-
Lionel Sosa
Born in 1939, Lionel Sosa was a Mexican-American advertising and marketing executive. In the 1960s he created his own advertising agency," Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar & Associates". Making him the founder of the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the United States. In addition to this, he was the Hispanic media consultant for six Republican campaigns. Later in the year 2006, he was recognized as one of 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America by TIME. -
G.I Bill
The G.I Bill was a proposal that was also referred to as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was put in place as a way to offer World War ll veterans lower interest rates on homes. In addition to this, this bill provided the veterans with college tuition and business loans. These services are still around today to help struggling veterans. -
Period: to
The Cold War
-
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was a term that referred to the boundary that divided Europe into two separate areas after the end of World War ll. The term earned its prominence after being used British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. The boundary was made by the Soviets in order to close Eastern Europe off from any Western ideas. In addition to this, the boundary was made up of concrete baracades and barbed wire so it could efficiently keep people inside. -
Second Red Scare
The Second Red Scare occurred during the late 1940's when the fear of communism arose in the United States, influencing American politics and culture. This happened because Americans thought that they were losing the Cold War. With these rising tensions, the House Un-American Activities Committee was put in place as a way to target both communists and former communists living amongst Americans. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy introduced by Harry Truman that was put in place in order to stop the spread of communism. The policy provided both military and economic aid to different countries as a way to encourage the importance of preventing communism from influencing any other nations. This is because many countries in Europe were vulnerable to becoming communist due to the destruction they had faced during World War ll. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was an American initiative proposed by Secretary of State, George Marshall, to aid Western Europe by loaning over $13 billion for economic assistance. This was done as an effort to help Western Europe recover its economy after the end of World War ll. This plan, therefore, restores faith in capitalism. Western Europe then adopts American labor, farming and manufactering practices. -
Stalin Closes Border
The Russian leader, Joseph Stalin's response to the merger of the French, USA and UK partitions of Berlin was to cut all road and rail links to that sector. This meant that those living in Western Berlin had no access to food supplies and faced starvation. Food was brought to Western Berliners by US and UK airplanes, an exercise known as the Berlin Airlift. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was one the first international crises to occur during the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post-World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under allied control. In response to this, the U.S began a massive airlift of food, water, and medicine to the citizens living in West Berlin for a year. This made Stalin upset, eventally making him give up and reopen the border. -
Fair Deal
After Harry Truman had won the election of 1948, the Fair deal was put in place. These set of proposals established health care, public housing, and education. In addition to this, the Fair Deal dealt with minimum wage, electricity and telephones. However, the war with Korea caused a set back for these changes to occur in the United States. This was a way to help Americans, specifically minorities and women, and encourage equality amongst all citizens, but was rejected by conservatives. -
Rock & Roll
Rock & Roll was a genre of music that gained its popularity during the 1950's and Civil Rights movement. It was originally based off of African American Rhythm and Blues. This type of music often referred to sexual intercourse and was therefore hated by the older generations at this time. However, white teenagers loved this music, for it was a way for them to rebel against their parents. They would listen to Rock & Roll in their leisure time. -
Beat Generation
The Beat Generation was a group of American writers, poets, and novelists who made up a literary movement during the 1950's. These people rejected American materialism and culture such as home ownership, careers, and marriage. This generation valued the idea of individual freedom in pleasure, which they sought through the use of sex and drugs. With these values, they were seen as the "proto-hippies". -
Period: to
The 1950's
-
Period: to
Civil Rights
-
Earl Warren Court
Earl Warren was a prominent American politician and Chief of Justice. He was apart of the most liberal Supreme Court in history, at this time it was known as the ear of liberalism. His court dealt with cases involving prayer in school, interracial marriage, the right to remain silent during arrest and others. In addition to this, Warren was responisble for deeming the segregation of schools to be unconstitutional during the Brown v. Board case. -
Polio Vaccine
