Chapter 30: Twenty-First Century America, 1993-Present

Identify the policies Obama sought to implement in his first term.

(ALL) - economic stimuli in order to create jobs - government support of large banks and other financial institutions - setting in motion the end of the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - health insurance reform to expand access to the uninsured

To what extent was Obama successful in his goal of uniting the country?

(shortest one)

Identify the accurate description of Bush's response to the Great Recession.

Bush prevented big financial institutions from collapsing, but failed to end the recession.

Complete the passage below describing the effect of Bush's presidency on the 2008 election.

Bush's many failures weakened the Republican party. His poor response to Hurricane Katrina, the continuing war in Iraq, and the Great Recession undermined public support for the party. Americans responded well to Barack Obama's message of hope and unity. In 2008, Democrats won majorities in Congress and Obama was elected president.

By signing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), Bush prevented large financial institutions from collapsing and restored confidence in both the economy and his presidency.

False

In 2014 the Hispanic population was only growing in the five states along the Mexican border, which limited Hispanics' political power.

False

Obama pursued an aggressive campaign of nation building to support democracy in the Middle East in accordance with the Obama Doctrine.

False

Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a system through which uninsured Americans with low income could buy health insurance from the federal government.

False

Republicans were opposed to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) because they wanted to protect American jobs and depended upon labor unions for political support.

False

The United States invaded Iraq with the full support of its allies to remove Saddam Hussein from power and limit the threat posed by his chemical and biological weapons.

False

The following quotation illustrates the Obama Doctrine: "If we wait for threats to fully materialize ... we will have waited too long. In the world we have entered, the only path to safety is the path of action. And this nation will act."

False

Obama's decision to negotiate with Iran and Syria regarding weapons of mass destruction, as well as his use of airpower in Iraq against ISIS, reflected his shifting policy priorities aimed at reducing the U.S. role in the Middle East.

True

The 2012 election proved that President Obama's policy priorities appealed to minority voters far more than those of the Republican party candidate Mitt Romney.

True

The passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 hurt poor Americans because it abolished the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program and limited the number of years that people could receive welfare payments.

True

Complete the passage below describing the new economy that developed under Clinton.

Under Clinton, the federal government developed a budget surplus. New forms of consumer electronics helped create dot-com companies. New technology also spurred globalization as many American companies moved abroad or outsourced jobs. By the end of Clinton's presidency, the United States experienced low inflation and unemployment.

Bush remained popular among conservatives during his second term despite strong criticism from liberals.

False

Identify why Obama withdrew U.S. forces from Iraq.

Obama saw the war as counterproductive and too costly both in human and financial terms.

What effect did the invasion of Iraq have on the "war on terror"?

The invasion destabilized Iraq and created an opportunity for terrorists to gain a stronghold.

Which population groups grew the fastest at the end of the twentieth century?

- Asian Americans - multiracial Americans - Hispanic Americans

What major difficulties did Clinton experience during his presidency?

- Clinton failed to pass health-care reform. - Clinton's reputation was damaged by scandals.

To what extent was Clinton's foreign policy a success?

- Clinton negotiated several significant agreements between Israel and the PLO. - Clinton authorized military action that put an end to ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.

How did Obama bring health-care reform to the United States? Put the following steps in chronological order.

- Congress passes the Affordable Care Act. - The Affordable Care Act website fails. - Congress refuses to fund the Affordable Care Act. - Obama refuses to sign the federal budget and the government shuts down. - Congress passes a budget that funds the Affordable Care Act.

How did the rights of gay Americans evolve during Obama's presidency? Put the events in chronological order.

- Congress repeals the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. - Obama endorses same-sex marriage. - The Supreme Court overturns the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

How did the election of 2010 change President Obama's ability to pursue his policy goals?

- Democrats and moderate Republicans lost their Congressional seats to more conservative candidates. - The Tea Party became a powerful force in American politics.

The economy was deep in recession when Obama became president. Identify the laws Obama supported and their intended effect.

- Dodd Frank: The act reformed the system that regulated the financial industry. - TARP: The act provided bailouts to financial institutions. - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: The act provided funds for states to spend on infrastructure development projects.

Analyze the image of an uncompleted housing development in the bankrupt city of Rio Vista, California, in 2008. Identify the causes of the Great Recession for which the image provides evidence.

- For many years, unqualified borrowers were given home mortgages they could not afford. - The housing bubble burst, leading to a rapid decline in home prices.

Which of the following statements accurately describe immigration in the twenty-first century?

- Immigration from Asia, as well as Latin America and Africa, means that the majority of new arrivals are no longer from Europe. - Asian Americans are the fastest-growing ethnic group as a result of Chinese immigration.

Identify the locations in the United States that were directly affected by the rise of global terrorism during Bush's presidency.

- NY - PA - DC 2

Identify the examples of Obama's successes in achieving his counterterrorism goals.

- Obama used Navy SEALs to kill Osama bin Laden. - Voters in Afghanistan were able to participate in elections in 2014.

How did the United States pursue the Obama Doctrine in Afghanistan and Iraq?

- Obama used troops in Afghanistan for counterterrorism purposes, not for nation building. - Obama withdrew combat forces from Iraq.

