Religions in America

The 3 R's of Religion in the U.S. Public Schools





1) Rights- Everyone has the right to practice the religion of their choice.





2) Responsibility- Everyone has the responsibility to protect the rights for all.





3) Respect- We should respect others religious choices even if we don't like or agree with it.





















James Madison (1787)



U.S. Constitution: First Amendment- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of..."


U.S. Public Schools


Horace Mann (early 19th Century):

Public schools do not follow any particular religion but are primarily Bible-based with Protestant moral teachings



Immigrants:

->Italians/Irish-Catholics

->Buddhist: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and other Asians



U.S. Supreme Court:

*The First Amendment applies to states and public schools.

*Today America has over 3000 different religions.

*Public schools are not Bible-based.

*Public schools cannot teach one particular region but can teach ABOUT religion












E/C

Today there are over 3000 different religions practiced in the United States.

1868-The 14th Amendment required that the First Amendment apply to the states as well as congress


Public schools and state court houses can no longer promote any particular religion.

They can teach ABOUT different religions












Judaism


Beliefs and Practices:

The Jewish people believe in one God, and in leading ethical lives by following the Ten Commandments and other laws given to Moses in 1200-1300 B.C.


Jewish people believe that God spoke through many prophets who taught them to follow their religion.


Jews worship through prayer and once a week on the holy day, or Sabbath, in a house of worship called a synagogue.



Jewish Holidays include:

Rosh Hashanah-New Year


Yom Kippur-Forgiveness of sin


Passover- Liberation from slavery in Egypt


Hanukkah-Festival of light and restoration of the Jewish Temple.












Jewish Persecution


Jesus-

was born into a Jewish family and followed the Jewish religion all his life.


Jesus' disciples-

Were all male Jews. After Jesus' death-there was a split.


Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah


Jews who were not followers of Jesus.



66-135 CE-Jews rebel against Roman rule and are forced to leave Jerusalem. This is called the Diaspora. Jews move to countries all over Europe and the Middle East. When Europe becomes Christian, Jews are persecuted for their religion.


1100-1300 CE-During the Crusades, Christians destroyed Jewish villages and massacred Jews. Jews were banished from England in 1396 and from Spain in 1493.


1648 Polish and Lithuanian Cossacks carried out pogroms-raided Jewish villages and massacred Jews.

Jews were often denied equal rights and forced to live in ghettos.


1930-1945-the Nazi Holocaust kills 6 million Jews.

1800-1900- Many Jews immigrate to America.

1948- Jews are given their own country, Israel, and return to their homeland.












Christianity


Beliefs


-Believe in one God.

-Believe that Jesus is the son of God.

-Jesus came into the world and died to save humanity from sin.

-Christians believe that Jesus was/is the Christ-the "Messiah"- the "Savior"

-Christians believe they will attain salvation by following the teachings of Jesus and by faith in Jesus Christ.



Sects

Eastern Orthodox-primarily found in Eastern Europe and Russia

Catholic-Head of the church is the Pope in Rome

Protestant-started by Martin Luther during the Protestant Reformation



Worship

Catholics

-Communion- worshippers eat bread and drink wine which they believe is the real body and blood of Christ


Protestants

-Protestants-singing, prayer, and reading from the bible, Sermon/preaching.


Baptism

-in all Christian churches












Teachings of Jesus

*"You have heard the Commandment 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But what I say to you is offer no resistance to injury. When a person strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer him the other." -Matthew 5:38, 39


*"...love your enemies, pray for your persecutors"- Matthew 5:44

*"This is my commandment:love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."- John 15:12, 13


*If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."-Matthew 19:21











Islam


Five Pillars

*Faith-statement of faith "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God."

*Prayer-Muslims pray 5 times a day bowing all the way to the ground

*Alms-Muslims mist give donations to the poor

*Fasting-Muslims eat no food during daylight hours for the holy month of Ramadan.

*Pilgrimage-All Muslims who can afford must make a hajj or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

*Islam was founded by Muhammad who lived from 570-632 A.D.

*The two major sects of Islam are the Sunni and the Shi'a sects.

*The holy book of Islam is the Qur'an

*They also believe God's word was spoken through Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. They were also prophets.












Hinduism

Central Beliefs:

Hindus believe that each person has a soul or Atman.

Each person seeks to unite his/her soul with God or Brahman-the universal soul.


