Reagan, National Debt, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Iron Contra Affair, As well as:Persian Gulf WarEconomy and Election of ClintonNAFTAContract with AmericaGeorge W.911
Most Missed Questions on RQ…
Malcolm X – why did he change? Not just because he saw people praying together – he converted to Islam and observed different groups praying together peacefully
Missed Q #2
Kent State University – what is important about it? NOT students throwing rocks!! The important part is that National Guard troops were there for the protest and that’s why students were shot – there’s a big difference!!
Missed Q #3
Cesar Chavez and United Farm Workers – Chavez called for a BOYCOTT OF CALIFORNIA GRAPES, NOT JUST CALIFORNIA…(compare to boycott by colonists if British goods – make connections)
Missed Q 4…
DÉTENTE – Nixon used peaceful diplomacy instead of a show of force….
Missed Q #5….
Why did OPEC put an embargo on oil to U.S.? Why a fuel Crisis? WE SUPPORTED ISRAEL during their war with Egypt and Syria – Pay attention people!! Next Question?
Question 6…
Again – why did Iranian students take hostages? Because the U.S. was supporting regimes or corrupt princes like the SHAH OF IRAN….when the Shah was deposed we let him come to U.S. – this made Iran mad – hence – they took hostages from our embassy (ARGO)
Reminder about President Carter
Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel
Reminder about Nixon’s P…
Congress Passed the “WAR POWERS ACT” after Johnson had committed so many troops to Vietnam
WAR POWERS ACT created to limit the President’s war powers
Reminder About Women…
This is the time period of the “Women’s Lib” movement
Organization called “N.O.W”
Reagan – Start writing for RQ
After the economic recession, high unemployment and lines at the gas pumps (MISSED Q: Carter – gas rationing)
We see the election of REPUBLICAN Ronald Reagan
ReaganomicsPresident Reagan introduced his economic plan for recovery
His CRITICS called it “Reaganomics” or “Voodoo” economics
He supported tax cuts, especially for businesses so this is called “trickle-down economics – if businesses do well, the good effects will “trickle down to consumers”
Reagan’s Goals
Decrease the size of the government
Strengthen the military
Good Effects
Tax Cuts were popular with everyone
Reagan got rid of government regulations in many areas – many people in business liked this as well
Strengthened the U.S. military – this was also popular
Negative Effects
National Debt – military spending combined with tax cuts created a large national debt
Reagan’s Foreign Policy
Reagan was convinced that the USSR could not afford an arms race and that if we were spending more on military and weapons, that would force them to try and keep up which would break their economy and bring about the collapse of communism
PerestroikaIn 1985, Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union
Gorbachev did not want an expensive arms race
Gorbachev and Reagan got along very well
Perestroika – G allowed free enterprise in the USSR
GlasnostGorbachev sponsored glasnost or political openness between the two countries
On November 9, 1989 The East German government allowed people to travel freely between East and West Germany
1990’s Cold War over, Berlin Wall came down
Iran – Contra Affair
Secret sale of arms to Iran in exchange for U.S. hostages
Money from that sale was funneled to the Contras (rebels) in Nicaragua so they could overthrow their government….
George H.W. Bush
After Reagan’s 2 terms – Republican G.H.W. Bush was elected President
Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded their neighbor Kuwait and took control of the Kuwaiti oil fields
Hussein refused to leave Kuwait
Persian Gulf War
U.S. with United Nations help went to war to push Iraq out of Kuwait
42 days later Kuwait was liberated
Again, the U.S. had to face the concern that we were too dependent on foreign oil
Election of 1992
Democrat Bill Clinton realized that Democrats were seen as “tax and spend” liberals
Therefore, Clinton was very moderate
Clinton won the election of 1992
H. Ross Perot – 3rd Party
Republican Bush vs. Democrat Clinton with
3rd Party candidate Ross Perot who got many votes because people were unhappy with both parties
Still, Clinton won the election
Clinton’s Presidency
Under Clinton, the nation went from having a budget deficit to a budget surplus – a balanced budget! – this means the government was not in debt.
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement
This agreement promoted free trade between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
The Critics and the supporters
Critics of NAFTA said businesses would move to Mexico or other places and produce goods cheaper where there are no labor unions (outsourcing)
Proponents or supporters said it would create jobs because Canada and Mexico would not have to pay tariffs so goods would be cheaper, so then they would buy more American made products
Contract with America
In 1994 Republicans gained control of both the House and the Senate which made it hard for Democrat President Clinton to get things done
Clinton did get welfare reform passed – he placed new restrictions on welfare and entitlement programs
Clinton wins reelection
Clinton’s welfare reform and balanced budget was popular – he easily won reelection
Scandal taints Clinton’s Presidency
Clinton was thought to have had affairs in the past
When he was suspected of having relations with an intern, he swore under oath before a grand jury that he had never had a relationship with her
Evidence was uncovered that he lied under oath
Clinton Impeached
The House voted to impeach him – he was tried
But the Senate acquitted him and so he was not removed from office
Election of 2000
Closest Election in U.S. History – PRESIDENT DID NOT WIN POPULAR ELECTION – WON THE ELECTORAL VOTE
Republican George W. Bush, son of G.H.W. Bush won the election
History behind September 11
Since the founding of Israel, Arab and Persian Gulf countries that were mainly Muslim were unhappy that land that they viewed as rightfully Arab was in the hand of the Israelis
U.S. traditionally supported Israel
Growth of Al-Qaeda
Several radical Muslim groups became active during this time period
Attacks against the USS Cole in Yemen
U.S. embassy attacks in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa
September 911
Al Qaeda sponsored terrorists flew two planes into the two World Trade Center Towers in NY
One plane flew into the Pentagon
One plane went down in Pennsylvania
War on Terror
The U.S. has since been involved in an ongoing “war on terror” which has involved fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan
Afghanistan has been targeted because many Al-Qaeda training bases are there
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