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The Republican Revolution and Government Shutdown
The Republican Party, led by Newt Gingrich, seized control of Congress in what was called the “Republican Revolution.” They wanted to shrink the size of government and reform welfare, taxes, and crime policy. This clashed with Clinton over the budget, leading to a government shutdown. This event showed the division in politics and the Republicans willingness to use aggressive tactics. It also was a shift in how Washington operated, reinforcing partisan gridlock as a norm(Kruse Zelizer, p. 199) -
Clinton's Impeachment
President Clinton had an affair with Monica Lewinsky, becoming a pivotal moment for partisan fighting. His impeachment by the House, largely along party lines, and eventual release from charges in the Senate exposed growing hostility between Democrats and Republicans. The scandal entirely took over the media and was an indicator on how personal conduct and formal politics became intertwined in Washington (Kruse Zelizer, p. 217–219). -
Bush vs Gore
The 2000 presidential race ended in chaos with a disputed Florida vote count. The Supreme Court’s decision in Bush vs Gore stopped the recount, handing the presidency to George W. Bush. Many Americans saw this as a partisan ruling, leading people to lose trust in the electoral process and showing that the American system is sensitive to partisan influence, particularly the Supreme Court which was built to be non-partisan (Kruse Zelizer, p. 226–229). -
9/11 and the War on Terror
The 9/11 terrorist attacks were a national trauma that led to massive changes in U.S. policy. President Bush launched the War on Terror, signed the PATRIOT Act, and created the Department of Homeland Security. These changes dramatically expanded surveillance, executive power, and global military action, while also leading to giant cultural and political flaws about national identity and civil liberties (Kruse Zelizer, p. 237–244). -
Iraq War Begins
Despite the surrounding controversy and wide global opposition, the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 under the excuse of weapons of mass destruction. The Bush administration’s reasoning for this invasion quickly came apart, sparking gobs of political debate. The war’s mismanagement and high cost heightened public skepticism of government and grew divides over foreign policy, patriotism, and presidential accountability (Kruse Zelizer, p. 244–249). -
Hurricane Katrina
The arrival of Hurricane Katrina massively destroyed the Gulf Coast in 1995, but the federal response was slow and inadequate. Exposed media from New Orleans depicting stranded citizens, failed dams, and overworked emergency personnel exposed racial and economic disparities. The crisis highly damaged Bush’s reputation and grew debates about government responsibility, race, poverty, and the competence of federal leadership (Kruse Zelizer, p. 258–262). -
The Election of Obama
Barack Obama’s successful election as the first Black U.S. president marked a gigantic historic moment of progress and hope for American politics. His campaign emphasized unity, change, and a post-partisan future. However, his victory also was met with fierce resistance, especially from the Republican Party, revealing deep, unresolved racial and ideological tensions that would continue political discourse and opposition throughout his presidency (Kruse Zelizer, p. 273–279). -
The Affordable Care Act ("Obama Care")
Obama’s Affordable Care Act (nicknamed "Obama Care") aimed to expand health coverage and reform the insurance system. Its passage without Republican support created outrage on the right, fueling the Tea Party’s rise and the surfacing of many protests. The intense backlash demonstrated how deeply divided Americans were over government’s role in healthcare and defined the new normal of legislators blocking effort and ideological warfare (Kruse Zelizer, p. 282–286). -
Citizens United Impact
Following Citizens United (2010), the 2012 election showed a surge in Super PAC spending, which allowed unlimited corporate and union money to support and fund campaigns. People against this claimed this biased power toward the wealthy and put democratic accountability in a backseat. The ruling grew concerns about inequality, political corruption, and the influence of money in American electoral politics (Kruse Zelizer, p. 290–292). -
Obamacare Shutdown
In 2013, the Republican Party, influenced and pressured by the Tea Party, forced a government shutdown in a failed effort to take money away from the Affordable Care Act. Thus moved the two political parties even further apart and highlighted legislative dysfunction. This shutdown continued to lessen public trust in government and showed how the GOP was becoming more aggressive in their approach to government (Kruse Zelizer, p. 294–296).