*One can unite with Brahman only by freeing oneself from selfish, earthly desires. When one is completely free and united with Brahman one has achieved moksha or enlightenment.


*Hindu's believe in Karma-whatever good deeds or bad deeds you do will come back and cause good or bad in your life, or in the next life.


*Hindus believe in reincarnation-that each person is reborn over and over- if one has been good, then one will be reborn into a good life, if one has been bad then one will be reborn into a miserable life-until one is completely free of desires and achieves moksha.



Practices:

Hindus practice meditation, prayer, and yoga (or spiritual exercises) to purify themselves and united with God/Brahman


Scriptures
...The sacred writings of the Hindus include the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita-...


Gods: Hindus believe that all are united in one God, but Hindus believe in and worship many different Gods.

The three main Gods of Hinduism are Brahma-the creator; Vishnu-the preserver of the universe; Shiva-the destroyer
Gurus-are holy people or spiritual teachers who guide people to unite with Brahman.


Rituals and Celebrations

-include Diwali, a festival of light at the beginning of New Year;

-purification in the Ganges River in India.


There are many different Hindu sects and ways of practicing Hinduism.












Hinduism in America

1960s

The Beatles: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi develops a simple form of meditation practice that becomes very popular in America and around the world.

Transcendental Meditation


Yoga: Healthy meditation exercise.

Practiced by millions.


Relaxation Response

Dr. from the Harvard,;

Medical School develops a simple form of meditation that is scientifically proven to relieve stress verified method,


Dr. Dean Ornish,

Uses meditation, yoga, and a vegetarian diet to develop a medically verified method to cure heart disease












Buddhism


Beliefs: Buddhists honor their founder Siddharta Gautama, who is known as the Buddha.

Buddha means "enlightened one" Buddhists believe that the Buddha attained enlightenment, a state of freedom from selfish desires and oneness with all the universe-this is called Nirvana. Buddhists follow Buddha's teachings which include the Four Noble Truths.


Practices:

Buddhists practice to free themselves from desires and attain enlightenment through meditation, chanting, and offering incense.

Monks and Nuns- those who dedicate their lives to meditation and study of the Buddh's teaching. They lead and teach others.



Sects of Buddhism:

Theravada-traditional Buddhism

Mahayana-Belief that all may become Buddhas-Bodhisattva-will not go to nirvana or paradise but stays to help everyone become enlightened.



Beliefs:

The Four Noble Truths

*Life is suffering- suffering can not be avoided by anyone in this life.

*There is a cause of suffering: Desire to have and control things.

*There is a way to end suffering: By becoming free from your desires.

*One becomes free from desires by following a practice.


This practice is also called the:

Eightfold Path

*Right understanding
*Right thinking
*Right speech
*Right conduct:
-Do not kill
-Do not steal
-Do not lie
-Do not misuse sex
-Do not consume alcohol or mind-altering drugs
*Right livelihood
*Right effort
*Right mindfulness
*Right concentration

U.S. Foreign Policy and Terrorism

Israel

Background/History

1. 1948-U.S. supports the new Jewish nation of Israel.

2. Israel forms its new country in Palestine which was a predominantly Moslem/Arab country.

3. Palestinians fight to kick Israelis out

4. Israel takes control of all of Palestine to protect itself.

5. Fighting between Israelis and Palestinians (including terror attacks on Israeli civilians and retaliation by the Israeli military) has continued up to today.



Many Arab people today feel hostile towards the Jewish state of Israel and their control of the Islamic people of Palestine and angry at the U.S. for supporting Israel.




Iran

1.1953-Iran's leader Mohammed Mossadegh tried to take control of all oil companies in the country.

2. The U.S. CIA organized and financed the overthrow of Mossadegh until he was replaced by Shah Paklavi

3. The Shah uses torture and killing to keep control of his country but gives control of 40% of the country's oil to the U.S.


Many Iranian people are angry at the U.S. for intervening in their country just so the U.S. could get control of more oil.












The Cold War
Soviet Union (Communists)


Invade Dec. 1979

->Afghanistan War-(1978-1992)

->Islamic guerillas stop the Soviet Union

->The entire Soviet Union collapses 1989-1992


1980-USA
Weapons & $
To stop communism

Mujahideens

-Islamic guerillas
-Osama bin Laden
-Al Qaeda



Iran-Iraq War

1979-Ayatollah Khomeini overthrows the Shah and takes control of Iran

1980-1988-Long war between Iran and Iraq


Secret Weapons Deals U.S.A.


