1

2 Song of the Day Beastie Boys “So What’cha Want” Released in 1992

3 1992

4 Los Angeles Riots 4 white police officers are caught on camera viciously beating African American motorist Rodney King After a controversial trial, all 4 officers were found not guilty on all charges Within hours of the verdict, the predominantly African American neighborhood of South Central erupts in riots

11 ??? 1) Who was responsible for 9/11?2) Why did the U.S. go to war in Iraq? 3) Name two controversial ways in which the U.S. attempted to fight terrorism after 9/11 4) True or False: After 9/11, Osama Bin Laden was quickly brought to justice 5) What did we re-name “French Fries” after France refused to join us in the Iraq War?

12 Group Review In your groups, discuss your assigned topicBe prepared to explain the history of the event (What happened?) Be prepared to explain the significance of the event (Why is it important? What did it lead to? Choose one person to be your spokesperson to share with the class

13 Beginning of the Cold War

14 August 1945

15 Cold War A four decade period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that would lead to regional conflicts but no direct conflict between the two

16 Effects of the Cold War Escalating military spending Korean WarVietnam War Space Race NATO/Warsaw Pact Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall McCarthyism

17 G.I. Bill

18 Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944G.I. Bill Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (G.I. Bill) Some asked if it was right to pay returning soldiers Should military service entitle one to government benefits or should it be an obligation to one’s country? Congress hoped to avoid a repeat of the “Bonus Army” standoff that gripped Washington D.C. in 1932 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs G.I. Bill into law June 1944

19 Benefits for Returning G.I.’sG.I. Bill Benefits for Returning G.I.’s Eligible for money to further one’s education at any college, university, trade school or vocational school Eligible for low interest home loans with zero money down 52-20 Clause: Enabled all former servicemen to receive $20 a week in unemployment benefits for 52 weeks

20 Effects of GI Bill Millions of veterans go to collegeLeads to scientific innovation and prosperity Millions of veterans able to buy houses Leads to growth of suburbs

21 Interstate Highway Act

22 Interstate Highway ActIn 1956, President Eisenhower signs the Interstate Highway Act Creates 41,000 miles of high-speed highways modeled after Germany’s autobahn Its main objective was to ease transportation of military weaponry and troops in case of enemy attack It replaced a patchwork of state and federal highways

23 Interstates Allow For Faster Commutes

24 In Theory…

25 Growth of the Sunbelt Much of the new suburban growth took place in the southern tier of the U.S.

26 Effects of Interstate Highway ActMakes it easier for people and goods to get around Leads to growth of the suburbs and the sunbelt Allows people to live further away from their work Leads to more oil and gas consumption

27 Cuban Missile Crisis

28 Cuban Missile Crisis October 1962: America discovers Soviet Union is building secret nuclear missile sites in Cuba A missile launched from Cuba could strike most of US For two weeks, US and USSR were at the brink of nuclear war USSR removed missiles from Cuba; US removed missiles from Turkey Reinforced fear of communism among Americans

29 Effects of Cuban Missile CrisisTension over arms race comes to a head Creation of the “hot line” between U.S. and U.S.S.R. Missiles removed from Cuba and Turkey Reinforces paranoia about communism making us more likely to worry about “Domino Theory” We’re alive!

30 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

31 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution8/2/1964: North Vietnamese torpedo boats fire at the American destroyer U.S.S. Maddox while it was patrolling in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam Congress passes “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution”, which authorizes President Johnson to commit troops to Vietnam Evidence suggests that the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin never happened or was distorted

32 Effects of Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionThe Vietnam War The Draft Antiwar protests President Johnson’s agenda is doomed President Nixon elected War Powers Act The end of American proxy wars against communism

33 Watergate

34 Watergate Scandal June 1972: Five members of CREEP break into the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate Hotel/Office complex Q: Why? A: They were trying to plant bugs Nixon attempted to deny that anyone connected to the White House was involved It was discovered that Nixon had secret recording equipment in his White House office that contained tapes of conversations relating to the Watergate break-in

35 Watergate Scandal The Washington Post prints stories based on an anonymous source codenamed Deep Throat Supreme Court forces Nixon to release the White House tapes The public is shocked at what they hear: Nixon comes across as petty, vindictive, profane, and dishonest Congress announces they will begin impeachment proceedings

36 Watergate Scandal Nixon resigns before Congress can impeach himUnelected VP Gerald Ford becomes President and pardons Nixon

37 Effects of Watergate First ever resignation of a PresidentFord pardons Nixon…loses Presidency Carter elected because he was perceived as honest Increased public distrust of government Leads to a conservative resurgence after 1980 Major battles over taxes and spending

38 2000 Election

39 x 2000 Election WINNER!!! Gore 50,999,897 Bush 50,456,002

40 Gore: 48.4% 266 Electoral Votes Bush: 47.9% 271 Electoral Votes Nader: 2.7% No Electoral Votes Buchanan: 0.43% No Electoral Votes

41 Effects of 2000 Election One month recount in Florida ended by Supreme Court decision First time popular vote winner loses since 1876 Calls to abolish Electoral College and reform the way we vote Bush takes office over a polarized nation Era of intense partisanship

42 9/11

43 9/11 Sept. 11, 2001 19 Middle Eastern terrorists hijack four planes and crash them into WTC and Pentagon A 4th plane that was supposed to hit the US Capitol crashed in Pennsylvania Nearly 3,000 people die

44 9/11 Myth Saddam Hussein was partially responsible for 9/11 FactsThe attacks were carried out by 19 men, none of whom were from Iraq 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia

45 Effects of 9/11 President Bush declares “War on Terror” and tells the world that “you’re either with us or you’re against us” 3 weeks later, America invades Afghanistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden America opens a terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Some prisoners are tortured.

47 Effects of 9/11 Terrorism is the new communism10 year (and counting) war in Afghanistan 8 year war in Iraq Increased police powers Increased government ability to spy on citizens and foreigners

48 Why is History Important?Everything that happens today has its roots in something, somewhere in history… Even though we may be through with the past, the past is never through with us…

49 These things all happened

50