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??