->U.S. is now known to have supported Saddam Hussein with weapons when he was using chemical weapons on his enemies and his own people.


->U.S. builds up Naval and Military presence in the region to protect Kuwait and its own interest



The Cold Warr (1991)

*Saddam Hussein is in debt after the Iran-Iraq War.
*Iraq invades Kuwait to take control of their oil.


Iraq invades in 1990

U.S. counterattack pushes Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait


*U.N. supports use of military force
*George Bush Sr. is President
*Saddam Hussein remains in power
*U.S. continues to build up military bases and naval ships in the Middle East Gulf region.
*U.S. establishes military bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to "stabilize the region" and protect its interests in oil.
*The U.S. and the Bush family become friendly with King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.












Oklahoma City Bombing

1995

1. Terrorist attac on a federal government building in Oklahoma City

2. 168 people, including some children in a day care center, were killed

3. The worst terrorist attack in the United States, before the September 11th attack




Timothy McVeigh

1. Was sentenced to death for the bombing

2. He was a white, male American who said he carried out the bombing as revenge for a federal govt. raid on the Branch Dravidian Compound in Waco, Texas, in which 75 men, women and children were killed.

3. He and those who helped him were angry at the U.S. government












President Bush and the War in Iraq

Osama bin Laden and many Middle Easter Islamic people are angry at the U.S.



The U.S. ....

1. Supports Israel- A Jewish state which has taken over control of Palestine, an Islamic nation.

2. Has established military bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and has naval ships in the Persian Gulf.

3. Is using its military and economic power to control Islamic Middle Eastern people for its own benefit and for the benefit of its large oil companies





King Fahd of Saudi Arabia

1. He is just a puppet leader who is going along with U.S. wishes.


Modern U.S. culture

1. Spread in the middle east is destroying fundamental Islamic beliefs and practices.



U.S. Christians

1. Have no respect for Islamic people.


The U.S.

1. Has destroyed the lives of many Middle Eastern people through its support of Israel, the sanctions on Iraq and the Iraq wars












Preemption-The "Bush Doctrine"

1. The U.S will never allow its military supremacy to be challenged as it was during the Cold War
a. U.S. hegemony- the U.S. will seek to keep its place as the dominant power in the world.


2. Countries that threaten the U.S. with terrorists acts or by building up weapons of mass destruction will be dealt with preemptively
a.The U.S. will not wait for another terrorist attack. The U.S. will use its military to attack other countries before they have attacked us.

3.The U.S. will use military force and economic power to change countries into democracies around the world.

4. The U.S. will disregard the U.N. and take unilateral military action if necessary












Problems in Iraq leading up to the September 11th Attack


1992
->After Saddam Hussein loses the gulf war, the United Nations demands that he destroy his stockpile of weapons of mass destruction (WMD's-chemical and biological weapons)


->Saddam Hussein does not comply completely


->The U.N. requires that weapons inspectors be allowed into Iraq to see proof that the WMD's have been destroyed.


->The United Nations starts economic sanctions on Iraq until Saddam Hussein complies completely. ->No nation will buy Iraq's oil


->Iraq has very little money to support its people. Saddam Hussein builds palaces for himself. -> An estimated 5000 children die each month in Iraq because there is not enough food and medical treatment.



Sept. 11th, 2001

->Al Qaeda terrorists led by Osama bin Laden are angry at U.S. control in the Middle East -> Attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon->3000 people killed in the United States


October 2001

->President Bush attacks the Taliban government in Afghanistan


Sept. 11, 2001

*Terrorist attacks on the U.S.

*Pres. Bush states: "We will make no distinctions bewteen the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."



Sept. 15, 2001

*Bush Administration decides to attack the Taliban government in Afghanistan and Al Qaeda training camps there.


Sept. 20, 2001

*Pres. bush: "Any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."


October 2001

*U.S. invades Afghanistan to remove Taliban govt.


