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1990s
Chapter 27
Unit 7: 1968-Present
Election of 1988
• Both Republicans and Democrats ran negative ad campaigns
• Reagan’s vice-president, George H.W. Bush was elected
• By 1990, U.S. began to move back into recession
– Northeast and midwest became the rust belt when industry collapsed
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Foreign Policy
• Invaded Panama and removed
dictator Manuel Noriega from
power in 1989
• When the cold war ended in 1991,
Bush described a “new world
order” of global cooperation
– In 1992, U.S. supported U.N. mission
to provide food during Somali
Famine
Persian Gulf War, 1990-1991
• In 1990, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein invaded oil-rich Kuwait.
• Operation Desert Storm was the U.S. ground invasion launched in February, 1991 and liberated Kuwait
• Bush stopped short of invading Iraq and overthrowing Hussein
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Election of 1992
• Bush’s chance at reelection was hurt by economic decline
• Clinton effectively combined liberal social ideas with conservative promise to reduce the size of govt.
• Ross Perot was the most successful 3rd party candidate since Teddy Roosevelt
Clinton’s Domestic Policy
• Raised taxes in order to balance the federal budget
• Attempt to provide universal healthcare failed
• Homosexuals served in the armed forces under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy– Repealed in 2010
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Foreign Policy
• U.S. supported NATO missions in Bosnia and Kosovo from 1992-1998
• Signed the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that opened trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada
• Increased global cooperation through the UN, World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund
Technology
• Communication revolution
with cellular phones,
personal computers, and the
internet
• Companies like Apple and
Microsoft began in the 80s
• Microprocessors made home and
office computer use possible
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Boom and Bust
• Investment in tech companies and “dot coms” boosted the economy
• Deregulation reduced government oversight of numerous industries, including banking and telecommunications
• After 2000, the tech bubble burst and investors lost money due to fraud and corruption
Diversity at the Turn of the 21st Century
• Between 1965 and 2000, 24 million people immigrated to the United States
– Most came from areas outside of Europe
• Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S.
• AIDS epidemic increased awareness of the gay community
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Conservatism and Culture War
• Continued debate between
supporters of traditional
and progressive values
• Radical anti-federal
movement created private
militias
– In 1995, a member of one
group bombed the federal
building in Oklahoma City,
killing 168 people
Election of 2000• Vice President Al Gore against
Texas Governor George W. Bush
• Gore won the popular vote, but Bush won by 5 electoral votes
– Dispute over the Florida electoral vote meant there was no winner for a month
• In Bush v. Gore, supreme court stopped all recounts and Bush was declared the winner