Context Quiz 9.2

Bill Clinton (Democrat) defeated incumbent George H.W. Bush (Republican) and independent candidate Ross Perot.
- Clinton's campaign benefited from a focus on the economic recession and Bush's perceived disconnect from everyday Americans.
Clinton ran on a platform of economic change and promised to focus on the middle class.
- His campaign slogan was "It's the economy, stupid."

Policy enacted in 1994 regarding homosexuals in the military.
- Codified under 10 U.S. Code § 654.
It prohibited discrimination against closeted homosexual or bisexual service members and applicants, but also banned openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual people from military service.
- Intended as a compromise between a complete ban and open inclusion.
This was a compromise measure after Clinton's initial attempt to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military faced strong opposition.
- Faced criticism from both gay rights advocates and conservatives.

A trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that went into effect in 1994.
- Signed into law by President Clinton; built upon groundwork laid by the George H.W. Bush administration.
It eliminated most tariffs and other trade barriers between the three countries.
- Objectives included increasing cross-border trade and investment.
Supporters argued it would boost economic growth, while critics raised concerns about job losses and environmental impacts.
- Labor unions and some environmental groups voiced strong opposition.

Newt Gingrich was the Republican Speaker of the House during the Clinton administration.
- Gingrich rose to prominence due to the Republican Revolution in the 1994 midterm elections.
The "Contract with America" was a Republican agenda released during the 1994 midterm elections.
- Outlined a series of policy promises intended to reduce the size and scope of the federal government.
It included proposals for tax cuts, welfare reform, tougher crime laws, and a balanced budget amendment.
- Key proposals included term limits for members of Congress and a line-item veto for the president.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, also known as welfare reform.
- Represented a major shift in federal welfare policy.
It replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
- AFDC had been in place since the New Deal era.
TANF imposed time limits on welfare benefits and required recipients to work.
- Set a five-year lifetime limit on benefits and emphasized state control over welfare programs.

Served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997, and as the first female U.S. Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.
- As Secretary of State, she played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy in the post-Cold War era.

A peace agreement reached in Dayton, Ohio, in 1995 that ended the war in Bosnia.
- Negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The U.S. played a key role in brokering the agreement.
- U.S. leadership was crucial in bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table.
The accords established a framework for peace and stability in Bosnia.
- Included provisions for a multi-ethnic government and international monitoring.

In 1995, Bill Clinton normalized relations with Vietnam, marking a significant step in healing the wounds of the Vietnam War.
- Opened the door for increased trade, investment, and diplomatic engagement.

A bombing campaign against Iraq in December 1998, launched by the U.S. and the UK.
- Carried out over four nights.
It was in response to Iraq's failure to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors.
- Followed reports of Iraqi obstruction of weapons inspections.

Federal law that defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
- Section 3 defined marriage at the federal level, while Section 2 allowed states to not recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
It also allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
- Struck down by the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor (2013).
Later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Requires employers to provide employees with job-protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.
- Applies to employers with 50 or more employees.
- Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year.

Supreme Court case that reaffirmed the constitutional right to abortion but upheld certain restrictions on abortion access.
- Key aspects of Pennsylvania law included a 24-hour waiting period, parental consent for minors, and spousal notification.
This case replaced the trimester framework of Roe v. Wade with the undue burden standard, which says that a state regulation is invalid if it has the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus.
- The undue burden standard is less strict than the trimester framework.

A domestic terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995.
- Killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.
Perpetrated by Timothy McVeigh, an anti-government extremist.
- McVeigh was executed in 2001.
- Terry Nichols was convicted as an accomplice and sentenced to life in prison.