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Unformatted text preview: 4.4.1 U.S. HIST. SEM. 2 What’s wrong with this picture?
- - What can a country do to show its strength? It could have a military parade. The USSR
held such parades, which showed off the country's soldiers and new weapons. But
sometimes, the weapons weren't real. In fact, the Soviet Union did not have the money
to produce many of the weapons they displayed. The fake missiles were meant to trick
everybody — and they did.
For over 70 years, American presidents worried about the power of the Soviet Union.
Finally, change came from within. The United States played a part in this change: As
Soviet citizens became more aware of what life in the West was like, they grew unhappy
with life in their own country. Republicans and Democrats
- - In general, red-state (Republican) voters support the use of American economic and
military resources to develop democracy and human rights in other countries. They also
emphasize traditional views of family and religion. They may define marriage as a
relationship between one man and one woman and favor laws placing restrictions on the
practice of abortion. Generally, red-state voters are more conservative.
In general, blue-state (Democratic) voters support civil rights, equal rights for both sexes,
environmental protection, more government rules and control of businesses, and
increased social programs, such as health care. In general, Democrats favor going to
war only for self-defense. Blue-state voters are usually more progressive. Ethnic Profiling and Torture
- Then reports came from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba that
prisoners were treated very badly by American soldiers. Guards used torture: hurting
prisoners to force them to give up information. The Army said this protected American
security, but others felt it was against American principles. Bush’s Second Term
- When Bush won in 2004, many people who supported him believed this showed that
America supported the wars and his conservative policies. However, during his second
term, public opinion turned against the president and his actions. Katrina
- In aug. 2005 Hurricane katrina destroyed hund. Of. thous. Of homes & bus. In alabama,
mississippi, and louisiana.
In new orleans a wall that was supposed to protect the city from water rising around it
suddenly broke.
More than 700 ppl drowned w. Thous. More trapped on roof of their houses. Warrantless wiretapping
- Dec. 2005 ny times reported National Security Admin. ( NSA ) monitoring commun. W.
U.S. email, phonec. , & text
People thought this broke 4th ammend. 9 being searched w/o a warrant.
Bush claimed it was part of the war on terror & necess. To keep amers. Safe fr. terrorists Progressives :
- Increased regulation of financial sector
Marriage rights for same sex couples
Pro-choice
Universal health care
Use military only for defense
Strict gun control Conservatives :
- Reduce financial regulations
No gay marriage
Pro-life
Private health care
Use military to spread democracy abroad
No firearm restrictions Great Recession
- - - - In the 1990s, the American economy went through enormous growth, but much of this
growth was the result of financial “bubbles.” Lots of money went into industries that didn’t
have much real value.
The housing “bubble”, which ended in 2008, was the largest. Housing prices continued
to increase even while other areas of the economy were not doing well. There wasn’t
enough demand for houses to keep the prices high, and suddenly, the prices dropped.
This began what some called the “Great Recession,” the worst financial problem since
the Great Depression. Many people questioned whether the government was doing
enough to control the economy and keep it fair.
Great Depression: A worldwide economic crisis that lasted from late 1929 until World
War II.
After the internet “dot.com” bubble ended in 1999, the Federal Reserve Commission
lowered the interest rate. This made it easier to get credit cards or get money from banks
to pay for houses. How do you think consumers responded?
- Consumer spending made the economy grow, and the US got richer. Housing
was in high demand, because banks were giving more people money to buy.
Prices rose quickly. Then, they fell. - - - People assumed the value of homes would rise forever. Consumers were willing to
increase their debt, because they believed the value of their house would rise to cover
their extra spending. They went shopping, traveled, and even bought more houses.
What do you think happened when the “bubble” ended?
- The value of many people’s houses dropped below the amount of debt they had
to pay back. American consumers lost much of their wealth, and they couldn’t
pay for what they’d bought. Many houses were foreclosed, or taken back by the
bank that lent the money to buy them.
