Unit 12
Modern Era
Persian Gulf War
• In August of 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
invaded neighboring Kuwait
• The United Nations condemned the takeover and set an
ultimatum for Iraqi withdrawal
• When the withdrawal date came and went, United
Nations and American forces began bombing attacks on
Iraqi forces
• Within days of a ground attack, Iraqi forces had been
driven from Kuwait; the attacks became known as
Operation Desert Storm
The End of the Cold War
• In 1989 pro-Soviet parties in Hungary and Poland lost
political power and East Germany followed announcing
that East Germans were allowed to visit West Berlin.
• In the weeks that followed public celebrations began
the tear down of the Berlin Wall. Germany officially
reunified in October 1990.
• On December 25, 1991 Soviet Premier Mikhail
Gorbachev resigned and the next day the Soviet Union
formally ceased to exist.
• The former USSR would eventually include 15
independent “states” including the largest Russia which
would then be led by President Boris Yeltsin.
Election of 1992
• After the Success of the Persian Gulf War in 1991,
George Bush (SR) and the Republican party’s
popularity was high for the 1992 election.
• The Democratic challenger was an attorney and
Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton.
• Ross Perot a billionaire businessman from Texas ran as
a third party candidate and picked up 19 percent of the
popular vote, many felt that Perot pulled votes that
would have gone to the Republican Party.
• Clinton and his Vice President Al Gore won the
election with only 43% of the popular vote
Balkans Crisis
• The breakup of the Soviet Union left several
cultural factions battling for power in nearby
Yugoslavia. Muslim Bosnians made up the largest
population but Serbian Christians were better
funded and equipped militarily.
• Some Serbians began to attempt ethnic cleansing
of Muslim populations which prompted the United
States and United Nations to become involved.
• President Clinton helped negotiate peace in Bosnia
and NATO airstrikes worked to slow Serbian attacks.
Modern Entrepreneurs in Business
• Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1976 and has became one of the
wealthiest people in the US. His philanthropist spirit has led him
to donate millions of dollars to charity, but he has also been
accused of denying competition in business.
• Sam Walton grew his low price, chain departments stores into
Walmart; Walton’s business model is praised by some but others
accused him of swallowing up smaller companies
• Estee Lauder co-founded a beauty supply company in1946 that
has grown to top 10 billion dollars in sales in 2013, she was
named one of Times most influential business people in 1998
and died in 2004 at the age of 97.
• Lionel Sosa founded a San Antonio advertising agency which
has helped companies such as Coca-Cola, Burger King and
Sprint reach out to the Latino community through advertising.
Immigration & Reform
• The 1980’s brought more immigrants to the United States
than any decade since 1910.
• Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1990, which
doubled the number of skilled workers allowed into the US
and authorized special visas for overseas investors.
• In 1993 in the case of Edgewood I.S.D. v. Kirby forced
schools in wealthy neighborhoods to share property tax
income with poorer districts in an attempt to improve
opportunities for kids growing up in poverty.
• In 1996 Congress passed new laws which strengthened the
US borders, allowed only wealthy families to sponsor legal
immigrants, and kept new immigrants from receiving
welfare.
NAFTA, GATT and the WTO
 In 1993 concern over economic competition led the US to
enter into a free trade agreement called NAFTA (North
American Free Trade Agreement)with Mexico and Canada.
 Specifically NAFTA lowered tariffs and other trade
boundaries, allowing for increased trade.
 Although NAFTA has increased exports to Canada and
Mexico by over $100 billion, many argue that US business
have moved many manufacturing jobs to Mexico.
 GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
originally founded post WWII to encouraged free trade
between member nations by regulating and reducing
tariffs, GATT is known today as the World Trade
Organization or WTO.
Presidential Scandals
• After winning re-election over Bob Dole in 1996, the
second term of Bill Clinton was marked by several scandals.
• In 1994 a sexual harassment lawsuit was filed against
Clinton by former employee Paula Jones
• In 1997 Kenneth Starr was appointed to research possible
financial misconduct by Bill and Hillary
• During Starr’s investigation, Clinton lied to a grand-jury
about an improper relationship with a former white house
intern, Monica Lewinski
• Clinton would be impeached by the House but not removed
from office in a Senate trial.
