Chapter Overviews

Chapter 29: Into a New Century, 1992—present

Chapter Overviews

This chapter follows the presidency of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. It also takes a look at how technology and economic globalization changed Americans' lives and how terrorism reached American soil.

Section 1 explores the technological revolution and its impact on Americans' lives. With the introduction of the world's first electronic digital computer in 1946, a technological revolution began. Integrated circuits led to microprocessors, and Silicon Valley soon became the breeding ground of innovation. In 1977 the first practical and affordable home computer came in the shape of an Apple II. Another Apple, this time a Macintosh, brought a revolutionary operating system. After Bill Gates introduced "Windows," the sales of personal computers, and his Microsoft stock, skyrocketed. By the late 1990s, computers were seemingly everywhere, transforming the workplace, telecommunications, and medicine. The telecommunications industry experienced its own revolution as deregulation led to competition, and a worldwide communications system changed the way people kept in touch. In biotechnology, computers made it possible for scientists to study and manipulate genes and cells at the molecular level, leading to new developments in medicine, genetics, and industrial chemicals.

Section 2 describes the presidency of Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton came to Washington armed with an ambitious domestic agenda. While many of his plans succeeded, such as the Medical Leave Act, Americorps, and gun control, he was unable to win support for his healthcare plan. Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress, but they couldn't garner support for their Contract with America. When Republicans clashed with Clinton over the federal budget, Clinton allowed the government to shut down. Soon afterward, Clinton and Congress agreed on a balanced budget, a health coverage bill, and welfare reform. A bustling economy helped Clinton win reelection in 1996, and Clinton used his second term to address children's needs. In foreign policy, Clinton intervened in Haiti and more than once used force to bring an end to regional conflicts in southeastern Europe. However, his plan to broker peace in the Middle East failed when talks broke down. Two scandals tinged Clinton's presidency, with one going as far as an impeachment vote. The votes fell short of the required two-thirds majority, but Clinton's reputation had suffered.

Section 3 discusses how growing economic globalization impacted the United States. By the 1990s, the debate about international trade had become an important political issue. Increasingly, American industry participated in a global marketplace, and it needed to find efficient, effective ways to compete. In 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) joined the United States, Canada, and Mexico in a free-trade zone. NAFTA dramatically increased U.S. exports to these two nations and helped the United States face competitive trade blocs in Europe and Asia. The World Trade Organization (WTO) promoted a global economy by administering international trade agreements and helping settle trade disputes. Even China participated in trade operations after President Clinton argued that regularizing trade with China would help bring it into the world community. The new global community began to act together to address such worldwide concerns as nuclear proliferation, ozone depletion, and global warming.

Section 4 details the 2000 presidential election and the first year of the presidency of George W. Bush. In the 2000 election, three candidates campaigned to become the 43rd president of the United States. Democrat Al Gore ran as a "pragmatic liberal," while Republican George W. Bush presented himself as a "compassionate conservative," and consumer advocate Ralph Nader gave voters a "Green" choice. Gore narrowly scored a victory in the popular vote, but he failed to win a majority of the state electoral votes. The presidency came down to the votes of one state—Florida. After hand counts, legal maneuvering, and a Supreme Court decision, George W. Bush was certified the winner in the closest election in American history. Bush's first priority was to cut taxes and get the economy rolling again. He then turned to education and increased military spending especially for a program called strategic defense, but his efforts were sidetracked by a terrorist attack in September 2001.

Section 5 describes the United States's war on terrorism. American interests in Middle Eastern oil production stirred conflicts between Western values and Middle Eastern tradition. As new Muslim movements called for the creation of a traditional Islamic society, many grew angry at American support of Israel. In the 1970s several Middle Eastern nations decided to fight Israel and the United States by providing terrorist groups with money, weapons, and training. Osama bin Laden, who headed one of these groups, launched a war to drive non-Muslims out of the Middle East and called on Muslims to kill Americans anywhere in the world. Attacks on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and on the USS Cole were linked to his network of terror. Then, on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four American passenger planes and executed the most devastating terrorist attack in history. President Bush declared a national emergency while Americans helped each other at home, and the United States began a war in Afghanistan to drive out bin Laden's al-Qaeda and the ruling Taliban. Bush warned that the war would not end until "every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated."