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Presidents Foreign and Domestic Policies

Presidents Foreign and Domestic Policies. 1990-Present. President George H.W. Bush. In office Jan. 20, 1989-1993. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy. Impact of Defense Spending on US Economy Can provide short term economic stimulus Provides jobs New industries Drawbacks

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Presidents Foreign and Domestic Policies

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  1. Presidents Foreign and Domestic Policies 1990-Present

  2. President George H.W. Bush • In office Jan. 20, 1989-1993

  3. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • Impact of Defense Spending on US Economy • Can provide short term economic stimulus • Provides jobs • New industries • Drawbacks • Money spent on defense is taken away from education and other federal programs

  4. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • Supreme Court Appointments and their impact • Several conservatives appointed • David Souter – 1990 • Clarence Thomas – 1991 • Helped toughen rules for criminal defendants • Reduce the scope of abortion rights • Many other conservative changes

  5. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • Recession—decline in economy (industrial production, employment, income, wholesale-resale trade) • Reduced consumer, corporate and government spending led to recession by 1990 • Increased foreign competition led to a decrease in demand for American made goods, resulting in layoffs

  6. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • Civil Rights and unrest • The recession hit young African Americans hardest • Riots erupted in L.A. and other cities in 1992 • Police were caught on video beating Rodney King but found not guilty • 70 people died during these riots

  7. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 • Prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in employment and in public accommodations • Restaurants, hotels, theaters, etc. had to be wheelchair accessible

  8. George H.W. Bush—Foreign Policy • Invasion of Panama, 1989 • US troops were sent to overthrow Panamanian dictator and drug dealer, Manuel Noriega • The goal was to restore democracy • Noriega was captured and taken to the US, where he was tried and convicted on drug charges

  9. George H.W. Bush—Foreign Policy • The End of the Cold War, 1989-1991 • Most important event of the Bush administration • Reagan and Gorbachev had initiated reforms • From 1989-1991, Eastern Europe began to shift from Communism to Democracy • The Berlin Wall fell (1989) and Germany was reunited • 1991-USSR dissolved, creating Russia and the 15 republics (Commonwealth of Independent States) • Bush formally recognized Russia and other nations and offered financial assistance

  10. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • The Gulf War, 1990 • Bush’s greatest single foreign policy success • In 1990, Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait to capture its oil wealth and extend Iraq’s borders • UN asked Hussein to withdraw, he refused • UN and US launched an attack on Iraq • They were successful in only a few days • In Feb. 1991, Hussein removed all troops and paid for all damages in Kuwait • Bush declared a cease fire, but did not take the steps to remove Hussein from power in Iraq

  11. George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy • Somalia, 1992 • Humanitarian airlifts of food and supplies to war-torn Somalia in NE Africa • Millions faced starvation • Local warlords and bandits stole and threatened food shipments • Bush sent in troops • Fighting would escalate and continue into the Clinton administration

  12. President Bill Clinton • In office Jan 20, 1993 - 2001

  13. President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy • Health Care Reform • Promised during his campaign reform • Proposed giving every American health insurance • Appointed his wife, Hillary, to head a task force on health care • Many alternative plans were proposed but none approved by Congress • Opponents believed that Clinton’s plan would lead to long waits and health care rationing • Supporters found it shocking that so many Americans lived without health care • The failure to pass health care reform in Congress was a major defeat for Clinton

  14. President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy • Economic Recovery • By eliminating Cold War restrictions on trade, it became easier to export computers and other high tech goods • Increased trade helped restore the nation’s economy • A reductions in military spending and closing of military bases boosted the civilian economy • By the end of Clinton’s presidency, unemployment was down, consumer spending was up and business profits were at an all-time high • By 1999, Clinton had balanced the budget and even a surplus of revenues over expenditures

  15. President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy • Impeachment and Scandal • 1999-Clinton’s 2nd term, the Senate conducted an impeachment trial • Only the 2nd time in history that a president has been impeached (Nixon, who later resigned) • Clinton had a sexual affair with a white house intern, Monica Lewinsky • After finding that Clinton had lied under oath about the affair, the prosecutor recommended impeachment • President Clinton was impeached, but was not formally removed from office.

  16. President Bill Clinton – Foreign Policy • Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Kosovo • Yugoslavia broke up at the end the Cold War • Fierce fighting erupted between Muslim Bosnians and Christian Serbs • Serbs attempted to rid Bosnia of Muslims (ethnic cleansing-genocide) • Clinton negotiate peace in Bosnia and spearheaded the use of NATO airstrikes against Serbia to stop attacks on Kosovo • Clinton’s intervention led to a compromise and an end to the bloodshed and killing

  17. President Bill Clinton – Foreign Policy • North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • Originally negotiated by Pres. Bush • Clinton pushed it through Congress • Created a trade agreement with Mexico, Canada and the US • NAFTA gradually phased out tariffs between these 3 countries, increasing trade and stimulating the economy • Critics say NAFTA has led to loss of manufacturing jobs to countries where labor is cheaper