Consumers thought their houses would continue to rise in value, and so did banks. They
developed a complex system of “trading” risk to buy these people’s housing debt, or
“mortgages.” The system was so complicated that even the banks didn’t understand it.
Why did they put money into something they didn’t understand?
- What they did know is that the system was making them money. They were
ready to risk even more. At the beginning, American spending helped the whole
world economy grow. Housing prices, for example, rose all over the world.
The sudden collapse of this housing market in 2007-2008 shook markets around the
world. The US government worried that if the largest banks in the US went out of
business, the entire financial system would be in danger. Several insurance companies
and General Motors were also called “too big to fail.” Many people lost their jobs.
President Bush had to act, but what should he do?
- President Bush’s second term was ending. The president pushed Congress to
give money, called “bailouts,” to save the companies and banks that were in
danger. How to deal with the larger results of the recession would be left to the
next administration. This would be one of the main issues in the 2008 election. ‘08 candidates
- - Obama said that under him, change could go further. He promised progressive policies
that raised people’s spirits. He brought them hope that America would become stronger
and more just.
Clinton’s support came from Democrats in the political center. Obama got his support
mostly from the far left and from new voters.
Clinton would have been the first female president, while Obama would be the first
president who wasn’t white. Barack obama
- - His name was Barack Obama. Born to an immigrant father from Kenya and a white
mother from Kansas, Obama grew up in Hawaii and attended Columbia University in
New York. After college, he worked with a Catholic community development organization
in Chicago.
He then went to Harvard Law School in 1988, where he became the first black president
of the Harvard Law Review. He went back to Chicago to teach constitutional law, and he
continued to organize communities and bring out voters. With help from these
communities, he reached the Illinois State Senate, and, in 2004, United States Senate. - - Barack Obama: (1961 – ) The 44th and current president of the United States. He was
elected in 2008 with promises to improve the economy, fix the health care system, and
end U.S. involvement in the Iraqi war. He is the first African American to hold the office
and was reelected to a second term in 2012.
Immigrant: A person who moves into another country to live.
Catholic: A term that refers to the Roman Catholic Church, which is led by the pope. It is
the largest Christian church and claims to be the first church founded by Jesus Christ's
followers. Obama’s presidency:
- Eric Holder : 2009, First African American Attorney General.
Hilda Solis : First Hispanic Secretary of Labor
Robert Gates : ( secretary of defense ) only defense secretary in US history asked to
stay by a newly elected president.
Hillary Clinton : ( secretary of state )
Rahm Emmanuel : ( chief of staff ) one of obama’s most import. Advisors he’s part of an
informal cabinet
Signed stimulus bill soon as stepped into office
Stimulus bill said that gov had to give money for public works & infrastructure projects
across the country even though the gov was in debt already
These projects would amers. jobs
Signed lilly ledbetter act bill to make it easier for women to fight discrimination at work
Signed off on children’s health insurance program reauthorization act to help states pay
for health insurance for children
Prez. bush refused to sign these 2 bills
The primary impact of these bills was that they were symbols of “change” and they were
important pieces of legislation Health care
- A major Obama campaign promise was to reform health care. Paying for people without
insurance raises the price of health care for everyone. Every politician wanted to improve
the system, but few agreed on how. The following are the major options that were
considered. Single player system
- Insurance is provided for every citizen.
Citizens pay a tax to the government instead of paying an insurance company.
Medicare for older citizens, works this way. Public option
- Every citizen must buy insurance.
People can choose to buy insurance from the government.
Private insurance companies stay in business 4.4.1 U.S. HIST. SEM. 2
Mandatory insurance
- Every citizen must buy insurance
People cannot buy insurance from the government.
Everyone must buy private insurance, but insurance companies must accept everyone. Private health care
- People can buy insurance if they want to.
Strong laws regulate how insurance companies act.
People cannot buy insurance from the government. ...
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