Polio was a virus that debilitated thousands of children per year during the 20th century. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was affected by this disease, making him unable to walk. Many other victims were left paralyzed by the Poliovirus. Eventually, Dr. Jonas Salk develops the vaccine for this disease which would be taken through injection. The injection would then deactivate the virus which then led to the eradication of the disease by the year 1994. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case that ended segregation of US public school system. An 8-year-old girl living, in Topeka, Kansas, has to travel by bus to a distant school for black students, despite living within walking distance from an elementary school that is only for white children because of segregation in the school districts. Brown’s father sues the state school board of Topeka. The United States Supreme Court then forces schools to integrate. -
Television
World War ll slowed the introduction of the television to the United States. Most families owned a black and white T.V. With this new device in American homes, people had a new source for both entertainment and news. Television shows like "I Love Lucy" and "Father Knows Best" gained popularity by showing what the ideal family is and demonstrated obedience and hard work pays off. In addition to this, politicians used television to influence their voters such as the Kennedy v. Nixon debate. -
Dr. Jonas Salk
Dr. Jonas Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, he was responsible for the discovery and development of the success polio vaccine that eventually eradicated the virus from the entire world. Salk to a position at the Univerisity of Pittsburg where he began conducting his research on the disease. He later determined that Polio was made of 3 distinct types of viruses. With this discovery, he concluded that he could create a "kill virus" vaccine for the disease. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
In 1955, was an 11-year old boy who traveled to Money, Mississippi to visit family. He was from Chicago so he wasn't aware of the intensity of Jim Crow in the South. He whistled at a white woman and abducted days later. He was beaten and shot in the head by two white men who dumped his body in a river. Till's body was left unrecognizable. His mother wanted everyone to see what happened to him by holding an open casket funeral. This tragedy is what sparked the Civil Rights Movement in America. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks was an American activist during the Civil Rights Movement best known for her role during the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her seat to a white man while riding a segregated bus. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, with her efforts, the segregation of buses was deemed to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Afterward, Parks became a symbol of dignity and strength in the struggle to end racial segregation. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Four months after the death of Emmet Till, Rosa Parks rides on the back of the bus and a white man demands he seat. She refuses and is arrested, this is because of the segregation of buses. Black people saw this as an injustice and began to boycott buses. Former riders carpooled and walked to their destination, making the bus system ready to go out of business. The Supreme Court then rules segregated buses as unconstitutional. -
Elvis
Elvis Presley was an American singer who gained popularity during the 1950s by becoming the icon for Rock 'n' Roll music. Presley was born very poor, he later adopted the Rhythm and Blues singing style and began his Rock & Roll career began when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Tv show, in mid-1950's. During his appearance, he performed in a unique dance style that made him popular amongst the female audience. He is often referred to as the King of Rock & Roll. -
Space Race
After World War ll, increasing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union sparked a new conflict, the Cold War. Here, the two most powerful nations in the world were put against each other. Americans were fighting for Democracy while the Soviets were fighting for Communism. Space was a crucial part of this competition, for the first to achieve this frontier would prove their technological superiority, military power, and the power of their politcal system. -
Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine was a group of African American students that enrolled at an all-white central high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Many white citizens of Little Rock were angry about the black students integrating into the school.On the first day of school, Governor Orval Faubus called in the state National Guard to bar the student's entry into the school. However, Eisenhower eventually sent federal troops to help escort the Little a Rock Nine into the school. -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The satellite was able to orbit the Earth and transmit radio signals strong enough to be picked up by radio operators. By doing this, the Soviets proved that they had the lead in the Space Race which led to a rise in fear and concerns of Americans. This is because the Americans thought they were losing the Cold War by being technologically inferior to the Soviets. -
Albert Sabin
Albert Sabin was an American medical researcher, like Jonas Salk, he was looking for a cure for the poliovirus, playing a key role in its eradication from the world. This virus would leave its victims paralyzed and could be transferred through contaminated water, food or contact with someone who is infected. In discovering a vaccine, Salk had made the first success by finding a cure through an injection. However, Sabin later led to the development of the oral vaccine. -
Counter Culture
