Chapter 30 - The Recent Past

I. Introduction

• The American Yawp is an evolving, collaborative text and encourages contributions for improvement.

II. Overview of American History

• The chapter includes key themes:

  • American Politics before September 11, 2001

  • September 11 and the War on Terror

  • The End of the Bush Years

  • The Great Recession

  • The Obama Years

  • Stagnation

  • American Carnage

  • The Pandemic

  • New Horizons

  • Conclusion

III. American Politics before September 11, 2001

• The era was influenced by the conservative Reagan Revolution, which shaped the 1988 presidential election.

• George H. W. Bush's Victory (1988):

  • Bush won against Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis, emphasizing cultural and moral issues.

  • Dukakis was harmed by a weak campaign and Bush's ad featuring Willie Horton, which fueled racial tensions tied to the Southern Strategy.

• Soviet Union Collapse (1991):

  • The collapse was due to economic stagnation, insurrections, and an inability to maintain control in Eastern Europe.

  • Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost (transparency) and perestroika (restructuring), which accelerated the Soviet dissolution.

• Gulf War (1990–1991):

  • Initiated after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Bush received congressional approval to intervene, leading to a swift U.S. victory.

  • Technological advancements in warfare (laser-guided bombs) were showcased.

  • Bush’s approval ratings soared post-war, reaching 89%.

• 1992 Presidential Election: Bush vs. Clinton:

  • Bush faced challenges from the New Right and an economic recession.

  • Democrats nominated Bill Clinton, who framed himself as a centrist with a focus on economic issues, leading to his victory.

IV. The Clinton Era (1993-2001)

• Clinton's Approach:

  • Embarked on welfare reform and trade agreements such as NAFTA, which dismantled trade barriers with Mexico and Canada.

  • Introduced Don't Ask, Don't Tell, allowing gay and lesbian individuals to serve in the military under certain conditions.

• Economic Landscape:

  • The tech boom and personal computing revolutionized the economy.

  • Significant income inequality emerged, with 85% of the income gains going to the top 1% between 2009–2013.

• Impeachment and Political Scandals:

  • Clinton faced impeachment over his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky but maintained high approval ratings.

  • Despite GOP attempts to undermine him, Clinton won reelection in 1996.

V. The War on Terror (Post-September 11)

• September 11, 2001 Attacks:

  • Nineteen al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four planes, leading to national trauma and thousands of deaths.

  • President Bush vowed to retaliate against those responsible, identifying Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda as the culprits.

• Bush Doctrine:

  • Initiated protracted conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, leading to the longest wars in U.S. history.

  • Introduced the idea of preemptive strikes against perceived threats.

• Military Actions:

  • Operation Enduring Freedom aimed at dismantling al-Qaeda, culminating in the swift capture of Kabul.

  • Following the swift success in Afghanistan, the focus shifted to Iraq based on unfounded allegations of weapons of mass destruction.

VI. The Great Recession (2007–2009)

• Background Causes:

  • Financial deregulation led to the bundling and selling of risky loans, contributing to the housing market collapse.

  • The bipartisan push for deregulation enabled risky banking practices which culminated in the financial crisis.

• Federal Response:

  • President Bush approved the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to maintain financial industry stability.

  • Massive bank bailouts stirred public anger and resentment, severely affecting Obama's electoral chances in 2008.

• Impact on Workers:

  • Economic recovery failed to benefit low-income workers while substantial income gains were captured by the wealthy.

  • High youth unemployment persisted, impacting a generation of workers.

VII. The Obama Years (2009-2017)

• Initial Actions:

  • Focused on recovery from the 2008 economic crisis and passed the Affordable Care Act.

  • Faced significant political opposition from the Tea Party and right-wing conservatives.

• Military Strategy in Afghanistan:

  • Increased troop deployment as part of a new counterinsurgency strategy aiming to eradicate threats from al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

  • Marked by Obama’s growth in domestic and foreign policy pressures, including immigration and health care.

VIII. Stagnation and Polarization

• Political Gridlock (2012-2016):

  • Barack Obama struggled with Congress, facing the rise of Tea Party Republicans, leading to legislative inaction.

  • Income inequality and political polarization became pronounced issues.

• 2016 Presidential Election:

  • Donald Trump won the GOP nomination, running against the traditional political establishment and capturing the disgruntled vote.

  • Hillary Clinton, despite receiving more votes, lost key battleground states, leading to Trump’s victory.

IX. American Carnage and the Unraveling of Democracy

• January 6, 2021 Capitol Riot:

  • The storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, incited by false claims of a stolen election, resulted in violence and destruction.

  • Consequences included increased polarization and deepening cultural and political tensions in the country.

X. The Pandemic and its Aftermath

• COVID-19 Emergence:

  • The virus’s impact led to a public health crisis and widespread job losses.

  • Political responses split along partisan lines, complicating effective public health measures.

• Demographic Generational Shifts:

  • Millennials and Generation Z showcased changing social attitudes toward various political and cultural issues, from acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights to attitudes toward immigration and healthcare.

  • Increasing involvement of technology and social media transformed public discourse and engagement.

XI. Conclusion

• Present conditions reflect historical trajectories shaped by past events and changing demographics.

• The effects of political decisions continue to reverberate, suggesting an ongoing evolution in American history

XII. Primary Sources

• Bill Clinton on Free Trade and Financial Deregulation:: Prominent legislation and policies enacted during his administration reshaped economic contours, such as NAFTA and the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, leading to significant financial practices that contributed to the Great Recession.

