CONTEMPORARY AMERICA. Unit 8

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1 CONTEMPORARY AMERICA Unit 8

2 New strategic roles for US in the post-cold war era Foreign Policy is now unipolar, US had to figure out how to maintain leadership role Early 1990s Mild economic recession b/c Cuts in military spending 1990S Collapse of real estate markets from 1980s overexpansion 1994 National debt $4 trillion Economy recovers in 1993 & The New Economy Centered on computers, software, telecommunications, internet Stock market soared because of high tech stocks Longest & strongest bull market in US financial history

US benefited from unprecedented prosperity Low inflation/unemployment Reduction in defense spending 1993 tax cuts/reduce overall spending Low oil prices Technology End of 1980s 60 mill personal

3 US benefited from unprecedented prosperity Low inflation/unemployment Reduction in defense spending 1993 tax cuts/reduce overall spending Low oil prices Technology End of 1980s 60 mill personal computers Silicon Valley Center micro-electronics industry Creation of cyberspace and the world wide web End of 20 th ½ of the American pop had at least 1 computer (AOL & Earthlink) Satellite TV, VCR, Video rentals, cell phones, laser printers, fax machines

injured; $850 mill property lost LA police slow to respond; Natl Guard rushed to LA 12,000 arrested mostly Blacks

4 Racial Tensions Rodney King 5/92 California jury acquitted 4 white police officers charged with beating Rodney King (NO blacks on jury) Ignited most violent race riots in South Central LA Looting; 54 killed; thousands injured; $850 mill property lost LA police slow to respond; Natl Guard rushed to LA 12,000 arrested mostly Blacks & Hispanics 1995 O.J. Simpson trial Found non-guilty of murder in the criminal trial Civil trial awarded $33.4 mill to victims

1992 ELECTION D Clinton/Gore Political unknowns; Baby Boomers Flip-flopped It s the economy stupid R Bush/Quayle After Persian Gulf, seemed unbeatable, but struggled

5 1992 ELECTION D Clinton/Gore Political unknowns; Baby Boomers Flip-flopped It s the economy stupid R Bush/Quayle After Persian Gulf, seemed unbeatable, but struggled to interpret new international scene I Perot Mid-July Perot pulled out of the election & threw his support to Clinton, BUT came back in the final month of the election

6 CLINTON ADMINISTRATION Selected many women & minorities for positions Madeleine Albright 1 st woman to head State Dept. Janet Reno 1 st woman to be Attorney General Ruth Bader Ginsburg 2 nd women appoint to SCOTUS

Don t ask, Don t tell Tried to implement universal

7 Failures 1993 Forced to compromise with Congress on allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military Don t ask, Don t tell Tried to implement universal medical coverage, but after months of hearings it failed

8 Economy came out of recession, BUT 7% and outsourcing still caused problems Called for economic stimulus package, which PASSED w/ VP Gore breaking the tie in the Senate 1994 Congress passed most costly, far-reaching crime bill in US history $30 billion to fund increased law enforcement, crime prevention, & prison construction Extended death penalty to 50 additional federal crimes Banned sale of certain kinds of assault rifles 1994 Midterm elections Clinton saw Presidency unravel Unable to get health-care or welfare-reform bills passed pledge of middle-class tax relief Squabbling between Clinton & D leaders

1 st Republican Congress since 1952 Wanted to downsize the federal govt & dismantle the welfare state through the Contract with America Newt Gingrich leader of the Republican revolt The Contract with

9 1 st Republican Congress since 1952 Wanted to downsize the federal govt & dismantle the welfare state through the Contract with America Newt Gingrich leader of the Republican revolt The Contract with America failed b/c it was too ambitious & most Americans didn t think there was a crisis 1995 Congress and the President disagreed over the federal budget, which caused a partial shut-down of the federal govt twice

10 Summer 1996, Congress passed Minimum wage increase Broadened public access to health insurance Clinton Era of big government is over Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (Most sig downsizing of fed govt in modern time) Terminated Aid to Families with Dependent Children Ended fed govt s open-ended guarantee of aid to the poor, which had been around since 1935 Limited amount of time person could receive benefits At least ½ of state s welfare recipients had to have jobs or be enrolled in job training programs

11 1996 ELECTION R Bob Dole/Kemp D Clinton/Gore 1 st Democrat to win a 2 nd term since FDR I Ross Perot

12 CLINTON SCANDALS 1. Whitewater In 1978, the Clinton s invested in resort project on AK White River, which was a fraud and the Clinton s lost money 1994 Kenneth Starr was appointed to investigate Whitewater However, his extensive investigation didn t uncover any evidence the Clinton s were involved in the fraud