The Counter Culture developed during the 1960's when liberalism began to fracture. It was subculture that was the new left. Counter Culture was made up young students who took on discrimination, poverty, and the Vietnam war. They rejected middle-class values and renounced material possession. The group believed in the idea of exploring their inner selves. They did this through the use of drugs like LSD. The, therefore, sparked the development of hippies and their peace and love ideology. -
Hippies
Hippies were a group of young people from the 1960's the believed in peace, freedom, and living in the moment.without inhibition. They were apart of the Counter Culture movement who opposed the Vietnam War and materialistic values. Hippies believed in sexual liberation and embraced the non-social standard through rock music, with this ideology, Woodstock came along. Woodstock was their music festivial where they would all live in the moment, be free from parents and be rebels. -
LSD
LSD was one of the drugs that gained popularity in the 1960s during the counterculture movement. Hippies had the ideology of being free and living life, thus they used this drug to set themselves free and explore their inner selves through hallucinations. LSD is a psychedelic, and recreational drug that is capable of altering one's awareness of surroundings, perceptions, and feelings as well. This is why most hippies are depicted like they're in a trance because they're high on LSD. -
Chicano Mural Movement
The Chicano Mural Movement was apart of the Chicano Movement in the United States. The Chicano Movement was a Mexican American empowerment movement. The purpose of the mural movement was to get the whites aware of the Mexican-American culture and issues. Mexican-American barrios throughout the southwest had artists began using walls of churches, schools, businesses, and city buildings. This was the Latin American community to gain better political representation in the United States. -
Period: to
1960's
-
Politics: Nixon v. Kennedy
When television was introduced in the mid-1950's, the way people viewed entertainment and news transcended into a new form. For example, the Kennedy v. Nixon debate was broadcasted on television for the very first time. Kennedy took advantage of TV by wearing makeup and a dark colored suit so he could stand out to the audience. While Nixon looked pale an blended into the grey background. Thus, those who watched the debate thought Kennedy won, while those who listened to it thought Nixon had won. -
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is a volunteer program founded in the United States by President John F. Kennedy. This group is made up of young college graduates that would work in poor countries around the world. Their mission is to provide technical assistance and perform humanitarian projects. Overall, the Peace Corps are largely accomplished in provinding aid to impoverished nations. However, conservatives didn't like this liberal agenda. -
Feminism
During the Counter Culture Movement, women split from Civil Rights, this led to the development of Feminism. This term refers to the belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes and the social movements organized around that belief. Their main goal was to achieve gender equality through the empowerment of sexuality and the belief that women were capable of anything men could do. Feminists at this time tried to change mentality rather than legislate female equality. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A US spy plane reported sighting the construction of a Soviet nuclear missile base in Cuba. Therefore, the United States has concluded that the Soviets are preparing for a nuclear war which meant the start of World War lll. In response, President Kennedy set up a naval blockade and demanded the removal of the missiles. War was averted when the Russians agreed on 28th October to remove the weapons. The United States agreed not to invade Cuba. -
Anti-War Movement
The Anti-War Movement was a social movement and student protest that started at the Free Speech movement in California and spread around the world. All members of the Anti-War Movement shared an opposition to the war in Vietnam and condemned U.S. presence there. They claimed this was violating Vietnam's rights. This movement resulted in growing activism on campuses aimed at social reform etc. Primarily a middle-class movement. The Counter Culture played a key role in this movement. -
MLK's Letter from Birmingham
The Letter from Birmingham Jail is a letter that was written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was arrested during a civil rights march being held in Birmingham, Alabama. The remarkable phrase, " Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." This letter was his call to action to eight clergymen who have criticized him for his activist efforts. In addition to this, his letter he also defends his strategy of non-violence for its the way to success. -
"I Have a Dream Speech"
The "I Have a Dream Speech" was a public speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the march on Washington. In this march, 500 thousand people walk on Lincoln Memorial during the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. This speech was watched live around the world. Its purpose was to stop segregation in the south, the call for equal rights, and keeping the peace between all racial groups and minorities. It also stated that civil rights were needed in order to win the Cold War -
Birmingham Bombing