I. Introduction

• The American Yawp is an evolving, collaborative, and open-source historical project that encourages contributions from scholars and students to provide a multi-perspective view of U.S. history.

II. Overview of American History

• The chapter examines the rapid transformation of the United States from the end of the Cold War to the modern era, covering topics such as:

  • Post-Cold War geopolitics and the Reagan legacy

  • The shift from the tech boom to the War on Terror

  • Economic instability including the housing bubble and Great Recession

  • The hyper-polarization of the $21^{st}$ century

  • Globalization, climate change, and the COVID-9 pandemic

III. American Politics before September 11, 2001

• The Reagan Legacy and George H. W. Bush:

  • Bush rode the momentum of the conservative movement, defeating Michael Dukakis in 1988 by portraying him as an out-of-touch liberal.

  • The Willie Horton ad became a symbol of racialized politics, successfully using fear of crime to consolidate white conservative voters.

  • Domestic Policy: Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, but struggled with his "Read my lips: no new taxes" pledge when economic realities forced a budget compromise.

• The Global Shift (1989-1991):

  • The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, signaling the end of the Iron Curtain. By 1991, the Soviet Union officially dissolved, leaving the U.S. as the world's sole superpower.

  • Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika were intended to save the system but ultimately facilitated its collapse.

• The Gulf War (1990–1991):

  • Operation Desert Shield/Storm saw a coalition of $34$ nations expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

  • The war introduced "CNN-style" live reporting and high-tech weaponry, significantly boosting national morale post-Vietnam.

IV. The Clinton Era (1993-2001)

• Centrist Liberalism (The "Third Way"):

  • Clinton moved the Democratic Party toward the center to appeal to "Reagan Democrats," focusing on fiscal responsibility and market-based solutions.

  • NAFTA: Effectively eliminated most trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, facilitating globalized trade but drawing criticism from labor unions for job outsourcing.

• Technological and Economic Boom:

  • The 1990s witnessed the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, driven by the silicon revolution and the commercialization of the Internet.

  • Despite growth, the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 allowed commercial and investment banks to merge, laying the groundwork for future financial instability.

• Partisan Warfare:

  • The 1994 "Contract with America" led by Newt Gingrich nationalized congressional elections, resulting in a Republican takeover of Congress.

  • Clinton's impeachment in 1998 for perjury regarding the Monica Lewinsky scandal highlighted the deepening cultural and political divide, even though he remained popular for his economic performance.

V. The War on Terror (Post-September 11)

• 9/11 and the Path to War:

  • The terrorist attacks killed nearly $3,000$ people, leading to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

  • The USA PATRIOT Act was passed, significantly expanding the government's surveillance powers and sparking debates over civil liberties.

• The Bush Doctrine and Iraq:

  • President George W. Bush declared an "Axis of Evil" (Iraq, Iran, North Korea) and shifted defense policy toward preemption.

  • The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was justified by claims of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and alleged ties to al-Qaeda, neither of which were substantiated after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

VI. The Great Recession (2007–2009)

• Systemic Collapse:

  • The crisis was triggered by the popping of the subprime mortgage bubble, where risky loans were bundled into complex securities sold worldwide.

  • Major institutions like Lehman Brothers collapsed, while others like AIG and Bear Stearns required multi-billion dollar federal bailouts.

• Social Impact:

  • Nearly $9$ million jobs were lost, and $4$ million homes were foreclosed upon.

  • The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (TARP) was highly controversial, as many felt it prioritized "Wall Street" over "Main Street."

VII. The Obama Years (2009-2017)

• Legislative Achievements:

  • The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) aimed to provide universal health insurance coverage, becoming the most significant expansion of the social safety net since the Great Society.

  • The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009) provided nearly $800$ billion in stimulus to prevent a second Great Depression.

• Foreign Policy and Social Change:

  • Obama oversaw the mission that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.

  • Domestically, his tenure saw the legalization of same-sex marriage via the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015).

VIII. Stagnation and Polarization

• The Rise of Identity Politics and Populism:

  • The Tea Party movement emerged as a grassroots conservative rebellion against government spending and the Obama administration.

  • Conversely, Occupying Wall Street and Black Lives Matter highlighted growing frustrations with economic inequality and systemic racism.

• The 2016 Election:

  • Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign focused on grievances regarding trade, immigration, and cultural preservation, leading to an upset victory in the Electoral College.

IX. American Carnage and the Unraveling of Democracy

• Trump Presidency:

  • Characterized by economic deregulation, judicial appointments (including three Supreme Court justices), and constant challenges to institutional norms.

  • The administration's "America First" policy withdrew the U.S. from international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Nuclear Deal.

• January 6, 2021:

  • A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results, marking a historic threat to the peaceful transfer of power in the U.S.

X. The Pandemic and Recent Horizons

• COVID-19 Impact:

  • The pandemic caused over $1$ million American deaths and highlighted vast disparities in the healthcare system and economic security.

  • Political polarization extended to public health, with masks and vaccines becoming symbols of political identity.

• Demographic Shifts:

  • Younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) are historically diverse and more inclined toward progressive stances on climate change and social justice, yet they face significant economic hurdles like student debt and housing costs.

XI. Conclusion

• The United States remains at a crossroads, where historical legacies of inequality and conflict collide with technological progress and demographic evolution. The future of American democracy depends on the navigation of these polarized realities.

XII. Primary Sources

• Bill Clinton on NAFTA (1993): Emphasized that trade would create high-wage jobs and promote global stability.

• George W. Bush on the War on Terror (2001): Established the framework for a global crusade against terrorism, stating, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."