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U.S. History II - The United States Since 1980

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    Study Guide U.S. History II – The United States Since 1980 1. From Vice President to President: George H.W. Bush • Republican candidate: Vice President George H.W. Bush with running mate Dan Quayle • Democratic candidate: Michael Dukakis, Governor of Massachusetts • Bush used negative campaigning , attacking Dukakis as soft on crime and questioning patriotism • Voter turnout: Less than 50% — lowest in U.S. history • Result: Bush won decisively 1.1 Domestic Challenges Savings and Loan Crisis • Deregulation in the 1980s allowed S&Ls to make risky investments • Hundreds of S&Ls failed; taxpayers paid $300 – $500 billion to bail them out • Resolution Trust Corporation (1989) sold off failed banks and assets Budget and Taxes • Bush famously promised: “No new taxes” • Faced with high national debt (~$3 trillion) and deficit, he raised taxes in 1990 after a compromise with Congress • Result: attempted to reduce deficit by ~$400 billion by 1995 Recession and Social Problems • Recession began summer 1990 o Unemployment ~7% o 25 million Americans out of work at some point in 1991 o Poverty rose by 2 million

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    Study Guide • Bush’s economic plans included middle - class tax cuts, help for first - time homebuyers, and lower capital gains taxes, but came too late • Social issues persisted: homelessness, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, and ineffective war on drugs • Health care problems worsened: 30+ million Americans uninsured; slow response to AIDS epidemic 1.2 Foreign Policy End of the Cold War • 1989 – 1991: Collapse of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania) • Berlin Wall fell (1989); Germany reunited • Soviet Union dissolved (1991) ; Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) gained independence • Led to nuclear weapons reduction agreements and reduced U.S. NATO commitments Other Global Issues • Tiananmen Square (1989): China’s violent crackdown on student protests worsened U.S. - China relations • Panama (1989): Bush ordered invasion to remove Manuel Noriega; Noriega captured and imprisoned Persian Gulf War (1990 – 1991) • Iraq invaded Kuwait (Aug 1990) • U.S. led international coalition (Operation Desert Shield → Desert Storm) • Air campaign began Jan 17, 1991 ; ground war Feb 23 – 28, 1991 • Iraq defeated, Kuwait freed; Saddam Hussein remained in power • Issues left unresolved: Iraq’s WMD programs, treatment of Kurds and Shiites

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    Study Guide 1.3 Big Picture • Bush’s presidency was defined by: o Foreign policy successes: End of the Cold War, victory in Persian Gulf War o Domestic struggles: Recession, S&L crisis, rising social problems, unpopular tax increase • His foreign policy experience contrasted with difficulties managing domestic economic issues 2. The Clinton Years 2.1 The Clinton Years (1993 – 2001) — Summary and Key Points Bill Clinton’s presidency was shaped by economic growth , domestic reforms , foreign policy involvement , and personal scandals . 2.2 Election of 1992 • Republican: Incumbent George H.W. Bush and VP Dan Quayle • Democrat: Governor Bill Clinton (Arkansas) and Senator Al Gore • Third - party: H. Ross Perot — focused on the economy, took 19% of the popular vote • Results: Clinton won 370 – 168 electoral votes • Platform: Job creation, environmental protection, and health care reform 2.3 Domestic Policy Health Care and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” • Early attempts at health care reform failed; Hillary Clinton led the task force • Military policy compromise: “Don’t ask, don’t tell” regarding gay service members Trade Policy • NAFTA (1993): Free trade among U.S., Canada, and Mexico

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    Study Guide • Concerns from labor (jobs moving to Mexico) and environmentalists addressed in amendments • GATT (1994): Reduced global trade barriers Economic Policy • 1994 midterms: Republicans gained Congress; Newt Gingrich led the Contract with America • Clinton took moderate stances and emphasized deficit reduction • Welfare Reform Act (1996): Block grants to states, work/training requirements • Economy: Budget went from $290B deficit (1992) → $80B surplus (1999) ; unemployment fell to ~4% 2.4 Scandals and Impeachment • Whitewater investigation: Real estate dealings, later expanded to other allegations • Monica Lewinsky affair: Clinton impeached by House (perjury, obstruction of justice) • Senate trial: Acquitted; remained in office • Despite scandals, public approval remained high 2.5 Foreign Policy Global Role • U.S. as sole superpower after Cold War • Focused on trade, economic aid , and multilateral cooperation (UN, NATO) Haiti • Forced military regime to step down, restored elected president Jean - Bertrand Aristide Iraq • Enforced UN sanctions; limited military action against Saddam Hussein and Iraqi Kurds

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    Study Guide Balkans • Bosnia - Herzegovina: U.S. aircraft supported UN operations; peacekeepers sent post - Dayton Accords (1995) • Kosovo (1998): Led NATO air campaign against Serbian forces to stop ethnic cleansing Israel - Palestinian Conflict • Oslo Accords (1993): Mutual recognition, self - rule in Gaza and Jericho • 1995 – 2000: Attempted further peace negotiations, including Camp David 2000 summit — ultimately unsuccessful 2.6 Terrorism • Foreign: o 1993 World Trade Center bombing (NYC) o 1996 Khobar Towers bombing (Saudi Arabia) o 1998 U.S. embassy bombings (Kenya, Tanzania) o 2000 USS Cole bombing (Yemen) o Targets linked to Osama bin Laden/al Qaeda ; Clinton authorized strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan • Domestic: o 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh , killing 168 and injuring hundreds Key Takeaways 1. Domestic success: Economic growth, deficit reduction, welfare reform, NAFTA/GATT trade policies 2. Foreign policy: Humanitarian intervention in Balkans and Haiti, global peacekeeping, and counter - terrorism 3. Challenges: Personal scandals, impeachment, terrorism threats, ongoing Middle East conflict 4. Legacy: First Democratic president reelected since FDR, maintained high approval ratings despite controversies, oversaw strong economy and expansion of U.S. global influence Clinton’s presidency is often seen as a balance of political skill, economic prosperity, and foreign policy engagement , yet marred by personal and political scandals .

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