  18. President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) • Formed in 1947 • Increased trade by reducing tariffs on many goods • In 1994, GATT was replaced by the World Trade Organization (WTO) • Establishes rules for global trade and helps to settle trade disputes • Accelerated globalization

  19. President George W. Bush • In office Jan 20, 2001 - 2009

  20. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • No Child Left Behind • Requires states to test all students in English and Math each year from 3rd to 8th grade • Expanded the role of the federal government in education • Aimed primarily at improving education for disadvantaged students

  21. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • Hurricane Katrina, 2005 • The flooding and evacuation of almost 80% of New Orleans and other coastal region • Highest storm surge and waves ever recorded to hit North America • Exceeded the engineering design of the New Orleans levees • Costliest hurricane on record • More than 1,800 people died • Rescue efforts were delayed, citizens were stranded on rooftops and in attics • Almost 20,000 people were stranded in the New Orleans Superdome • Suffered through extreme heat and unsanitary conditions

  22. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • Financial Crisis of 2008-2009 • Worst financial crisis since the Great Depression • In 2000, after stock market decline, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates • Many people took advantage of lower interest rates to buy new homes • Many of them couldn’t really afford to pay the mortgages on these homes • Failure to repay loans led to increase in housing prices • Banks began to foreclose on houses • Banks were on the verge of failure

  23. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • Economic Stabilization Act, October 2008 • Authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to spend up to $700 billion to buy distressed investments and provide funds to banks to prevent failure • These “bailouts” were provided to insurance giant AIG, several brokerage houses and the nation’s largest banks

  24. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • September 11, 2001 • Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorists hijacked 4 planes • The terrorists (trained) pilots flew them into the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) in NYC, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. • The 4th plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers resisted the terrorists • 3,000 people died • Worst attack in US History • Osama bin Laden (al Qaeda) took responsibility

  25. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • Transportation Security Agency (TSA) • Took over security at US airports • All passengers and luggage were subjected to thorough screenings • Department of Homeland Security • Cabinet post created in 2003 • Mission: keep the US secure from all threats • Activities range from nuclear detection and intelligence coordination to protection of high-level government officials

  26. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001“ • Mission: to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world and to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools • Expanded law enforcement powers • Allowed sweeping searches and surveillance, detainment of immigrants, monitoring of bank accounts for unusual activity • Nation Security Agency (NSA) had power to wiretap phones of suspicious calls with out a warrant—later declared unconstitutional • Too Much Power? • Threat to individual freedom?

  27. President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy • Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, Cuba (Gitmo) • Suspected terrorists held here are not guaranteed the same US Constitutional rights as prisoners in the US • Prisoners have been force-fed while on hunger strikes and “water-boarded” to obtain info about future attacks • Critics claim this torture is inhumane • Obama has promised to close down Gitmo • Currently houses 155 detainees

  28. President George W. Bush-Foreign Policy • The Global War on Terror • Bush warned the nations that harbored terrorists that he was prepared to launch a “war on terror” • October, 2001-Bush ordered air and ground strikes on Taliban and al Qaeda bases • Many al Qaeda members were captured, but bin Laden eluded capture • He was later located and killed by US Seal Team Six (Operation Neptune Spear, May 2, 2011)

  29. President George W. Bush-Foreign Policy • The War in Iraq • Dictator of Iraq—Saddam Hussein • Denied having Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), but refused to allow UN inspectors to search • UN was finally allowed in, but found no WMDs • Many believed they had hidden or moved the WMDs • US, Spain, Britain threatened to invade if WMDs were not turned over • France, Germany, Russia called for more inspections • March, 2003-Bush gave Hussein 48 hours to comply • Hussein refuse, US launched airstrikes • April, 2003- US forces entered Baghdad, Hussein was captured, and a provisional democratic government was established • Iraq was the first democratic nation in the Middle East • Hussein was tried for crimes against humanity (using chemical weapons on the Kurds) and executed in 2006 • US troops continue to provide protection and support to the Iraqi government

  30. President Barack Hussein Obama • In office Jan 20, 2005 - present

  31. President Obama-Domestic Policy • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009 • Mission: to jumpstart the American economy • $700 billion+ on a bailout package to create new jobs, save existing ones, spur economic development and invest in long-term infrastructure development • Legislation was passed to regulate credit cards, lending and other banking practices • Steps were taken to save the auto industry

  32. President Obama-Domestic Policy • Supreme Court Appointments • Sonia Sotomayor • Nominated to US Court of Appeals by Clinton • 2009-nominated to the US Supreme Court by Obama • 1st Hispanic Justice • 3rd woman on Supreme Court • ElanaKagan was also nominated to US Supreme Court • Former Harvard Law School Dean

  33. President Obama-Foreign Policy • The “Arab Spring” • Obama discouraged dictators from using force to suppress democracy movements in Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, and Egypt • In Libya, he authorized airstrikes to defend rebels • Led to Gaddafi’s down fall and death

  34. President Obama-Foreign Policy • War in Afghanistan • Obama increased the level of troops in effort to stabilize the country and revitalize its development • War in Iraq • Gradually withdrew troops • US troops were replaced by Iraqi security forces • Situation still remains challenging, as acts of terrorism continue against the Iraqi government

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