Jan 2002

*Pres. Bush, State of the Union Address Iran, Iraq and North Korea are countries that are hostile to the U.S., support terrorism or are seeking to build up WMD's. They constitute an "Axis of Evil"


Sept. 12, 2002

Pres. Bush speaks before the U.N., saying it must be tough on Iraq, or it will be a useless organization


Oct. 10, 2002

*Congress votes to give President Bush authority to take preemptive military action against Iraq, when and how he feels necessary
Vote: 302-133; 77-23


Feb. 14, 2003

*U.N. weapons inspectors indicate progress is being made on Iraq's cooperation


Feb. 22, 2003

*U.N. wepaons inspectors order Iraq to destroy all long range missiles


Feb. 24, 2003

*The U.S., Great Britain and Spain submit a proposal to the U.N. Security Council stating that Iraq has failed in its last chance to comply with Resolution 1441.

*France, Germany and Russia submit a counter proposal: the weapons inspections should be continued and intensified.


March 1, 2003

*Iraq begons destroying some long range missiles


March 7, 2003

*Hans Blix, Chief Weapons Inspector requests more time.


March 12, 2003

*New York and 150 U.S. cities pass resolutions opposing preemptive/unilateral military action in Iraq


March 14, 2003

*The U.S. and Great Britain can get only 4 nations on the Security Council to support a military invasion of Iraq. They need all 15 members to get U.N. support.


March 17, 2003

*Great Britain says all diplomatic efforts with Iraq have ended. Weapons inspectors are ordered to leave Iraq. President Bush gives Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq or face war.


March 19, 2003

*The U.S., Great Britain, and a few other nations begin the invasion of Iraq called Operation Iraqi Freedom.


March 20, 2003

*Heavy aerial bombing of key targets in Iraq. This is called a "decapitation" attack (targeting the government and military leaders and their headquarters first). This bombing is meant to "shock and awe" the Iraqi people.


April 9, 2003

*U.S. troops take over and control Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.


May 1, 2003

*The U.S. and Great Britain control Iraq












Iraqi Insurgent Resistance

August 2002

*Vice President Cheney predicts that the streets of Baghdad will "erupt in joy" when U.S. troops arrive.


March-May 2003

*Saddam Hussein regular military is quickly defeated.


May 203

*Civil disorder, arson, looting. Not enough U.S. troops in Iraq to keep order after U.S. takeover.


July

*Sabotage attacks on oil pipelines, power lines, telecommunication line. U.S. claims that killing/capturing key leaders from Saddam Hussein's government will end the resistance


*U.S. troops killed by mines, ambushes and suicide bombers. The U.S. admits it is being confronted by guerilla resistance. U.S. claims it is just local pockets of resistance

*Attacks on U.S. soldiders in every region of Iraq-Sabotage of oil and power lines in every region of Iraq. U.S. must admit it is fighting an organized nationwide resistance movement.

*Threats of a Civil War between Sunni Moslems (who supported Saddam Hussein) and Shi'a Moslems.












Insurgent Strategy in Iraq


*Osama bin Laden
*Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations


IRAQ

*Baath party Loyalists (Supporters of Saddam Hussein)
*Sunni Muslims
*Other anti-U.S. Iraqis


SYRIA

*"Foreign terrorists"

*People who want to stop the U.S. from using its military power to control other coutries

*People willing to die in a holy Islamic war, jihad, against the U.S.



Insurgent Goals

*Make the U.S. strategy of using military power to control other countries unworkable

*Use the same hidden guerilla warfare that was used in Afghanistan

*Use suicide bombers- people willing to die in a religious war-jihad

*U.S. military power was stopped in Vietnam

*Soviet military power was stopped in Afghanistan













Insurgent Strategy in Iraq


Destroy Iraq's Economy and infrastructure

*Sabotage oil pipelines, power lines


Destabilize the new Iraqi government

*Kill high ranking officials; sabotage elections; destroy government building

*Try to start a civil war between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq


Cause American Opinion to turn against the war

*Continual attacks on the U.S. troops

*Ambush supply trucks-destroy supplies

*Loss of life and high expense will cause Americans to grow tired of the war


Attack U.S. allies: anyone helping the U.S.

*Suicide bombers attack police headquarters, Iraqi security forces, recruits.

*Kidnappings of Japanese, Chinese, Italians, Filipinos, Australians and other from country with troops supporting the U.S.

--Threaten to kill hostages if troops aren't removed

*Attacks on the Turkish Consulate, Jordanian Embassy, U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad, U.S. Red Cross and other headquarters in Iraq.


*Attack, or kill, or kidnap anyone who is supporting U.S. troops or the new Iraqi government.

--Including contractors, aid workers; Suicide bombs in busy marketplaces.