The Birmingham Bombing was a major tragedy where a bomb was hurled into 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. As a result, four young girls were killed in the bombing. The Ku Klux Klan was responsible for this attack on the black community. They did this because they were upset about MLK's march on Washington. However, the men responsible for the attack was never put on trial until 2000. Some are still in jail while others died in prison. -
Assassination of JFK
In the year 1963, JFK began his campaign for his re-election for the election of 1964. He did fundraisers Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. On November 22, he flew to Dallas and planned to travel through downtown waving to bystanders in his convertible. Doing this gave him maximum exposure. Kennedy was then shot in the neck and head when Lee Harvey Oswald fired an assault rifle from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, killing President Kennedy. -
Ascendancy of Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th president of the United States that was sworn into office following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This was done on Air Force One with Jackie Kennedy by his side with Kennedy's blood still on her clothes. During his administration, Johnson was considered a crude person who pushed for legislation. He then developed the Great Society during his presidency, this promised education, better standard of living, and beautification for the country. -
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was an ex-Marine who defected to the Soviet Union for a period of time. He eventually returned to the United States with a family under special permission. Oswald was also accused of being the lone shooter during the JFK assassination in Dallas. As the President turned on Elm Street, Oswald fired his assault rifle from the 6th floor of a building 5 times, hitting Kennedy twice with a fatal shot to the head. After the assassination, Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby. -
Great Society
The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States that was put in place by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was his variation of Democratic reform programs like the New Deal. Specifically, this reform promised education, a good standard of living, and beautification for Americans. This reform led to the development of Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education. His program eventually went beyond the New Deal. -
Death of MLK
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated when he traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for a speech at a church. He was a frequent customer of the Lorraine Motel which made him an easy target since he can be easily tracked down. Dr. King was then shot while talking to someone from the balcony by a lone gunman, James Earl Ray. King later dies at a local hospital. His death sparked a series of riots throughout the country. Over 100 cities were effected by the black protesters. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two men on the surface of the Moon. The mission was led by Americans, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin. During this mission, Neil Armstrong became the first man to ever walk on the moon where he famously stated, "That's one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind." Apollo 11 occurred 8 years after president JFK announced a national goal of landing a man on the Moon. This, therefore, proved that the Americans had won the Space Race. -
Period: to
1970's
-
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmentalism began during the Kennedy administration in the 1960's. Pollution was a concern because of its adverse effects on humans such as asbestos, airborne toxins, and automobile pollution. These concerns began the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), initiated by President Nixon. This program was an administrative agency created by Congress in 1970 to coordinate the implementation and enforcement of the federal environmental protection laws. -
Watergate
Watergate was the Democratic headquarters where the events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment. In this scandal, five of Nixon's "plumbers" were sent in to find any dirt on the politicians at Watergate. But, they were caught by a security guard and revealed that Nixon was responsible for the breech. -
Roe v. Wade
Abortion was a controversial issue during this time period. Protests for legalized abortions were being held across the nation. This court case established national abortion guidelines; trimester guidelines; no state interference in 1st; state may regulate to protect the health of the mother in 2nd; state may regulate to protect the health of the unborn child in 3rd. Inferred from the right of privacy established in Griswald v. Connecticut. -
Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative public policy that promoted the conservative agenda such as free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, family values, strong national defense, etc. This foundation was a right-wing think tank that was created by founders Edwin Feulner, Joseph Coors, and Paul Weyrich. The foundation took a leading role in the conservative movement during the Reagan presidency although it was founded in the year 1973. -
Endangered Species Act
With growing concerns for the environment in the United States, Congress decided to pass the Endangered Species Act. This act was established in order to provide means for listing native animals and plants that are endangered and provided them with protection from extinction. It also, defined what they meant by endangered/threatened and provided funding for land acquisition for foreign species. In addition to this act is still one of the most contentious environmental policies in the US. -
OPEC
