President George H.W. Bush

Ch. 32, Section 2, pg. 928

Presidential Election of 1988

• Ronald Reagan had already served two terms, so George H.W. Bush (his Vice-President) is the Republican nominee.

• George H. W. Bush defeats Democrat candidate Michael Dukakis.

START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)

• In 1990, George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev agreed, along with other European leaders, to destroy tanks and other nuclear weapons that were positioned in Europe.

• Why important? It was the first time that two nuclear powers agreed to destroy existing nuclear weapons.

Collapse of Soviet Union

• Because of glasnost, Soviet citizens began to express their dissatisfaction.

• Thousands marched through Moscow in February 1990.

• The citizens were calling for democracy instead of communism.

• Some parts of the Soviet Union republics were trying to break free and form their own independent nations.

Collapse of the Soviet Union

MAJOR EVENTS:1) Berlin Wall is torn down on November 9, 1989.

(East and West Germany united)2) Gorbachev is overthrown by communist

military leaders – taken prisoner.3) Gorbachev is freed by republics and Boris

Yeltsin declares 15 republics free and independent from the Soviet Union.

4) Group of republics become known as – Russia and the Communist Party is outlawed.

****December 25, 1991****

People crossing the Berlin Wall – East Germany meets West

A New War - Persian Gulf War

• On August 2, 1990, the dictator of Iraq – Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait – a small country that was rich with oil.

• President George H.W. Bush was scared Saddam Hussein would also try to invade other Middle Eastern countries – and we needed to protect our oil interests.

• President Bush sent military troops into Kuwait in what we call Operation Desert Shield to try to push Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait.

Saddam Hussein

the dictator of Iraq

Kuwait

Operation Desert Storm

• Saddam Hussein refused to remove his troops from Kuwait, so on January 16, 1991, we launches several laser-guided missiles and thousands of tons of bombs on Iraq.

• After six weeks, we launched a second attack using ground forces.

• Saddam Hussein’s troops finally left Kuwait.

Presidential Election of 1992

• President George H.W. Bush’s approval rating was 90% after the success of Operation Desert Storm.

• However, the American economy was in shambles. This was due to the federal debt that had gotten much higher due to Reagan’s 8 years as President. People wanted government help, and he refused to increase government spending.

• BILL CLINTON VS. GEORGE H.W. BUSH(Clinton wins as he promises to restore the

nation’s economy)

President Bill Clinton

Chapter 32, Section 3, pg. 936

Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush(and Ross Perot)

• Clinton – 43% of the vote• Bush – 38% of the vote• Perot – 19% of the vote

• The Presidential Election of 1992 marks the first time that a third-party (independent) candidate gained so many votes. Many blame Perot for stealing votes from Bill Clinton’s followers.

Dealing with the economy

• President Bill Clinton proposed the following:

• 1) reduce the budget deficit

• 2) cut government spending

• 3) raise taxes on middle and upper-class

• 4) tax credits for lower-class poor

Healthcare Reform – Hillary Rodham Clinton

• Both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton wanted to provide health care for every American.

• First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, put in charge of healthcare reform.

• The plan failed as it was rejected by the majority Republican congress.

Clinton wins a Second Term – Presidential Election of 1996

• Clinton defeated Republican candidate Bob Dole in the election of 1996.

• Clinton won because of the booming American economy.

• The GDP (gross domestic product) was growing at a rate of 4% per year, and the American people were happy.

• GDP – the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation in a year.

Scandal erupts

• In early 1998, a scandal emerged involving a personal relationship between President Bill Clinton and a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky.

Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton together.

Impeachment

• Impeach – make a formal accusation against a public official (possibly removing them from office).

• Bill Clinton was impeached by Congress in 1998 on the following counts:

1) perjury – lying under oath2) obstruction of justice – trying to

conceal information during the investigation.

Impeachment Trial

• On February 12, 1999, U.S. Senators voted on whether or not to remove Bill Clinton from the office of President.

Votes on perjury charge – 45 guilty55 not guilty

Votes on obstruction of justice charge-50 guilty50 not guilty

***President Bill Clinton was never removed from office and was acquitted of all charges.

Presidential Election of 2000-the closest election in U.S. History

George W. Bush vs. Al Gore

271 vs. 266 (very close margin)