reagan, bush, & clinton
TRANSCRIPT
Reagan, Bush, & Clinton1980 – 2000
Objectives
Trace the rise of conservatism in the United States during the late
20th century
Evaluate the domestic and economic policies during the late 20th
century
Explain the causes and effects of foreign policies during the late
20th century
Analyze the effect and success of citizens and the government in
addressing social issues during the late 20th century
The Conservative Movement
The Moral Majority
Conservative group
Founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell
Encouraged people to return to
traditional values
Ronald Reagan
Denounced “big government”
Preferred free enterprise over
government regulation
Problems in America
The War on Drugs
Increase in violent crime
Harsh sentences for drug convictions
“3 strikes” law in CA
Mandatory life sentence for 3rd felony conviction
Led to overcrowded prisons & debt
Racial inequalities
The AIDs Epidemic
First seen in the gay community
Calls for funding to find a cure ignored
Gay community upset - felt that politicians ignored the problem
Federal gov’t does little to help
Reaganomics
Reagan’s economic goals:
Stimulate the economy
Cut the size of the gov’t
Reaganomics (trickle-down economics)
Cut taxes for the rich to spur economic growth
Believed that the wealthy would use their increased wealth to invest in businesses, factories, & stocks
Problem: tax cuts benefit the rich, not economically disadvantaged people that needed the cuts the most
Reagan succeeds in cutting taxes, but gov’t spending increases
Problems in the Middle East
Reagan wants to restore US stature after Vietnam
Very anti-Soviet
Beirut bombing
Israeli invades Lebanon, US sends troops to help restore order
Terrorist attack US barracks; 200 killed
Invasion of Grenada
Small island in the Caribbean
Communist military force had taken over, backed by Cuba
Easy victory for the US
The Iran-Contra Affair
Nicaragua’s gov’t had been overthrown by a communist regime – the Sandanistas
Reagan fears communist & Soviet influence in Latin America
The Domino Theory
CIA starts training & equipping anti-SandanistaNicaraguans
Known as “Contras”
Congress passes a law banning financial aid to the Contras
Reagan begins selling weapons to Iran, who was at war w/ Iraq
Secretly sends funds to the Contras
Scandal: this was a violations of the Congressional ban on financial aid to the Contras.
Reagan & the USSR
Reagan not a fan of the Strategic Arms
Limitation Treaties
Lets them expire in 1985
Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)
Defensive shield to protect US from Soviet
missiles
In the end, the plan was abandoned
Tension w/ USSR ease
Gorbachev & Reagan meet; sign
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Foundation for future arms-limitation treaties
The Cold War Ends
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Protesters from both sides peacefully march to the wall
Begin ripping it apart
East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czech, Bulgaria, & Romania all calling for freedom from communist rule
Peaceful revolutions
Communist gov’ts fell
Collapse of the USSR
New challenges w/ the fall of USSR:
coordinating trade and security measures b/w former Soviet countries
Problems in the Middle East
Iraq a growing concern
In debt
Other Arab nations were increasing oil
production
More competition = lower prices = increased strain on Iraq
Iraq looks to Saudi Arabia & Kuwait for
assistance
They have lots of oil!
But do not provide any assistance
Saddam Hussein (Iraq) attack Kuwait
The World Responds
President George H.W. Bush (elected in ‘88) forms a coalition in response to the invasion of Kuwait
Many countries opposed Iraq’s actions
Bush wants a “new world order”
Where nations work together to deter aggression
Operation Desert Shield
Troops sent to defend Saudi Arabia
Operation Desert Storm
Use of military force against Iraq
500,000 US + 200,000 troops from other countries
Land war lasted only 100 hrs
Preceded by an intense bombing campaign
Aftermath of Desert Storm
Saddam Hussein NOT removed from power
UN authorized to take any steps needed to maintain peace
Will come into play down the road…
Viewed as a success
Formed an international coalition of forces
The burden wasn’t placed entirely on the US
Clear & limited goals
Went in w/ a plan, accomplished it, & got out
Much needed “win” for the US military
Restored the American public’s confidence
Bill Clinton
Elected in 1992
His economic policies appealed to Republicans
Free trade & deregulation
US economy was doing very well in the 1990’s
Low inflation & unemployment; reduced gov’t
spending
Opposition from a Republican-controlled Congress
limited Clinton’s ability to enact domestic and
economic policies
Clinton runs into a little trouble during his 2nd term….
Domestic Terrorism
Waco, TX
Religious sect compound (the Branch Davidians)
Suspected of illegal firearm possession
Standoff
FBI raids compound; fire breaks out; 67 die
Aired on live TV
Questions emerge over who started the fire
Creates a rise in anti-gov’t activists
Timothy McVeigh
Former U.S. Army soldier
Not a typical “terrorist”
Domestic Terrorism
Oklahoma City Federal
Building Bombing
McVeigh parked a truck
packed w/ explosives
outside of building
Wanted to start a revolution
168 died, over 600
wounded
Foreign Terrorism
World Trade Center Bombing (1993)
Truck bomb by Middle East militants
Opposed America’s support of Israel
Left a massive hole, but the building remained standing
6 died, 1,000 injured
Rise of al Qaeda
Osama bin Laden
Was part of the mujahedeen, which received backing & training from the US when fighting the Soviets in 1979
Opposed US actions & policies in the Mid. East
Bombed US embassies in Kenya & Tanzania, as well as the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen
Global Conflicts
Clinton wanted the US to be an international police force
The Oslo Accords
Peace agreement b/w Palestinians & Israelis
Yugoslavia
Leader of Yugoslavia dies; ethnic tensions increased
Provinces declare independence; Serbs begin genocide campaign
US begins bombing campaign against Serbs
Criticized by Russia & China
Not approved by the UN
It is effective, however, & Serbs back down
Clinton’s Impeachment
The Clintons had been accused of improper involvement
in a failed real estate venture
No evidence of wrongdoing found
Former Arkansas state employee files a sexual harassment
suit against Bill Clinton; the investigative authority of
Kenneth Starr is expanded to look into harassment
Clinton denies allegations, but evidence suggests otherwise
The House of Representatives brings articles of
impeachment against Bill Clinton for perjury and
obstruction of justice
Bill Clinton is acquitted of all charges but becomes the first
president to be found in contempt of court
The Election of 2000
Gore (D) vs. Bush (R)
Incredibly close
Gore won the popular vote by .5%
Came down to who would win FL’s 25 electoral votes
Bush wins FL, giving him enough electoral votes to become president
Controversy
Numerous voter irregularities in traditionally Democratic-leaning counties in Florida
Gore calls for a recount; it’s granted
But counties aren’t able to complete the recount in the given timeframe
Extension for recount requested & granted
Republicans appeal to the Supreme Court, who stop the recount
George Bush wins the election 271 – 266
Still to come….
Terrorists attack the US
America’s next Vietnam??