2000 Presidential Election
• In 2000 the Democrats nominated former VP Al Gore,
while Republicans countered with George W. Bush—
son of former President Bush.
• Bush promised to return tax surpluses to the people and
to reorganize social security, while Gore promised to
reduce the national debt and provide more for education
and healthcare
• The election between Bush and Gore was so close that
when it was over a winner could not be declared,
eventually the Supreme Court ruled that Bush won the
final state of Florida by 537 votes.
Modern Day Entrepreneurs in the Entertainment Industry
• American Actress, talk show host and philanthropist
Oprah Winfrey has been called, the queen of all media
• Oprah’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to a successful
talk show, magazine and cable television network and
has made her America’s only current African American
Billionaire.
• In 1980 Princeton Graduate, Robert Johnson founded
BET (Black Entertainment Television) Cable Network.
• Johnson later became the first African American
Billionaire after selling BET to Viacom for $3 billion.
Johnson was also part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
September 11th, 2001
• At 8:48 A.M. an American Airlines passenger jet struck
the north tower of the world trade center, at 9:03
another plane struck the south tower.
• At 9:40 flight 77 struck the Pentagon and soon after
flight 93 crashed just south of Pittsburg as passengers
attempted to retake the plane.
• At 9:59 as hundreds of police and rescue workers
arrived at the trade center, the south tower collapsed
killing thousands instantly.
• Official death tolls from that day currently stand at
2,986—including the 19 hijackers.
USA Patriot Act of 2001
In response to September 11th and an increase in acts of
Terror around the world, Congress passed the USA
PATRIOT act in October of 2001 and the law has been
approved and extended by Presidents Bush and Obama.
The Patriot Act allows the FBI and NSA use of wiretaps,
video surveillance, searches of business records and email in
order to track individuals involved in terrorist activities and
to intercept possible acts of terror before they are committed.
The USA Patriot Act raises the constitutional issue of right
to privacy and protection again unreasonable searches.
Supporters of the Patriot Act see it as a necessary measure to
fight terrorism, opponents see it as government using
tragedy to infringe of the rights of individuals.
Hurricane Katrina
• Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005,
and strengthened rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico before
becoming one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded
in the Gulf
• Katrina was the costliest ($75 billion) and one of the
deadliest (1604 lives lost) hurricanes in the history of
the United States
• The federal and state governments and FEMA have
been widely criticized for not being well prepared for
the disaster and not acting quickly enough to help the
people of New Orleans
Barack Obama Presidency
• In 2008 the United States elected the first African American
President, Democrat Barack Hussain Obama.
• Obama was born and raised in Hawaii, his mother from
Kansas and his father Kenya; his post secondary education
included Columbia University and Harvard Law School.
• Obama entered politics in the State of Illinois as a
Community Organizer and State Senator; from 2005 to 2008
Obama served as U.S. Senator from Illinois.
• In 2008 Barack Obama defeated Hilary Clinton for the
Democratic Nomination and Republican Senator John
McCain for the Presidency.
• In 2009 Obama appointed Sonia Sotomayor the first
Hispanic female to the US Supreme Court.
Modern Era Technology in a Free Enterprise System
• Technological innovations of the 21st century have been
focused on the world of telecommunication, information
technology and social media.
• The free enterprise system and the constant demand
created by the American consumer has fueled many of the
21st century technological advancements.
• Advances in Cellular capabilities first seen in the military
have found their way into the hands of almost every
American in the form of Smartphones.
• Internet access in the 21st century is prolific nationwide
and social media has given the individual and their
opinions a greater voice in American society.
Impact of the Internet on American Industry
• Manufacturing and purchasing has been revolutionized in
the 21st century by the internet and increasing use of
technology.
• Just-In-Time Inventory Management allows manufacturers
to prioritize production and better meet the ever changing
demands of the consumer in real time.
• The Internet allows for increased speed and efficiency in
global trade and provides a virtual store front for
companies throughout the US and the World.
• Social Media and product websites allow manufactures
unprecedented access to the opinions and feedback of
consumers.