1. President George H.W. Bush
Ch. 32, Section 2, pg. 928

2. Presidential Election of 1988
Ronald Reagan had already served two terms, so George H.W. Bush (his Vice-President) is the Republican nominee.
George H. W. Bush defeats Democrat candidate Michael Dukakis.

3. START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)
In 1990, George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev agreed, along with other European leaders, to destroy tanks and other nuclear weapons that were positioned in Europe.
Why important? It was the first time that two nuclear powers agreed to destroy existing nuclear weapons.

5. Collapse of Soviet Union
Because of glasnost, Soviet citizens began to express their dissatisfaction.
Thousands marched through Moscow in February 1990.
The citizens were calling for democracy instead of communism.
Some parts of the Soviet Union republics were trying to break free and form their own independent nations.

6. Collapse of the Soviet Union
MAJOR EVENTS:
Berlin Wall is torn down on November 9, (East and West Germany united)
Gorbachev is overthrown by communist military leaders – taken prisoner.
Gorbachev is freed by republics and Boris Yeltsin declares 15 republics free and independent from the Soviet Union.
Group of republics become known as – Russia and the Communist Party is outlawed.
****December 25, 1991****

7. People crossing the Berlin Wall – East Germany meets West

8. A New War - Persian Gulf War
On August 2, 1990, the dictator of Iraq – Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait – a small country that was rich with oil.
President George H.W. Bush was scared Saddam Hussein would also try to invade other Middle Eastern countries – and we needed to protect our oil interests.
President Bush sent military troops into Kuwait in what we call Operation Desert Shield to try to push Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait.

9. Saddam Hussein
the dictator of Iraq

10. Kuwait

11. Operation Desert Storm
Saddam Hussein refused to remove his troops from Kuwait, so on January 16, 1991, we launches several laser-guided missiles and thousands of tons of bombs on Iraq.
After six weeks, we launched a second attack using ground forces.
Saddam Hussein’s troops finally left Kuwait.

12. Presidential Election of 1992
President George H.W. Bush’s approval rating was 90% after the success of Operation Desert Storm.
However, the American economy was in shambles. This was due to the federal debt that had gotten much higher due to Reagan’s 8 years as President. People wanted government help, and he refused to increase government spending.
BILL CLINTON VS. GEORGE H.W. BUSH
(Clinton wins as he promises to restore the nation’s economy)

13. President Bill Clinton
Chapter 32, Section 3, pg. 936

14. Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush (and Ross Perot)
Clinton – 43% of the vote
Bush – 38% of the vote
Perot – 19% of the vote
The Presidential Election of 1992 marks the first time that a third-party (independent) candidate gained so many votes. Many blame Perot for stealing votes from Bill Clinton’s followers.

16. Dealing with the economy
President Bill Clinton proposed the following:
1) reduce the budget deficit
2) cut government spending
3) raise taxes on middle and upper-class
4) tax credits for lower-class poor

17. Healthcare Reform – Hillary Rodham Clinton
Both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton wanted to provide health care for every American.
First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, put in charge of healthcare reform.
The plan failed as it was rejected by the majority Republican congress.

18. Clinton wins a Second Term – Presidential Election of 1996
Clinton defeated Republican candidate Bob Dole in the election of 1996.
Clinton won because of the booming American economy.
The GDP (gross domestic product) was growing at a rate of 4% per year, and the American people were happy.
GDP – the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation in a year.

19. Scandal erupts
In early 1998, a scandal emerged involving a personal relationship between President Bill Clinton and a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky.

20. Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton together.

21. Impeachment
Impeach – make a formal accusation against a public official (possibly removing them from office).
Bill Clinton was impeached by Congress in 1998 on the following counts:
1) perjury – lying under oath
2) obstruction of justice – trying to conceal information during the investigation.

22. Impeachment Trial
On February 12, 1999, U.S. Senators voted on whether or not to remove Bill Clinton from the office of President.
Votes on perjury charge –
45 guilty
55 not guilty
Votes on obstruction of justice charge-
50 guilty
50 not guilty
***President Bill Clinton was never removed from office and was acquitted of all charges.

23. Presidential Election of 2000- the closest election in U.S. History
George W. Bush vs. Al Gore
271 vs. 266 (very close margin)