President George W. Bush

Foreign and Domestic Policy in the war on Terror 2001-2006

Praise:
-The United States and the U.S. economy remained strong through 2007.

-The U.S. economy suffered a blow after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, but recovered.

-The U.S. is building democracy in Iraq.

-Life in America has returned to normal after the Sept, 11th attacks.

-There have been no more major terrorist attacks on the U.S. soil since Sept. 11th





Criticism:
-Intelligence information regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was faulty.

-Did the Bush Administration mislead the public on the presence of WMD's in order to start the War in Iraq?

-The Bush administration has alienated our allies through our unilateral, preemptive attack of Iraq.

-U.S. troop levels in Iraq were far too low.

---The Bush Adminstration has violated the rights of U.S. citizens and Arab prisoners in conducting the war on terror.

Capital Punishment In The United States Today

Definition and Facts

Capital Punishment is the lawful infliction of death as a punishment; the killing of a person via judicial process of retribution or incapacitation.

The types of crimes which are punishable by the death penalty in the U.S. (capital offenses) usually involve aggravated murder. For example:

Multiple murders
Murder + rape
Murder + torture
Contract killing

A majority of nations in the world today have banned the death penalty as a form of punishment: Almost all of Europe, plus Canada, Mexico and Australia have abandoned capital punishment.

The 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment" for crimes

A number of US states do not have the death penalty and instead use life imprisonment..

Studies have shown that factors unrelated to the crime itself- primarily pverty, race and gender- greatly influence who is executed and who is not.









Racial Bias


Again and again, studies show that racial bias permeates the criminal justice system and that African-Americans are arrested more frequently and punished more severely for the same crimes than are White Americans.

African Americans make up a far higher proportion of death row inmates than their proportion in the U.S. population

Studies also show that the race of the victim tends to greatly influence the penalty imposed. Those who kill a white person are more likely to receive the death penalty than those who kill an African-American, or Latino-American.









Economic Status

The quality of the legal representation: It is a chilling fact that you are more likely to escape the death penalty if you can hire a private attorney than if you are represented by a court-appointed lawyer.

While wealthy defendants who hire their own counsel are generally spared the death penalty, poorer defendants do not have that opportunity.









The Criminal Justice System

The death penalty is administered by the same underfunded and overworked court system which is responsible for administering all of our country's civil and criminal laws. This system can and does make mistakes.









Some Arguments for Capital Punishment

"The death penalty is an important tool and deterrent in fighting pre-meditated, and often violrnt murder."

*Some argue that the death of a criminal gives closure to the victims (if they are still alive) and their families.

*The death penalty serves as a deterrent to criminals who may be considering committing a capital offence.

*One of the main principals of punishment and the judicial system is that the penalty fits the crime. If someone violently murders another individual or numerous people, then it makes sense for the punishment to be death.

*Some anti-death penalty campaigners describe examples of people on death row, or people have already been killed have then been proved innocent. Today, the accuracy of modern forensics and DNA testing makes it very unlikely for an innocent person to be put on death row. Furthering this point, it is argued that the number of innocent people may be killed is equalized by the number of actual crimes that are set free.

*Putting people in prison, as opposed to executing them gives them a chance of parole (or the small chance that they escape) Capital punishment means there is no chance of the criminal committing another crime.









Some Arguments Against the Death Penalty

"The death penalty is a barbaric punishment which violates moral values."

*The financial cost of putting people to death, once you consider extra appeals, additional procedures, etc, can be often more than the cost of putting a criminal in prison for life.

*The death penalty violates the "cruel and unusual" clause of the Bill of Rights.

*It is simply immoral and barbaric to allow people to be killed by the state even if they have committed violent crimes.

*The appeals and additional procedures required to deal with criminals that have been condemned to death fill up the US legal system which could be put to better use.

*It can be viewed that, life in prison with little freedom and poor quality of life is a better punishment and deterrent to criminals than death row.