OPEC is an acronym that stands for Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries made up of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc. This organization controls much of the world's oil today. The United States embargoed for supporting Israel. Due to this, there were lines for gas and speed limits dropped to 55 M.H.P. As a result, President Nixon convinces Israelis to give up some territory, ending the embargo. -
Gerald Ford Presidency
Gerald Ford was a modest person and was seen as 'nothing any different from your next door neighbor'. The public was tired of scandal within politics due to Watergate during Nixon's presidency and was therefore looking for a regular guy. Ford pardoned Nixon because he thought it would help Americans get over the Watergate scandal. He addressed draft dodger by having them hand themselves in, some full pardon, some jailed. However, neither Liberals or conservatives were satisfied. -
The New Right
The New Right is a political movement of American conservatives whose agenda was to emphasize social issues and roll back liberal policies on foreign affairs, abortion, taxation and government control over American life in general. This movement helped get Ronald Reagan elected and was partly in response to the counterculture movement that occurred during the 1960's. In addition to this, the movement was not content with Jimmy Carter's direction liberalism, and the moral decline in America. -
Moral Majority
The Moral Majority was a prominent American political organization that was established in order to advance conservative social values. This group was led by Jerry Falwell, a Pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church (VA), a leader in the Moral Majority movement. He had the intention of bringing conservatives into politics and getting rid of Jimmy Carter. This group also lobbied for prayer and teaching creationism in public schools, against legal abortion, against homosexuality. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
For 444 days, American embassy workers were held captive by Iranian revolutionaries after young Muslim fundamentalists overthrew the oppressive regime of the American-backed shah, forcing him into exile. These revolutionaries sparked an energy crisis by cutting off Iranian oil. The episode was marked by failed rescue attempts by the Carter Administration. After permanently damaging relations between the two countries, the crisis ended with the hostage's release the day Reagan became president -
Period: to
1980's
-
BET
After stepping down as a lobbyist for the cable industry, Freeport, Illinois native Robert L. Johnson decided to launch his own cable television network. The network, which was named Black Entertainment Television (BET), launched on January 25, 1980. Initially broadcasting for two hours a week as a block of programming on Nickelodeon (it would not be until 1983 that BET became a full-fledged channel), the network's lineup consisted of music videos and reruns of popular black sitcoms. -
Election of 1980
During the election of 1980, Republicans nominated Ronald Reagan, against re-nominated Democrat Jimmy Carter, who nobody, not even his own Democrats liked. Reagan won easily and was very popular due to having the United Conservative Coalition behind him, Carter won only six states and the District of Columbia, putting the Republicans back in control for the first time in 25 years. Carter was defeated with dignity though, and was well-meaning but had a lack of managerial skills. -
AIDs Crisis
The AIDs crisis was the first recognized by the CDC in 1981 and its cause, HIV infection, was identified in the early part of the decade. AIDS has had a great impact on society, both as an illness and as a source of discrimination. This virus over time slowly decreases the immune system's ability to protect us (immunodeficiency) from "opportunistic" infections that bring on AIDS. These opportunistic infections are normally not a threat to people with healthy immune systems. -
Ronald Reagan
40th President of the US. He ran on a campaign based on the common man and "populist" ideas. While president, he developed his own form of economics, the trickle down effect of government incentives. He cut out many welfare and public works programs. He used the Strategic Defense Initiative to avoid conflict. His meetings with Gorbachev were the first steps to ending the Cold War. He was also responsible for the Iran-contra Affair which bought hostages with guns. -
Jimmy Carter
US President who defeated Gerald Ford in 1976. As President, he arranged the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978 but saw his foreign policy legacy tarnished by the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis in 1979. Domestically, he tried to rally the American spirit in the face of economic decline, but was unable to stop the rapid increase in inflation. After leaving the presidency, he achieved widespread respect as an elder statesman and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. -
MTV
In the early 1980s, Warner Communications and the American Express Company launched MTV, the first 24-hour music video cable channel. By 1983, MTV had expanded from 2.5 million initial subscribers to 17 million, making it the fastest growing cable channel in history. The channel played a continuous flow of music videos. It did not have specific 30- or 60-minute programs but instead ran music videos similarly to how radio stations played music. -
Reaganomics
This refers to Ronald Reagans economic philosophy. Reagan's supply-side economics postulated that a capitalist system, free from taxation and government involvement, would be most productive and that the prosperity of a rich upper class would "trickle down" to the poor. It left more money in the hands of investors and higher-income Americans and succeeded in containing the growth of New Deal-Great Society welfare. National debt tripled. federal deficits began to impact political debates. -
