Post-Cold War Era- Today. 1990s-2000s

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Post-Cold War Era- Today. 1990s-2000s"

Donald Watson
5 years ago
Views:

1 Post-Cold War Era- Today 1990s-2000s

Presidential Review (The guys you already learned about) #37: Nixon: 1968 and 1972- Watergate scandal leads to resignation to avoid impeachment in 1974 #38: Gerald Ford: 1974- Only

2 Presidential Review (The guys you already learned about) #37: Nixon: 1968 and Watergate scandal leads to resignation to avoid impeachment in 1974 #38: Gerald Ford: Only president to never be elected by the people #39: Jimmy Carter: Iranian Revolution leads to hostage crisis/energy crisis 53 Americans taken hostage for 13 months at the American Embassy in Iran after the U.S. allows the former shah into the country for medical treatment Blocked oil imports from Iran, leading to a shortage of gas #40: Ronald Reagan: very conservative- Reaganomics, deregulation of businesses Iran-Contra Affair Negotiated a peace treaty with Panama over the Panama Canal Zone Camp David Accords: helped Israel and Egypt negotiate a peace treaty in 1978

The Palestinian Conflict (1987) Reagan- Bush- Clinton Palestinians in territories controlled by Israel had limited rights- many Palestinians wanted to return to their homeland under a their own

4 The Palestinian Conflict (1987) Reagan- Bush- Clinton Palestinians in territories controlled by Israel had limited rights- many Palestinians wanted to return to their homeland under a their own government 1987: Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip revolted against Israeli rule: Intifada: In Arabic, to shake off or to rise up. A period of 6 years of Palestinian unrestviolent attacks, bombings, civil disobedience, stoning- aimed at Israeli military and civilians Supported the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), lead by Yasser Arafat. Goal- to destroy Israel 1993: The U.S. (under Clinton) convinces Israel and the PLO to agree to a treaty- PLO will recognize Israel as a legitimate state and stop the violence; Israel will allow limited self-rule of Palestinians in Israeli-controlled areas

Congress was deadlocked on what programs to cut, so he had to agree to raise taxes

businesses allowed some banks to make risky loans: Non-repayment = bank failures

5 George H.W. Bush (#41) Elected in Read my lips- no new taxes Couldn t keep his promise- Congress was deadlocked on what programs to cut, so he had to agree to raise taxes to save some popular programs- upset many conservatives Reagan s deregulation of businesses allowed some banks to make risky loans: Non-repayment = bank failures Businesses downsized (cut workers) Caused a recession- an economic slump Collectively, with Reagan, appointed five new conservative Supreme Court justices

6 George H. W. Bush- continued The Persian Gulf War ( The First Gulf War ): August : Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait- a major world oil supplier. Bush feared it was a part of a larger plan to control the oil of the Middle East The US and 39 other UN nations fought to free Kuwait- first imposed a trade embargo (ban) Hussein refused to leave Kuwait- led to an air attack on Iraqi troops in Iraq and Kuwait Took only 6 weeks to free Kuwait Boosted G.H.W. Bush s popularity, but he was not re-elected- lost 1992 election to Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton (#42) Elected in 1992 and 1996 Federal deficit (shortage, debt) declines for the first time in over 40 years- longest uninterrupted period of economic growth in U.S.

7 Bill Clinton (#42) Elected in 1992 and 1996 Federal deficit (shortage, debt) declines for the first time in over 40 years- longest uninterrupted period of economic growth in U.S. history Pushed for a national healthcare system- Americans worried it would be too expensive and allow the government to have too much say in their lives NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement- Negotiated by Bush but not ratified by Congress until Clinton was president Allowed free trade with Mexico and Canada Supporters: it would open up new markets for U.S. goods Opponents: Lower pay and fewer environmental restrictions in Canada and Mexico would result in businesses taking production out of the country, resulting in fewer jobs in the U.S.

George W. Bush (#43) Elected in 2000 9/11/01: terrorist attack on the U.S.

Most Islamic Fundamentalists (Muslims who believe that Islamic religious texts should be taken literally) are not jihadists and do not support terrorism

8 George W. Bush (#43) Elected in /11/01: terrorist attack on the U.S. carried out by Al Qaeda- an international Islamic terrorist network founded on the idea of jihadism- using violence against enemies of the religion of Islam. Most Islamic Fundamentalists (Muslims who believe that Islamic religious texts should be taken literally) are not jihadists and do not support terrorism Terrorism: the use of violence and cruelty to achieve political goals Al Qaeda opposed American influence in the Muslim world- 9/11 was not the first attack on the U.S. by Al Qaeda Nearly 3,000 died on 9/11- Bush administration launches a global war on terror

Fundamentalist group that controls Afghanistan) refused to turn over Osama Bin Laden to the U.S.

9 Bush s War on Terror The War on Terror Goal: to wipe out terrorist groups that threatened the U.S. and its allies Enemy = not clearly defined Dept. of Homeland Security is established Congress passes the PATRIOT Act- allows officials to conduct surveillance on suspected terrorists at home and abroad The War in Afghanistan The Taliban (Islamic Fundamentalist group that controls Afghanistan) refused to turn over Osama Bin Laden to the U.S. October 2001: U.S. forces invade Afghanistan The Northern Alliance- Afghans who opposed the Taliban- helped to capture the capital city of Kabul and established a new government U.S. forces remained anyway; the new government never gained full control of Afghanistan. 2007: Bin Laden escaped to Pakistan 2012: More than 50% of Americans disapprove of the war 2014: partial withdrawal of troops begins

War in Iraq 2002: President Bush declared that an alliance between Iraq, Iran and North Korea was an axis of evil Accused Iraq of protecting terrorists and hiding chemical, nuclear and biological

and Great Britain intend to act with or without UN support Congress gives Bush the power to use force U.S.

