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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• Homosexuals served in the armed forces under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy– Repealed in 2010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