*There is always the possibility that innocent men and women are put to death without ever having committed a crime. There will always be failings in the judicial and conviction system

U.S. History CH. 26 Notes

The Clinton Presidency


Bill Clinton

-> Elected president in 1992


Al Gore

-> Vice President


Gays in the military

-> Clinton sought to end discrimination against gays in the military. Compromise policy= "Don't ask/Don't tell"


Health Care Reform


-> Clinton sought affordable health care for all Americans

*Hilary Clinton- in charge of the task force on health care

*Insurance companies opposed- Congress does not pass


The economy

-> Clinton inherits huge budget deficit (DEBTS) from Presidents Reagan and Bush

->By the end of his term in office Clinton had reduced the budget and created a budget surplus

->Clinton supports new technologies, software and internet companies

Creates millions of new jobs

->Economy booms

-> Stock market booms


Welfare Reform

->Clinton proposes $10 billion for job training, education and health care to help people learn higher paying jobs and get off welfare

Congress won't pass


-> Republicans support $56 billion cut in welfare- 2 year limit on time that poor Americans can receive benefits

Clinton signs


Foreign Policy

-> Clinton closes military bases; proposes big cuts in military spending now that the Cold War is over.

*Spend more on education, stopping crime and other problems at home

-> Clinton does send U.S. troops to help stop a war in Bosnia when war breaks out there.

*1995-Presidents of Bosniam Croatia and Serbia signs the Dayton Peace Accords


International Trade

->Clinton signs NAFTA-North American Free Trade Agreement- No tariffs or trade barriers between U.S.- Canada & Mexico

->Clinton signs GATT-General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Makes it easier to do business worldwide. Sets up the WTO-World Trade Organization









Republican Opposition to Clinton

1994 Midterm elections
->Republicans win control of both houses of Congress-plus 31/50 governors


Newt Gingrich
->Becomes "Speaker of the House"- Leader of the Republicans in Congress


Government Shutdown
->Republicans/Gingrich CONTRACT WITH AMERICA:
*Cut taxes
*Increase military spending
*Cut welfare payments

->Democrats/Clinton
*Tax on wealthy
*Cut military spending (now that the Cold War is over)
*Money for job training childcare

->CAN'T AGREE ON PRIORITIES
->CAN'T PASS THE FEDERAL BUDGET BY THE DEADLINE
-> GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN FOR A FEW WEEKS IN 1995, 1996.
->FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DON'T GET PAID


The American people
->American people/opinion polls tend to support Clinton-blame stubborn radical Republicans like Gingrich for the governmnt shutdown


CLINTON RE-ELECTED IN 1996









The Clinton Impeachment

Paula Jones
-Brings a lawsuit against Pres. Clinton--that he made sexual advances/sexual harrassment in 1991.

U.S. Supreme Court decides in Clinton v. Jones (1997) that a president can be sued while in office for something he did before becoming President

Jones seeks evidence that Clinton had a habit of sexually harrassing women

Settles with Clinton out of court


Kenneth Starr
-Appointed Special Prosecutor to investigate illegal Clinton activity in Whitewater business deal

After 3 years of investigation Starr finds Clinton did nothing wrong in "Whitewater"

Starr expands his investigation to find evidence of wrong doing or cover-up in the Paula Jones case

Clinton has an affair with young White House aid Monica Lewinski
-Jones seeks to use Lewinski as a witness in her case

<-Linda Tripp secretly tape records Lewinski telling her details of her affair with Clinton

*Clinton says under oath "I never had sexual relations with that woman [Monica Lewinski]."

*Starr shows Congress evidence of sexual activity with Monica Lewinski

*Congress impeaches Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice

*Senate trial finds Clinton not guilty of any charges

*Clinton apologizes for lying about sexual relations









THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY

Clinton works for international treaties that reduce barriers to trade:

GATT and NAFTA

The Passage of these treaties means that:
*Big international corporations can do business less expensively and more easily
*There is more international trade -> This leads to more jobs and a better economy in the U.S.
*The world is more united: "A Global Economy"
*There will be moe jobs for people in poorer countries


Manufacturing jobs

Go to developing countries like China and Mexico

Workers in these countries can be:
*Paid very low wages
*Forced to work long hours
*Not allowed to have union
*Required to work in unsafe, harsh conditions


The Environment

Big corporations can go to countries with fewer environmental restrictions

*They won't have to pay money to follow environmental laws.

*The global environment suffers because corporations are permitted to pollute and dump toxic wastes in poorer countries.


Service Sector Jobs

Manufacturing jobs decrease in the U.S.

Service sector jobs increase, especially in:
*Internet corporations-online businesses called "dotcoms"
*Software


Corporations downsize

Workers are laid off to save

Many workers hired only as part time or temporary workers
-> So corporations don't have to pay benefits and can fire workers whenever they want.