10 War in Iraq 2002: President Bush declared that an alliance between Iraq, Iran and North Korea was an axis of evil Accused Iraq of protecting terrorists and hiding chemical, nuclear and biological weapons (weapons of mass destruction/wmd) 2003: Bush asks for UN approval to go to war- the U.S. and Great Britain intend to act with or without UN support Congress gives Bush the power to use force U.S. and British forces begin bombing targets and then sent troops to occupy Baghdad U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein and turned him over to an Iraqi court for trial, where he was found guilty and sentenced to death in 2006 Results: U.S. forces transferred power to a temporary Iraqi government but remained in Iraq until ,000+ Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, more than 1 trillion dollars spent An insurgency- armed rebellion- against U.S. troops arose- the new Iraqi gov t was too weak to suppress it Most Americans no longer supported the war by 2007 No WMD were ever found in Iraq

Housing Crisis (2006-7) Elected 2008 and 2012- first African American president Housing crisis of 2006-7 (before Obama): 2001: Federal Reserve system lowered interest rates to encourage

People who were considered lending risks were approved for loans they were otherwise unable to afford Overbuilding and over-lending leads to a drop in prices.

11 Housing Crisis (2006-7) Elected 2008 and first African American president Housing crisis of (before Obama): 2001: Federal Reserve system lowered interest rates to encourage more borrowing and spending Larger mortgages (home loans) became more affordable- more people borrowed, so home prices rise. Leads to a housing bubble. People who were considered lending risks were approved for loans they were otherwise unable to afford Overbuilding and over-lending leads to a drop in prices. People now owe more than they can afford to pay, on homes that are worth less than their mortgage. Homeowners default on their loans- stop paying, and the bank forecloses. Leads to many Americans without homes and many banks facing huge financial losses

bail out (save) struggling insurance companies and banks- They were too big to fail and other major

12 Housing Crisis Leads to Banking Crisis Banks stop lending, increase interest rates some banks risk failing Businesses who rely on these banks cut workers to save money 2008: Congress provides money to bail out (save) struggling insurance companies and banks- They were too big to fail and other major businesses and industries relied on their stability. Bank failures would cause financial collapse and a depression

Barack Obama (#44) Elected 2008 and 2012- first African American president Takes office during a recession and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Stimulus Bill): Congress supplied funds to create jobs, increase unemployment and food stamp benefits, reduce taxes, provide unemployment assistance,

13 Barack Obama (#44) Elected 2008 and first African American president Takes office during a recession and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Unemployment rate: 10% (high) Many Americans living in poverty Home and stock prices still falling 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka Stimulus Bill): Congress supplied funds to create jobs, increase unemployment and food stamp benefits, reduce taxes, provide unemployment assistance, improve schools and communities Supporters: recession would have been much worse without the act Critics: increased federal deficit, believed it was ineffective

provided funding (subsidies) to help lower-income Americans pay for insurance.

14 Barack Obama (#44) Withdrew the last American troops from Iraq in 2011 Extended the Patriot Act Did not close Guantanamo Bay prison as promised during his campaign Affordable Care Act ( Obamacare ): Required Americans to purchase health insurance and provided funding (subsidies) to help lower-income Americans pay for insurance. Prohibited denying coverage for preexisting conditions Supporters: made healthcare affordable for all Americans Critics: increased health insurance prices for Americans who were already insured

asks Congress to raise the debt ceiling to avoid default At the same time = European debt crisis (2009-2012) worries

15 Barack Obama (#44) Debt ceiling: limits the amount of debt that the U.S. can owe Tax cuts, war in Iraq and Afghanistan = pushed America s debt ceiling toward the limit 2011 and 2013: Obama asks Congress to raise the debt ceiling to avoid default At the same time = European debt crisis ( ) worries banks- some countries struggled to pay their debts If banks worry about money they lent to governments, they are less likely to end money to businesses and individuals.

Advancements in Science and Technology in a Modern Era NASA studies Mars for future manned missions The environmental movement- focuses on minimizing the impact of fossil fuels, groundwater

16 Advancements in Science and Technology in a Modern Era NASA studies Mars for future manned missions The environmental movement- focuses on minimizing the impact of fossil fuels, groundwater contamination, chemical spills, the ozone layer, nuclear waste disposal, climate change Climate change: measurable long-term change in the climate- may affect precipitation, wind patterns, temperature, global warming. Focus on cleaner energy: using renewable energy sources (sun, wind, water), rather than fossil fuels Biotechnology- technology based on biology that help feed and fuel the world (ex: The Human Genome Project to map the genes in the human body, new drugs to treat diseases, increase crop production, etc ) Critics: concern about genetically modified organisms (crops and animals) The Internet: Increased productivity and efficiency. E-commerce expands marketplaces so people can buy products, pay bills, manage bank accounts online. Social media connects people. Increased demand for software engineers, focus on cyber security and internet safety

Social Changes 2000s: About 1 million immigrants enter the U.S., mostly

people value the diversity brought by immigrants, others fear threats to

blended families then ever before Obergefell v.

17 Social Changes 2000s: About 1 million immigrants enter the U.S., mostly from Asia and Latin America Response to immigrants has varied- some people value the diversity brought by immigrants, others fear threats to jobs and cost of living Family dynamics change- more single-parent and blended families then ever before Obergefell v. Hodges (2013)- same sex marriage legalized Declares parts of the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) unconstitutional

18 What will 2017 and beyond look like?

Modern Presidents: President Nixon

Name: Modern Presidents: President Nixon Richard Nixon s presidency was one of great successes and criminal scandals. Nixon s visit to China in 1971 was one of the successes. He visited to seek scientific,