13 CLINTON SCANDALS 2. Clinton vs. Jones In 1997, Paula Jones, a former AK state employer, stated Clinton made offensive sexual advances toward her when he was governor Fed District Court stated the trial could be postponed until Clinton left office SCOTUS reversed Constitution doesn t provide the President immunity from civil suits for private conduct Made it clear sitting President is not above law

14 CLINTON SCANDALS 3. Impeachment 1/27/98 Clinton stated, I did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky Starr called in to investigate 8/98 Clinton admitted to an inappropriate relationship 12/98 House passed 2 of the 4 articles of impeachment 1/7/99 Senate Trial begins 2/12/99 Senate voted to acquit Clinton

15 THE NEW MILLENNIUM US will enter as richest & most powerful nation on earth US spends less on education than other developed nations US child poverty highest in world for developed countries 2006 US pop 300 million 31 ethnic groups Percentage of Hispanics (largest) & Asians increased the most million immigrants illegally residing in the US Unions continued to decline Economic problems as Silicon Valley bubble burst in 2001 Stock market crashed, Unemployment up, Bankruptcies multiplied (especially by dot coms) March 2001 Recession for 1 st time in decade

16 ELECTION OF 2000 D Gore Lost all 3 debates Chose not to exploit Clinton popularity or take credit for good times Didn t let Clinton campaign for him b/c afraid of moralistic backlash STUPID!! R Bush Unknown, except for name; Many errors More humble Foreign Policy End nation building around world

17 Tuesday Evening Gore won Florida Wednesday Morning Bush won Florida Later on Wednesday Decided Florida is too close to call Bush v. Gore (2000) The dispute was over the procedures used in the Florida recount Bush won popular vote as recorded by voting machines Ds claim manual recount would prove Gore winner Florida s Supreme Court allowed a manual recount for ONLY selected counties At request of Bush, SCOTUS became involved SCOTUS stated the selective manual recount was unconstitutional because it was unfair to recount certain counties & not the entire state

18 BUSH ADMINISTRATION Domestic Policy = Compassionate Conservatism 1. Education Reform 2002 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Submit annual reports of standardized test scores Students to be proficient in math/science by 2014 Teachers highly qualified by Tax Cuts trillion tax cut spread over 11 years Critics most of savings went to rich

9/11 & THE WAR ON TERROR Al Qaeda terrorist network Extremist religious ideology Based on hatred of US, its culture, & people Evident FBI & CIA ignored numerous warnings

19 9/11 & THE WAR ON TERROR Al Qaeda terrorist network Extremist religious ideology Based on hatred of US, its culture, & people Evident FBI & CIA ignored numerous warnings & didn t coordinate/exchange intelligence Created new federal Agencies 9/12 Development of Homeland Security (Tom Ridge) 9/12 Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

10/26/01 PATRIOT act passed Wire tap phones, monitor internet/email, &

suspects of terrorism for 7 days w/o formally charging them Critics:

20 10/26/01 PATRIOT act passed Wire tap phones, monitor internet/ , & search homes of suspected terrorists w/o warrant Detain foreign suspects of terrorism for 7 days w/o formally charging them Critics: Violation of Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Unacceptable invasions of privacy

21 Formed alliance w/ NATO countries (Russia, China, India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, & Pakistan) 1 st time in history NATO invoked Article V (attack on any member is an attack against all) US launched retaliatory attack against Taliban & Al Qaeda (Afghanistan) Egypt & Saudi Arabia reluctant allies (Bin Laden a Saudi citizen & very wealthy) Transformed Budget 2001= Budget surplus of $127 billion 2002= Deficit of $157 billion (NY city cost $95 bill) Unemployment rose Airlines faced bankruptcy Wall Street suffered worst week loss since 1929

Taliban began to collapse 11/13/01 Northern Alliance forces rolled into Kabul (capital) 1/02 Taliban

22 10/7/01 Afghanistan war began (Operation Enduring Freedom); US & Great Britain Within a few days US established air control over Afghanistan US provided aid to the Northern Alliance (opposition to Taliban) Taliban began to collapse 11/13/01 Northern Alliance forces rolled into Kabul (capital) 1/02 Taliban suppressed Afghan formed interim coalition govt 6/10/02 Constitutional framework created Hamid Karzai elected president & new cabinet

23 NOT able to find Bin Laden (FOUND 5/2011) Bush broadened war on terror to rogue nations Axis of evil from Iraq through Iran to N Korea

24 BUSH S FOREIGN POLICY Middle East 7 years of calm ended when peace talks collapsed in 2000 Disputes over Jerusalem undermined the new accords between Israel & Palestine Palestine declared intifada (uprising) Violence erupted on both sides Bush Doctrine 2002 Preemptive military action If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long Distinct shift from previous administrations, which were of containment & deterrence

