1. Desert War
-George Bush’s Presidency
Promises no more taxes but cannot deliver
-Iraq invades Kuwait
Saddam Hussein: leader of Iraq who was anti-Western influence in the Middle East
-Operation Desert Storm
Colin Powell: top military advisor/officer in the nation
military efforts to repeal Iraq from Kuwait

2. Election of 1992
-post Gulf war recession
-George Bush (REP)
-Bill Clinton (DEM)
-Ross Perot (Independent)
-economy was the main point of the campaign

3. Clinton Administration
-increase in taxes= trying to reduce deficit spending
-anti-crime initiatives
-national healthcare debated
-NAFTA signed: North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement; encouraged trade between US, Canada and Mexico; lowered tariffs
-Brady Bill: must wait 5 days to purchase handgun
-Family Medical Leave: can get 12 weeks unpaid leave for medical or take care of family member

4. Contract with America
-Republican controlled Congress--party goals
Led by Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich
promised tax relief
stricter immigration laws
term limits
balanced budget
welfare reform

5. Clinton’s 2nd Term
-Child Tax Credits
-Whitewater Scandal; real estate
-Children’s Health Insurance
-Impeachment
Personal scandal
allegations of perjury (lying before jury about relationship)
impeachment- put on trial 1999, acquitted by Senate same year

6. World Involvement
-U.S. is only remaining superpower after collapse of USSR
-Somalia (East Africa)
relief of starvation; trying to help in middle of civil war; black hawk down and Clinton pulls troops
-Balkans (Eastern Europe)
ethnic cleansing reported by Serbians against non-Serbs
-Haiti
prevent dictatorship; failed invasion
-Israel and the PLO (Palestine)
Middle East Peace between two sides (Temporarily!)

7. Modern Agenda
-Global economy; increased world trade
-medical coverage for all
-welfare reforms; reduced number receiving benefits
-balanced budgets (ran SURPLUS)
-technology and communications
-computer age
-Genetics
-environmental concerns

8. Immigration Concerns
-Highest immigration rates since turn of century
***New Immigration coming from ASIA and LATIN AMERICA
-possible strain on economy and infrastructure
-illegal aliens

9. Election of 2000
-Al Gore (DEM)
-George Bush (REP)
-very close election
-Florida votes disputed
-Supreme Court rules first Florida results as final
Bush WINS even though he did not win popular vote (Gore did)

10. America’s Changes
-September 11, 2001
-Terrorists attack the World Trade Center, Pentagon
-Four planes are hijacked and used as weapons
-Osama Bin Laden leads the Al Qaeda terrorist group which carried out the attacks
-War in Afghanistan because they harbored terrorist camps and Bin Laden
-Homeland Security Concerns- Patriot Act

11. Post 9/11 America
-Stock Market boom of the 1990’s has ended
-Federal Reserve board lowers interest rates to lowest points in 30 years trying to spur growth
-Corporate accounting scandals shake investors confidence
-U.S goes to War against Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power