SDI
SDI was apart of the Reagan administration it stood for Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars") Reagan renewed the arms race with the Soviets in an attempt to force them into negotiations to reduce their nuclear capacity by announcing the development of a high-technology missile defense system of satellites that could destroy enemy missiles before they reached the U.S. However, it failed for the United States. The Soviets then took the challenge but eventually started resenting communism. -
Reagan Doctrine
A strategy to overwhelm the global influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was the centerpiece of U.S foreign policy from the 1980s until the end of the Cold War. Under this doctrine, the U.S provided covert aid to anti-communist guerrillas and resistance movements in an effort to "roll back" Soviet-backed communist gov. in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It was designed to diminish Soviet influence in these regions as part of the administration's overall Cold War strategy. -
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra Affair was a scandal that erupted after the Reagan administration sold weapons to Iran in hopes of freeing American hostages in Lebanon. The money from the arms sales was used to aid the Contras (anti-Communist insurgents) in Nicaragua, even though Congress had prohibited this assistance. Reagan gave them assistance because they were anti-communists. As a result, talk of Reagan's impeachment ended when presidential aides took the blame for the illegal activity. -
Challenger Explosion
The Challenger was a NASA space shuttle that had exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff. The disaster killed everyone onboard, bringing a devasting end to the spacecraft's tenth mission. Seven astonauts were killed along with a teacher who would have been the 1st civilian in space.The explosion was caused by a faulty seal in the fuel tank. The shuttle program was halted while investigators and officials drew up new safety regulations, but was resumed in 1988 with the flight of the Discovery. -
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah was named the richest African American of the 20th centaury and raised over $51 million for charitable programs including girl's education in South Africa and helping the victims of hurricane Katrina. Oprah is an activist for children's rights, in 2007 Oprah opened the South African leadership academy for girls which soon became the center of a sexual abuse scandal, with her hands on approach Oprah made sure staff were changed and improvement were made. -
Period: to
1990's
-
Gulf War
The conflict that began when Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait with approval from the UN, the US attacked Iraqi troops, supply lines, and bases & drove Hussein's troops out of Kuwait. 148 Americans died in the war, compared to over 25,000 Iraqis. At the end of the conflict, the US chose not seek regime change in Iraq, a decision that left Hussein in power. The Bush administration was concerned about the dangers that forcing Hussein from power and "nation-building" would bring. -
Election of 1992
Democrats chose Bill Clinton (despite accusations of womanizing, drug use, and draft evasion) and Albert Gore Jr. as his running mate. Republicans chose Bush for another election and J. Danforth Quayle as his running mate. Third candidate Ross Perot added color to the election by getting 19.7 million votes in the election (no elecctoral votes though), but Clinton won, 370 to 168 in the Electoral College. Democrats also got control of both the House and the Senate. -
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton was president during the dot-com economic boom and a period of intense partisanship in the US government. His plan to provide universal health care was defeated by Republican Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America" movement & well-organized opposition from the doctors' lobbying organization (the American Medical Association). His few domestic and international successes were overshadowed by the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal that led to his impeachment (and eventual acquittal) -
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton was the United States first lady during Bill Clinton's presidency between the years 1993 to 2001. During her years in the White House unlike some previous first ladies, Clinton set up shop in the West Wing, intent on reforming the nation's healthcare system. She was headstrong and passionate. In addition to the statements previously made, she was also the first women to seriously contend for a presidential nomination. Yet, she lost to Barrack Obama in the 2008 election. -
World Trade Center Attack - 1993
In 1993, the World Trade Center in New York went under attack when a truck bomb detonated below the North Tower in a parking garage. The terrorists fled the area after setting the bomb to explode. The explosion created a five-story crater in the sub-grade levels of the towers and undermined the floor of adjoining hotels. As a result, it killed six people and caused some structural damage to the towers. Several Islamic men were convicted of the crime as terrorists. -
NAFTA