U.S. History CH. 25 Notes

Conservatives Win Political Power


Ronald Reagan
->Republican-elected President-1980
->Former movie actor
->Former governor of Californoa
->George Bush (Sr.) is vice president
->Elected by a conservative coalition:
*Big business leaders
*Fundamentalist Christians
*Frustrated middle class Americans and Democrats


Goals of the Conservative Movement
- and Ronald Reagan

->Less government spending
*On entitlement programs
*Less money spent on the poor, minorities and the environment

->Promoting traditional moral values
* "Families"--not gay rights or women's liberation
*Opposed lgel abortions

->Less government regulation of businesses
*Fewer environmental restrictions
*Fewer restrictions in investment

->Lower taxes
*On businesses and investment
*For most well off Americans

->Strong Defense
*Tough on Communism-the "Evil Empire"
*Increased military spending
*More contracts for big weapons manufacturers









"Reaganomics"-Supply-side Economics

ERTA-Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981
*No cuts in social programs for wealthy and middle-class Americans (social security, Medicare)'
*Tax cuts-On business investment
-for most Americans
-especially wealthiest Americans
*Less government regulation of business

Big businesses & wealthiest Americans get wealthier right away

More investment will create
-more businesses
-new products

More jobs
More income for everyone

More tax revenue paid to the U.S. government Even though tax rates are lower


Trickle Down Theory

Supply-side economics:If the wealthy and big businesses have more money they will invest it in new businesses which will create more jobs->eventually everyone will have more money including the poor.

->Social programs cut:Welfare, job-trainingm school lunches

->No big tax cuts for the poor

->No significant increase in jobs for poor Americans

The government never gets more revenue from taxes

National Debt 1981-1989
The national debt increases dramatically.









Domestic Issues Under President Reagan

The Supreme Court
->Becomes more conservative
*Reagan appoints Sandra Day O'Connor-first woman Supreme Court Justice
*She was conservative
*Reagan also appoints conservative Justices Scalia and Kennedy
*Reagan appoints conservative Justice William Rehnquist as Chief Justice
*President Bush appoints conservative justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas
*Now the court has more conservative justices:
*1989-Ct. restricts a woman's right to abortion
*new restrictions on Civil Rights laws
*1990-91-Narrowed rights of arrested persons


Savings and Loan Scandal
->Reagan deregulates Savings and Loan bank
*Allows banks to make more risky investment
*U.S. government still insures customer accounts
*Charles Keating and other bank presidencies lose billions of dollars of customer's money
*The federal government (and taxpayers) must pay over $187 billion to make up for losses


The Environment
*Reagan appointed administrators of the EPA who supported business
*Encouraged timber cutting in national forests
*Fired hundreds of inspectors









Domestic Problems 1980-1992

Abortion
->Supreme Court rules that government clinics for the poor do not have to provide abortions


Drug Abuse
->Unemployed youth sell crack cocaine and other drugs on city streets. Gang violence increases
*Bush and Reagan call for a "War on drugs"
*Nancy Reagan starts "Just say no!" to drugs


Education
->U.S. students test scores are lower than other countries. Many 17 year old Americans can not read. Drop out rate increases


Urban Violence
->(1992) Violence erupts in L.A. after police who were videotaped beating Rodney King are aquitted of wrong doing by a mostly white jury. 51 people killed; $1 billion in damage

African Americans
->(1980s) Many African American mayors of large cities; governor of Virginia. Jesse Jackson runs for president in 1984, 1988.


Latino Americans
->(1980s) Latino governor of New Mexico and Florida; mayors of several large cities. Lauro Cavazos-Secretary of Education;Dr. Antonia Coello Novello-Surgeon General


Native Americans
Allowed to open casinos on tribal land. New monry for jobs to end poverty.


Asian Americans
->Second fastest growing minority

Daniel Inouye
->U.S. Senator from Hawaii


Gays and Lesbians
->Become more vocal seeking funding for AIDS research;end to hate crimes;end to discrimination in hiring









Iran-Contra Scandal

1983-Iranian terrorist group takes U.S. citizens hostage in Lebanon.


Reagan tells U.S. allies not to sell arms to Contras

Reagan secretly sells arms to Iran in exchange for hostages

The Boland Amendment passed by the U.S. Congress says military aid to Contras is prohibited.


