1. Presidency of William Jefferson Clinton The 1990s and the New Millenium

2. Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning” “Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again. Lift up your eyes Upon this day breaking for you. Give birth again To the dream.”

3. A New Democrat -Move away from traditional Democratic policies. -- Emphasized the need to move people off welfare -- Called for growth in private business as a means to economic progress -- Embraced both liberal and conservative programs. -- Pursued his liberal/conservative policies on health care, the budget deficit, crime, and welfare.

4. Balanced Budget and an Economic Boom Cut spending by billions of dollars, lowered taxes For the first time in nearly 30 years, the federal budget had a surplus – government took in more than it spent Used it to pay down the nation’s debt Economy was on an upswing – unemployment levels down, stock market up, less people needing public aid

5. Reforming Welfare Placed limits on how long people could receive welfare Gave states “block grants” – set amounts of federal money they could spend on welfare or for other social concerns Transition from welfare to jobs was made more successful by the booming economy

6. Crime and Terrorism Columbine High School shooting in April 1999 – two students killed 12 students and 1 teacher then shot themselves Some wanted tougher gun control, others argued exposure to violent imagery on television was the problem

7. Crime and Terrorism Continued 1993 – World Trade Center was bombed 1995 – Bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh Killed 168 children, women, and men Mr. McVeigh was executed in 2001

8. U.S. Intervention in Ex-Yugoslavia In 1991, Yugoslavia broke apart into five nations In one of them, Bosnia, Serbs began “ethnic cleansing” or killing/expelling people from their homes of certain ethnic groups. Negotiated a deal but in 1995, Serb forces attacked ethnic Albanians in the Serb province of Kosovo – U.S. and NATO air strikes forced the Serbs back

9. NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) President Clinton saw trade as essential to U.S. prosperity This legislation would bring Mexico into the free- trade zone with the U.S. and Canada Gave way to the Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) in 2006 – enlarged version of NAFTA covering the 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere, except Cuba

10. For/Against NAFTA and Free Trade Opponents Would transfer American jobs to Mexico, where wages were lower, and harm the environment because of Mexico’s weaker antipollution laws Protested that the WTO makes decision w/out public input and this harms poorer countries, the environment, and American manufacturing Proponents Would create more American jobs Strengthen all three economies

11. Republicans take control of Congress Mid-term elections of 1994 Newt Gingrich put forth the Contract with America – ten items Republicans promised to enact if they won control of Congress. Included congressional term limits, welfare reform, balanced budget amendment, tougher crime laws Voters gave Republicans control in both houses – not done sine 1954. Reps voted Gingrich as S.O.H

12. Clinton Impeached After re-election in 1996, Clinton was accused of improperly using money from a land deal with the Whitewater development Company to fund his 1984 gubernatorial reelection campaign Also, Clinton allegedly had lied under oath about having an improper relationship with a young White House intern. Denied the relationship at first but finally admitted it in 1998 but said he did not lie under oath or attempt to obstruct the investigation

13. Clinton Impeached Continued The House of Reps approved two articles of impeachment, charging the president with perjury and obstruction of justice Clinton became only the second president to be impeached and face a trial in the Senate Senate fell short of the 2/3 rd majority votes required to convict him