AMERICAN HISTORY NOTES
Chapter 13 : America Into A New Century (1990-1999)

The Gulf War (pp. 882-887)
1. Saddam Hussein-
-leader of Iraq during wars with the United States
-fought bitter war with Iran and became alley of United States
-invaded Kuwait until driven out by U.N. forces
-driven from power by the U.S., captured and assassinated

2. Operation Desert Storm-
-U.N. military operation designed to force Iraq out of Kuwait
-Operation Desert Shield was implemented first to protect U.S. alley Saudi Arabia

3. Coalition Forces-
-group of thirty-two U.N. member nations who fought against Iraq
-coalition included Arab-Moslem nations

4. Norman Schwarzkopf-
-leader of the coalition forces
-gave many briefings and interviews as to not make same mistakes as in Vietnam

5. SCUD Missiles-
-primitive soviet short range missile system
-used by Hussein to attack Israel
-more a weapon of terror than a real threat, most were shot down by U.S. Patriot Missiles

6. Scorched Earth-
-policy to destroy everything usable
-used by Hussein as his forces pulled out of Kuwait

The Clinton Era Begins (pp. 894-901)
7. William Clinton-
-forty-second President of the United States
-sent troops to Somalia and Kosovo
-was impeached by House but cleared of charges by Senate

8. Contract With America-
-developed by the Republican controlled House of Representatives
-headed by House speaker Newt Gingrich

9. Monica Lewinsky-
-White House intern who had an affair with President Clinton
-testified against the President and that he had lied about their affair

10. Impeachment-
-process by which a President can be removed from office
-Clinton was accused of lying to a Senate committee who was trying to fin
-the House voted to impeach Clinton, but the Senate did not

11. Branch Davidians-
-religious cult under the leadership of David Koresh
-accused of tax evasion, illegal weapons, and hold people against their will
-their compound at Waco, Texas was first surrounded and then attacked by the Federal Government
-during the fire fight, the compound caught fire and 86 people died
-many argued the government had overstepped it’s bounds

Conflict in America
12. Dr. Dennis Kevorkian-
-known as “Doctor Death”
-found guilty of murder for assisting in terminally ill patients suicides

13. Ervin “Magic” Johnson-
-famous basketball player that announced his retirement because of AIDS

14. Rodney King-
-African American motorist stopped for speeding
-when he appeared to resist arrest he was beaten by police
-the beating was caught on video tape

15. O.J. Simpson Trial-
-trial of the century
-famous football player accused of murdering his wife and Ronald Goldman
-fled from police while being filmed on TV
-well-known attorney Johnnie Cochran got a “not guilty” verdict even though the evidence was overwhelming

American Terrorists
16. Murrah Federal Building-
-Federal government building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
-included regional offices for the DEA, FBI, and ATF
-building was attacked and blown up on April 19, 1995 killing 168 and injuring over 800

17. Timothy McVeigh-
-picked up by police for driving without a license
-claimed attack was revenge for government's handling of Waco and Ruby Ridge
-found guilty of murder and sentenced to death (2001)

18. Terry Nichols-
-convicted of being the mastermind behind the attack, training and providing equipment for McVeigh
-sentenced to life in prison for murder

19. Ted Kaczynski-
-known as the Unibomber for sending mail bombs to universities and airlines for 18 years
-killed three and injured 23
-wrote in a manifesto to newspapers that he wanted to draw attention to evils of modern technology
-plea bargained a life sentence rather than death penalty
-worst fear was that public would think he was crazy

20. Olympic Park Bomber-
-also called the Centennial Park Bombing
-occurred in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games
-resulted in two deaths and 111 injuries
-Eric Rudolph (antigay and antiabortion) activist arrested for this and four other bomb attacks

Life in the 90’s
21. Hurricane Andrew-
-one of only three category five hurricanes to hit America in the 20th century
-destroyed much of southern Florida and Louisiana
-was the single worse natural disaster to hit American until Katrina in 2005

22. Toronto Blue Jays-
-Major league baseball team located in Toronto, Canada
-in 1992, the Blue Jays became the first (and only) team, based outside the U.S., to win a World Series

23. Dolly the Sheep-
-the first mammal ever cloned by scientists
-began entirely new legal moral debates

24. Elian Gonzalez-
-three year old boy at the center of an international custody battle
-mother died on a boat of illegal immigrants from Cuba
-Elian lived with relatives in America, but father wanted him returned to Cuba
-armed U.S. government agents entered his home and forcibly removed him

25. Y2K Scare-
-a fear that computers programmed in the 20th century would not work into the 21st century
-computer malfunction could effect critical industries (electricity or finances)
-companies began installing newer updated systems to avoid situation
-unclear if lack of problems was result of preparation or if problem was overstated by media

26. Election of 2000-
-closest and most controversial election in American history
-Democrat Al Gore won the popular election but Republican George Bush won the electoral college
-disputed results in Florida caused the election to be settled in the U.S. Supreme Court
-Bush won Florida, and the Presidency, by 537 votes
-Jed Bush, brother of George Bush, was Governor of Florida at the time