NAFTA is a trade agreement between North America that reduce tariffs, eliminate trade barriers, create a common market, and increase trade/investment. It was controversial and supported by Clinton. It cut tariffs and trade barriers between Mexico-U.S.-Canada. It made a free-trade zone surrounding the three countries and then helped to form the World Trade Organization. In addition to this, it stopped Mexican knock-off products. On the other hand, many Americans lost their jobs due to NAFTA. -
Lewinsky Affair
Clinton had sexual relations in the Oval Office with intern Monica Lewinski. He denied, under oath, that he had done so, figuring that oral sex was not actually sex. For his "little white lie," Clinton was impeached by the House. However, Republicans were unable to get the necessary 2/3 super-majority vote in the Senate to kick Clinton from the White House. So, he fulfilled his final years as president but with a tarnished image and his place in history assured. -
Bush v. Gore
In Bush v. Gore, a divided Supreme Court ruled that the state of Florida's court-ordered manual recount of vote ballots in the 2000 presidential election was unconstitutional. The case proved to be the climax of the contentious presidential race between Al Gore and George W. Bush. The outcome of the election hinged on Florida, where Bush led Gore by about 1,800 votes after Election Day. Because the returns were so close, Florida law called for an automatic machine recount of ballots. -
Period: to
Contemporary
-
Election of 2000
Bush narrowly won the election. It was the closest election since 1876 and only the fourth election in which the electoral vote did not reflect the popular vote. In Florida, there were multiple recounts because of the voting machines. These machines were inaccurate because they were punch cards and if not punched thoughroly the vote is not counted. The Secretary of State for the Republican campaign refused the recounts and declined to extend a deadline for making an official certification. -
9/11
9/11 is the term that refers to September 11th, 2001. The date when 19 al-Qaeda members hijacked passenger four airplanes and used them to destroy a small section of the Pentagon & destroy the twin towers of the World Trade Center in NYC. As a result, 3,000 people were killed & 6,000 were injured. These events led to an unsuccessful manhunt for Saudi-born extremist Osama Bin Laden, heightened security in the US, and expanded military action abroad. -
Patriot Act
The Patriot Act of 2001 expands the government's law enforcement powers. After the 9/11 attack, security concerns led to new federal legislation. Therefore, law enforcement and intelligence agencies conduct wide-sweeping searches and surveillance, detained immigrants, monitored bank accounts, and wiretapped suspect callers without warrants. The people of America began to think that the government was overreaching, for all the surveillance seemed like a threat to individual liberities and privacy -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was an extremely destructive and deadly category 5 hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. As a result of the storm, 2,000 people were killed, there were up to $150 billion in damage, and 80% of New Orleans was left underwater. In response, the federal government was too slow in providing victims from the catastrophe with any relief. Thousands of families along the Gulf Coast were left homeless, and many were injured. -
The Great Recession
This was a period of economic decline in the United States. This occurred when the economy went bust in the middle of the campaign in the Autumn of 2008. This led to falling home prices, poor lending habits by banks and risky investments. As a result, there were massive foreclosures in the country. In response, the government bails out many industries. This was the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, if things were done differently, we'd still be living in Depression today. -
John McCain
John McCain was the Republican nominee for the presidential election of 2008. He was a Vietnam war veteran and navy pilot best known for his political nickname the "maverick". McCain ran against Barack Obama in the 2008 election. John McCain chose the relatively unheard Sarah Palin as his running mate from Alaska. In addition to this, McCain runs as a moderate in the election. One of the promises he made in his campaing was to get the United States out of Iraq. -
Election of 2008
Democratic nominee for the 2008 election was Barack Obama, alongside the experienced Joe Biden as his vice president. Republicans nominated John McCain as their nominee, a Vietnam War veteran. John McCain chose the relatively unheard Sarah Palin as his running mate. The McCain campaign led in the polls for a short while, but the negative view of Republicans as well as Obama's slogan for change ensured a democratic win. The Democrats also started to regain control of the house and the Senate. -
Barack Obama
Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States that won the 2008 and 2012 elections. His administration campaigned for change and equality throughout the United States. Obamas foreign policies removed troops from Iraq, oversaw the death of Osama bin Laden strategic arms reduction treaty in Russia and focused on Diplomacy. He was also the first African American president and brought the largest presidential inauguration attendance. -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is an economic stimulus bill established in order to help the United States recovery from the economic downturn that occurred in 2007. Its main goal was to save between 900,000 to 2.3 million jobs. The act provided immediate relief for families, modernized federal infrastructure, expanded health care, and improved education. On the other hand, it was almost too complicated. Many people were unsure whether they, in fact, received a tax break.