Identify the roles of the following laws or agencies during the "war on terror" after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

- Office of Homeland Security: This was created to protect Americans from terrorists at home and to respond to terrorist threats abroad. - Transportation Security Administration: This was designed to improve security on airlines and prevent terrorists from entering the country or carrying out another attack similar to 9/11. - USA Patriot Act: This allowed the government to try suspected terrorists in military courts.

Put in chronological order the events of the Great Recession.

- Rising home prices encourage consumers to buy houses they cannot afford. - Housing prices fall dramatically. - Huge numbers of mortgage borrowers default on their payments. - Banks lose billions on bad mortgages and other debts, while reduced spending plunges the country into a recession. - Bush signs the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Obama was successful in passing health-care reform. What factors influenced the success of the actual implementation of the Affordable Care Act?

- The government website did not work properly. - Insurance providers cancelled the policies of many Americans.

Despite Obama's attempts to resolve the economic crisis, many people in the United States became increasingly angry over the nation's economic situation. The image above illustrates which of the following critiques of the U.S. economy?

- The government's actions during the economic crisis had improperly benefited large financial institutions. - Rich people were controlling too large a percentage of wealth in the United States.

Why did Clinton's health-care bill fail?

- The plan was overly complicated. - It lacked support from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. - It lacked support from Republicans.

Identify how the invasion of Iraq affected the American budget and economy.

- The rebuilding process in Iraq cost nearly a trillion dollars. - America faced massive budget deficits because of the enormous costs of the war.

Why was Clinton successful in the 1996 campaign?

- There were no foreign-policy crises. - The economy improved significantly, ushering in a period of great economic growth. - The Republican party was divided.

What factors contributed to the public's declining support for the war on terrorism in 2003 and 2004?

- information indicating that the United States had mistreated prisoners - the rising financial and human costs of the war in Iraq - the continued instability of Iraq due to ethnic and religious divisions - the lack of weapons of mass destruction

Complete the passage below to describe how the threat of global terrorism influenced Bush's foreign policy.

- preemptive strike - unilaterally - abandon

Why were Republicans unable to remove Clinton from office after he was impeached?

Clinton's crimes were not severe enough to warrant removing him from office.

How were American politics influenced by increases in the number of minorities living in the United States?

Democratic candidates received major support from minorities.

Complete the passage below describing how immigration has affected the conservative movement.

Many conservatives have called for the closure of the Mexican-American border. Members of the Republican Party are 87 percent white. Many immigrants support the Democratic Party. In order to stay connected to voters and win elections, some Republican strategists believe that Republican candidates should appeal to minorities.

How did most Americans react to the new agencies and laws designed to fight terrorism?

Most Americans supported such measures because they were afraid of terrorists.

How did Obama pursue his foreign-policy goals in the Ukraine?

Obama imposed economic sanctions on Russia and avoided military conflict.

Complete the passage below describing why Obama supported the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and how that support influenced his presidency.

Obama realized that people needed to have faith in the banking system and set out to save big financial institutions. TARP prevented the economy from crashing. Many Americans strongly disagreed with TARP because it did not help struggling Americans.

What did the passage of Clinton's 1993 tax increase plan indicate about American politics at the time?

Politics was becoming more divided along party lines.

How did political polarization affect politics in America?

Republicans and Democrats refused to work together to solve the nation's problems. Both parties disagreed with each other on how the government should address major issues. There were far fewer moderates, and Congress was unable to compromise and found it difficult to pass legislation.

Complete the passage below describing how conservative politics influenced social programs during Clinton's presidency.

Republicans in Congress opposed Clinton's health-care plan. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative-action programs several times. Clinton responded by working with Republicans and highlighting the fact that he was a centrist. Clinton's signing into law of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWOA) was one notable example of his ability to work with the other party.

How did Clinton's health-care plan influence the political landscape of the United States?

Republicans running on their Contract With America took over many seats from Democrats in the 1994 midterm elections.

What made the election of 2000 controversial?

The Supreme Court intervened to decide the election.

Complete the passage below describing how the Supreme Court responded to conservative assertions that the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court ruled that the majority of the Affordable Care Act was constitutional. Republicans particularly opposed the individual mandate on the grounds that it was an imposition on personal freedom. The Supreme Court ruled that the mandate and subsequent tax penalties for being uninsured fell under Article 1 of the Constitution. The conservative chief justice of the court voted to support the Affordable Care Act.

Complete the passage below describing how Hurricane Katrina hurt the Republican cause.

The federal government's response to Katrina was ineffective as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was not prepared for such a big disaster. The public disapproved of Bush's response to the hurricane. In the 2006 election, Democrats won control of Congress as well as several state governments.

How did the "surge" influence public support for the war in Iraq?

The surge reduced violence in Iraq and helped strengthen the Iraqi government, but most Americans still saw the war as a mistake.

Bush's decision to cut taxes in order to stimulate economic growth backfired as federal revenue declined and the budget deficit increased during the "war on terror."

True

What was the goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed soon after he assumed office in February 2009?

give states extra money to spend on development projects, thus creating jobs