Second Gulf War Iraq the focus of the Bush doctrine (destruction of WMDs) 10/02 Congress authorized Bush to use force in Iraq 11/02 UN passed Resolution 1441 Ordered Iraq to disarm or face

25 Second Gulf War Iraq the focus of the Bush doctrine (destruction of WMDs) 10/02 Congress authorized Bush to use force in Iraq 11/02 UN passed Resolution 1441 Ordered Iraq to disarm or face serious consequences Hussein allowed UN inspectors in, BUT partial cooperation & stalling tactics Bush gave ultimatum to Hussein He & sons must leave Iraq w/i 48 hours or face a US led invasion

Hussein s regime & army collapsed 1 week later 5/1/03 Bush on USS Abraham

26 3/19/02 GB & US attack Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) Massive bombing campaign followed by invasion across Iraqi desert 4/9/03 Allied forces occupied Baghdad; Hussein s regime & army collapsed 1 week later 5/1/03 Bush on USS Abraham Lincoln declared war was essentially over Less than 200 allies died; Over 2,000 Iraqi dead

27 Rebuilding Iraq Winning peace more difficult than winning war US greatly underestimated difficulty of reconstructing postwar Iraq Made extremist groups hate US more & Strained relations w/ France, Germany, & Russia Bush lost credibility 1/04 Administration announced no WMDs found 4/04 Photos showing abuse & torture of Iraq prisoners (Abu Ghraib) 9/04 Deaths reached 1,000; 3,000 12/03 Hussein captured (Executed 12/06) 1/05 Iraqi govt held 1 st democratic elections

28 ELECTION OF 2004 R Bush Iraq War & weakening of US dollar hurt Bush D Kerry Decorated Vietnam Vet Flip-flopper

residents displaced mostly Poor & African-Americans

29 BUSH S SECOND TERM 8/2005 Hurricane Katrina Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana 500,000 New Orleans residents displaced mostly Poor & African-Americans FEMA unprepared Turned natural disaster into political crisis

30 Miscellaneous Issues Soaring gasoline prices Federal Budget deficit increased 2006 Mid-Terms Voters rejected Bush by allowing Democrats to get control of both houses of Congress Nancy Pelosi was the first female Speaker of the House

Violence in Iraq showed no signs of stopping Bush created an Iraq study group, whose final report recommended US withdraw by 2008 Bush disagreed with report and

31 Violence in Iraq showed no signs of stopping Bush created an Iraq study group, whose final report recommended US withdraw by 2008 Bush disagreed with report and announced he was sending a surge of 20,000 troops (2007) Militarily, surge succeeded b/c it quelled the violence, BUT high costs in human lives, financially, & politically

32 The Economy After 2001 recession, there was another period of expansion fueled by Housing boom Ultra-low interest and mortgage rates Easy credit Reckless consumer spending 2007 Housing bubble burst causing the loss of trillions Banks lost billions & stopped lending Production Declined Unemployment increased (2 mill jobs lost in 2008) Scale & suddenness caught economic & business leaders by surprise

The Great Recession (12/07-1/09) Stock market crashed in 10/08, which began a GLOBAL economic meltdown US facing greatest financial crisis since Great Depression 10/08 Troubled Asset Relief

33 The Great Recession (12/07-1/09) Stock market crashed in 10/08, which began a GLOBAL economic meltdown US facing greatest financial crisis since Great Depression 10/08 Troubled Asset Relief Programs (TARP) Treasury spent $700 billion to keep banks & other financial institutions from collapsing Unprecedented government investment in private financial sector, BUT economy still sputtered

34 ELECTION OF 2008 R McCain/Palin Party in disarray Palin 2 nd women to run as Veep D Obama/Biden Mounted innovative internet based grassroots campaign Obama beat out Hillary Clinton to win nomination HOWEVER, 1 st woman to run w/ a serious chance of winning a party s nomination

35 OBAMA ADMINISTRATION Obama is inexperienced & begins administration w/ Two wars An economy in shambles Soaring unemployment Hemorrhaging national debt Bipartisan approach to selecting his cabinet Eased restrictions on travel to Cuba (1 st time in 50 years)

Economy Trying to prevent a Depression; By late 2008 Econ shrinking at 9% annually Losing 700,000 jobs/month Unemployment over 8% Financial sector paralyzed

36 Economy Trying to prevent a Depression; By late 2008 Econ shrinking at 9% annually Losing 700,000 jobs/month Unemployment over 8% Financial sector paralyzed Expected to implement New Deal-era programs, but efforts focused on shoring up Wall St. Big Banks/Brokerage houses (who had provoked crisis) received govt bailouts

