Ch 40 –America Confronts the Post-Cold War Era 1992-2000

Ch 40 – The 1990’s Essential Questions:

• What the issues of the 1992 presidential campaign?• What was Clinton’s domestic and

foreign policy agenda?• What were the political events

surrounding Clinton’s impeachment?

The Election of 1992• Issues:–Recession–Lack of Job Creation

Candidates:George HW Bush ( R)William J. Clinton ( D)H. Ross Perot ( Reform Party)

Clinton-The New Democrat• Democratic Leadership Council was formed

by Clinton and other moderate Democrats• Pro-Economic Growth• Strong Defense• Anti-Crime

• Focus on the Economy- “It’s the Economy Stupid.” …James Carville

A False Start on Reform

• Clinton wanted to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the armed forces

• Clinton faced fierce opposition• Settled for Don’t Ask Don’t tell policy• Repealed in 2010

Health Care Reform• Clinton appointed Hillary Clinton to head

a health-care reform plan• Clinton had promised affordable health

care• The bill never made it

through Congress

Republicans Take Control of Congress - 1994

• Contract with America –Promised term limits, a balanced budget amendment, tax cuts, tough crime laws, welfare reform, and Immigration

Newt Gingrinch

Welform Reform Act of 1996• 1996 – Limits were put on how long

people could collect benefits• “Block Grants” given out to states• People moved from Welfare to

Workfare • Strong Economy helped

Economic Boom -1990’s• Spending was cut, taxes cut,

more spending for programs to help children and health care• Budget surplus-1st time in 30

years• Unemployment fell, stock

market took off

Crime and Terrorism 1990’s• Oklahoma City Bombing -1995• Columbine HS – 1999• World Trade Center 1993

1995- Timothy McVeigh uses a truck bomb to destroy the Federal Building in

Oklahoma City

US Troops Abroad -1990’s• 1992- US peace keepers come under fire

in the African Nation of Somalia ( Black Hawk Down)• 1994- Clinton dispatches troops to Haiti,

to force the military leaders to step down’• 1999 – NATO with US participation

launched air strikes against Serbia

Trade and The Global Economy• 1994 -NAFTA- North American Free Trade

Agreement – Canada, US, Mexico

World Trade Organization -1994

• (WTO) Successor to GATT ( Post WWII)• Free Trade, low or no tariffs• Opposition fought for human and

Environmental costs• Clinton hosted the WTO Conference in 1999 in

Seattle• Clinton pushed for a China trade bill• China full US trading partner, May 2000

Election of 1996• Clinton (D) vs Dole ( R)• Strong Economy and

Welfare Reform helpedClinton

Searching for a Post-Cold War Peace• Somalia –US Withdraw March 1994• No US involvement in Rwanda• NATO expansion to Eastern Europe• NATO Air Strikes against Serbia 1999• Clinton, Arafat, Rabin agreed to Palestinian

self rule in West Bank & Gaza. (Rabin Assassinated)

• Al Qaeda- Attacks in Kenya, Tanzania & USS Cole in Yemen

1998 – Two US Embassies bombed in Africa by Al-Qaeda

2000- The bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen , 17 sailors killed

The President Investigated• The Clinton’s were

investigated for the White Water land deal in Arkansas in 1979• Did Illegal $ go towards

Clinton’s run for Governor?• Independent

Investigator Kenneth Starr led the investigation

Clinton’s Impeachment• Starr discovered Clinton

had an improper relationship with a White House Intern • Clinton was charged

with lying under oath and obstruction of justice• Senate could not

convict him

The Election of 2000• Al Gore (D)- VP Clinton, former Senator from TN– Middle Class tax cuts, strengthen SS

• George W. Bush – Son of George HW Bush, Governor of Texas– Massive Tax Cuts , School Vouchers, small gov.

– Controversy in Florida – Recounts were not conducted by uniform standards and were halted by the Supreme Court