1. Clinton, g. W. Bush & Obama 1993 - present

2. General Social Changes
The “graying of America” as the baby boom generation becomes senior citizens
Increased legal and illegal immigration has increased cultural diversity and bilingual education, but has also put a strain on government services and created border control issues

3. Economic Change
Many companies have “outsourced” jobs to other countries
The Congress continues to make fiscal policy decisions, but the Federal Reserve makes the monetary policy decisions

4. Bill Clinton ( )
He cut spending and increased taxes in order to balance the budget.
Clinton left office with a federal budget surplus
NAFTA (trade agreement between the U.S, Canada, and Mexico)
During Clinton’s term, the U.S. lifted economic sanctions against South Africa when apartheid ended
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the government of South Africa between 1948 and 1994.
NATO peacekeeping/humanitarian mission in the former Yugoslavia (March – June, 1999)
NATO air strikes
The bombing of Yugoslavia was intended to keep the Yugoslav army from repeating the atrocities committed in Bosnia.
F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela

5. Clinton Brady Handgun bill passed
required federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the U.S.
Balanced the budget through tax increase and across the board spending cuts, including welfare reform
Clinton appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2nd woman) to the U.S. Supreme Court
Health Care
Clinton sought to implement a national health care insurance program but failed in his efforts
His wife, former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, led the health care reform task force making her one of the most politically active First Ladies in U.S. history
Jim Brady and Pres. Clinton
Ruth Bader Ginsburg

6. Clinton’s Scandals Clinton’s presidency was plagued by scandals
“Whitewater”- controversy surrounding a failed real estate business investment
“Travelgate” - an ethics controversy that resulted after seven employees of the White House Travel Office were fired and were replaced by Clinton supporters
“Filegate” - controversy surrounding White House requests to gain improper access to FBI security-clearance documents.
It was alleged that many of the files were those of prominent Republicans

7. Monica Lewinsky Affair
Scandal regarding the extramarital relationship between Bill Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky (22).
Led to Clinton’s impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of perjury
U.S. Senate did not remove Clinton from office and acquitted him of all charges

8. Election of 2000 VP Gore won the popular vote
Florida’s electoral votes were contested
The Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore denied a recount
Bush won with 271 electoral votes to Gore’s 266

9. September 11, 2001

10. September 11, 2001 4 planes were hijacked by terrorists.
2 planes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers in NYC
1 plane crashed into the Pentagon
1 plane’s hijackers were overcome by passengers and crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Approximately 3000 people were killed
Terrorist group al-Qaeda, and its leader Osama bin Laden, were responsible for the attacks

11. George W. Bush ( )
Bush’s presidency was greatly influenced by the events of 9/11
Congress declared war against Iraq and Afghanistan, to seek out terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks
Saddam Hussein was removed from power in Iraq but no weapons of mass destruction were ever found
The Patriot Act was passed in 2001 to allow the government to detain foreigners suspected of terrorism without charging them with a crime .
George W. Bush at Ground Zero, Sept. 14, 2001

12. The Great Recession of 2007
Caused by overspeculation in the housing market
Resulted in a stock market decline, soaring gas prices, & a tightening of credit

13. Election of 2008
The economic crisis & Obama’s grass-roots campaign fueled a resounding win in both the popular & electoral vote
America’s first African American president

14. Domestic Policies Fair Pay Act for Women
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009) was designed to save & create jobs during the recession
Affordable Care Act (2010) aimed to extend affordable health insurance to 45 million uninsured Americans
The annual deficit and national debt soared
The rise of the Tea Party in Congress (2010) led to gridlock

15. Social Change through rulings of the Supreme Court
The Roberts Court further scaled back affirmative action, removed a provision of the Voting Rights Act, upheld campaign contributions as free speech, upheld gun rights, and struck down the Defense of Marriage Act

16. Foreign Policy U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan in 2009
U.S. support for the Arab Spring in 2010
U.S. troops in Iraq were withdrawn in 2011
Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was captured and killed in 2011