2. Decade of War1. September 11 Attacks1. September 11 Attacks

Modern America

The George H. W. Bush Presidency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJTPcuzEr1I

Early Presidency:

• Bush wanted to continue Reagan’s policies, but with an emphasis on education, the homeless and fighting drug use.

Domestic Policy:

• Bush’s greatest domestic challenge was the growing budget deficit.

• He began to cut defense spending and increased taxes on the wealthy, but never made a significant reduction.

Domestic Policy Continued• Bush made appointments

to the Supreme Court, creating a conservative majority.

• His mismanaged budget plans led to a recession.

• And as the Sun Belt grew in population, areas of iron and coal production like the Rust Belt saw great losses in jobs to Mexico and overseas.

David Souter Clarence Thomas

Civil Rights• Americans with Disabilities

Act (1990)– Prohibits discrimination– Requires access and

accommodations

• The recession caused hardship– Rodney King was a young

black man beaten by police, who were found not guilty

– Led to race riots in LA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlrDYszC2l4

Foreign Policy in Panama & Somalia• 1989—Bush wanted to

restore democratic leadership in Panama.– We captured Manuel

Noriega and convicted him on drug and racketeering charges.

• 1992—Bush sent humanitarian aid to Somalia– After it was stolen by

bandits, troops were sent to protect the shipments.

The Gulf War, 1990• Iraq, under Saddam

Hussein, invaded Kuwait in order to control its oil.

• The UN ordered Hussein to withdraw.

• The US led a large-scale attack and in a matter of days Hussein withdrew and paid Kuwait for damages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8gE_WKl8Dg

The End of the Cold War, 1989-91

• Eastern Europe began a move toward democracy.

• 1989—The Berlin Wall fell and Germany was reunited (seen as the real end).

• 1991—The Soviet Union is dissolved and becomes Russia and several new republics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkTO8ZDcOeg

The Clinton Presidency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69K97TcD4f0

Election of 1992

• Clinton was the Democrat Party Candidate. • For the first time, a third-party candidate

named Ross Perot received 20% of the votes, keeping Bush from winning.

Domestic Policy• Taxes:

– Increased for wealthy– Decreased for low-income– Gasoline tax

• Contract with America– Proposed by Newt

Gingrich to restore balance in gov’t

• “New Democrat”– Tough on crime/guns– Increased trade

Healthcare Reform• Clinton proposed many

reforms– Guaranteed health

insurance– Appointed his wife Hillary

to see it through

• Not passed by Congress– Feared it would create

long lines and rationing of care

Impeachment• Early in his second term,

rumors spread of Clinton having an affair with an intern but he denied it.

• Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice.

• Congress could not get the vote to convict

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GgPo2cHFq0

Foreign Policy• Yugoslavia, on the Balkan

Peninsula, was being divided into separate states.

• Fighting erupted between Bosnian Muslims and Christian Serbs.

• Mass genocide began as an “ethnic cleansing” to eliminate Muslims.

• Clinton negotiated a peace.

Foreign Policy Successes

• Clinton stressed human rights around the world and made new trade deals with China.

• Clinton also provided monetary and military aid to Russia, Israel, Somalia, and Haiti.

• He pressured Iraq to give up WMDs.

International Organizations

• Clinton was able to negotiate with Congress to pass NAFTA.

• WTO was created to establish rules for global trade, accelerating globalization.

• Clinton also increased relations with the UN.

Cost and Risks• Internat’l relations are expensive and involve

the US in foreign affairs.• However, these relations also help trade,

spread American ideals, and build peaceful relationships.

American Entrepreneurs

Big Business• Bill Gates—the co-founder

of Microsoft and with IBM produced an operating system that is used in almost every personal computer in the world.

• Sam Walton—started a five-and-dime and his vision of great value at low prices eventually turned into Walmart and Sam’s Club, the largest retailer in the world.

Business Spreads• Estee Lauder—female

founder of a cosmetics company who revolutionized marketing of make-up.

• Robert Johnson—first black billionaire and founder of BET and owner of the Bobcats (NBA).

• Lionel Sosa—most successful Hispanic advertising mogul, “compete and win”.