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act $787 billion economic stimulus bill (lrgst in US history) Included Cash distribution to states Additional money for food stamps Unemployment benefits Construction

37 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act $787 billion economic stimulus bill (lrgst in US history) Included Cash distribution to states Additional money for food stamps Unemployment benefits Construction projects to renew US infrastructure Money for renewable-energy $212 billion in tax reductions for individuals/business Did not restore economic growth, BUT robust enough to reverse deepening recession

Healthcare Goal=Streamline healthcare system, Make health insurance more affordable & available to everyone 3/10 Signed Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act Most controversial was individual

38 Healthcare Goal=Streamline healthcare system, Make health insurance more affordable & available to everyone 3/10 Signed Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act Most controversial was individual mandate, which required that the uninsured MUST purchase an insurance policy or pay a tax penalty To reduce skyrocketing costs of hospitals providing charity care National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) 5-4 SCOTUS found the individual mandate constitutional

Obama Doctrine Stressed US could not afford to be world s only policeman Iraq & Afghanistan wars Obama wanted to change the trajectory by getting out of Iraq & defeating primary enemy

39 Obama Doctrine Stressed US could not afford to be world s only policeman Iraq & Afghanistan wars Obama wanted to change the trajectory by getting out of Iraq & defeating primary enemy al Qaeda 2/09 Obama announced all US combat troops would be withdrawn from IRAQ by the end of 2011 (ended 9 years of war) Over 4,000 US killed Over 100,000 Iraqis killed $800 billion spent

40 Afghanistan Obama dispatched 21,000 additional troops to get rid of al Qaeda & its base Summer 2011 US began withdraw of US forces (until 2014) Focused on counterterrorism Expanding special forces & remote-controlled drones to assault senior leaders 5/11 US Navy Seals captured Bin Laden

41 The Arab Awakening Late 2010 & early 2011 Spontaneous democratic uprisings emerged throughout much of Arab world demanding basic liberties over authoritarian regimes Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt (Moubarak), Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, & Libya (Gaddafi) Obama insisted on several conditions before sending in US troops to avoid Iraqi mistakes 1. Pro-democratic rebels needed to request US assistance 2. UN coalition must include Arab nations, US, & Europe 3. US would commit warplanes & cruise missiles, but NOT ground forces Conditions met on 3/11

it was propping up tyrants BUT US supported democratic change & human rights

42 10/11 Libyan rebels overthrew Gaddafi regime (ended 42 yrs) Represents change in US policy Since end of WWII, US prized stability in Arab nations, even if it was propping up tyrants BUT US supported democratic change & human rights b/c Obama blvd root cause of terrorism wasn t religion, but absence of democracy

2010 MID-TERM ELECTIONS Tea Party emerged Conservatives, who want to limit govt involvement Mostly white males, over 45 years old, middle-class Republicans Didn

43 2010 MID-TERM ELECTIONS Tea Party emerged Conservatives, who want to limit govt involvement Mostly white males, over 45 years old, middle-class Republicans Didn t form third party, but try to control Republican party Defeated many long-serving congressional leaders Gained control of House Almost gained control of Senate

Growing economic & social inequalities Corrupt banks & brokerage houses 2012

44 In response to the mid-term elections, the OCCUPY WALL STREET movement was founded in 2011 They are against The capitalist system promoting materialism Growing economic & social inequalities Corrupt banks & brokerage houses 2012 Richest 1% had 25% of total income OWS described themselves as voice of the 99%

Polarized Politics No real hope for bipartisan cooperation Refusal to compromise was point of honor for both political parties & hurt an already sick economy Tea Party was willing to let the US go

45 Polarized Politics No real hope for bipartisan cooperation Refusal to compromise was point of honor for both political parties & hurt an already sick economy Tea Party was willing to let the US go bankrupt rather than raise the debt ceiling Temporary patches were created that would expire after 11/12 Created a FISCAL CLIFF at the end of 2012, whereby tax cuts created by George W. Bush would expire Series of fed budget cuts (sequesters) would automatically occur unless Congress acted

brought to US as child, to remain in US (Latinos) 2012 US had

46 2012 ELECTION D Obama/Biden Changed longstanding position & supported gay marriage DREAM Act Allowed illegal immigrants, brought to US as child, to remain in US (Latinos) 2012 US had more foreign born & first generation residents than ever before R Romney

Period 9 Notes. Coach Hoshour

Period 9 Notes. Coach Hoshour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Unit 9: 1980-present Chapters 40-42 Election 1988 George Bush Republican 426 47,946,000 Michael S. Dukakis Democratic 111 41,016,000 1988-1992 Domestic Issues The Only Remaining