Money from Iranian arms sale goes to fund Contras who were fighting Communism in Nicaragua.


Contras
Backed by the C.I.A.

Did Reagan know about this?? Should he be impeached??









Mikhail Gorbachev Reforms the Soviet Union

Gorbachev
->Becomes the Soviet Union's new, young leader in 1985.


Gorbachev's New Policies
--Glasnost
(1985)-"Free flow of ideas and information"
*Churches open
*People who criticized the govt. are freed from prison
*Newspapers can criticize the govt.

--Perestroika
-Greater freedom in the economy: (1985)
*More local control of farms and factories
*Some people allowed to make money in private businesses

Democratization
(1987)-People can elect the legislative body


Foreign policy
->Diplomatic/talking not force
ARMS CONTROL/INF Treaty









Collapse of the Soviet Union

March 1990
->Lithuiania declares its independence from the Soviet Union

January 1991
->Gorbachev cracks down on the rebellion-kills 14 in Lithuiana

Gorbachev loses popularity
->Poor economy assault on Lithuiana

June 1991
->Boris Yeltsin elected president of Russia


August 18, 1991
->Hard-line communists send tanks to take over Moscow in a coup
->Yeltsin climbs on a tank-soldiers side with Yeltsin and protesters


August 1991
->Soviet Communist Party Collapse


Dec. 15, 1991
->15 republics declare their independence

Dec 25, 1991
->Gorbachev resigns. Yeltsin and 11 republics form CIS-Commonwealth of Independent States

U.S. History CH. 24 Notes

The Nixon Administration

Problems

1. Size and power of the federal government

2.Ineffieciency of the welfare system

3.Vietnam War and domestic disorder

4. Nixon's reelection

5. Liberalism of Supreme Court justices

6.Stagflation and recession

7.U.S.-China relations

8.U.S.-Soviet relations





Policies

New Federalism-more power, revenue -> state & local govts.

Impoundment-held back funds for programs he didn't like


Nixon backed the Family Assistance Plan -> guaranteed income, but welfare recepients must find work. Did not pass.


Sought to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam, conducted peace talks.

Illegal FBI wiretaps and IRS investigations of suspicious groups and persons


Southern Strategy-win votes from southern states that didn't like civil rights laws. Worked to delay school desegregation. Opposed extending the Voting Rights Act


Appointed 4 new conservative Supreme Court Justices:Burger, Blackman, Rehnquist, and Powell


Raised interest rates to cut inflation.
90 day wage and price freeze

Detente-visited China, negotiated directly with the Chinese. Signed important agreements

Detente-visited Soviet Union. Signed agreement on West Berlin. Signed SALT I Treaty -> limiting nuclear weapons









President Nixon and Watergate

Nixon's foreign policy
->Nixon helps ease Cold War tension

->Nixon's visit to Communist China and the Soviet Union helps further the new policy of detente.

->Nixon pulls U.S. troops out of Vietnam

->Nixon signs SALT I Treaty with the Soviet Union, for Nuclear Arms limits (1972)


Watergate
->U.S. presidency has increased power under Nixon

->Nixon distances himself from others and relies on a small group of close advisers

->Nixon seeks reelection in 1972 "by any means possible."

->Nixon participates in a White House cover-up of their involvement in the burglary

->The Senate begins an investigation of possible White House involvement in the Watergate break-in

->Witnesses at these hearings accuse Nixon and other White House officials of orchestrating a cover-up

->Nixon refuses to release White House tape recordings that could prove his involvement in a cover-up

->The House Judiciary Committee votes to ask for impeachment of Nixo

U.S. History CH. 23 Notes

Growing Presence of Latino Americans

Mexican Americans
-Here before Mex-AM War
-Came after violence in 1910
-Braceros-during WWII
-1960s-today-many illegally crossed the borders


Puerto Ricans
-1 million migrated to Northeast U.S.
-600,000 in NYC


Latino Americans
-2006-15% of U.S. pop.
-2008-44% of N.M. pop.
-Largest U.S. minority


"Coyotes"- help poor Latinos to cross U.S. border illegally for a fee often dishonest


Cubans
-Most came to U.S. after Castro took over Cuba
-Most settled in Miami


Salvadoreans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, Colombians
-Came to U.S. to escape civil wars, brutal dictatorship and poverty

Latino Americans in the U.S.

Prejudice

Discrimination in jobs and housing

Segregation
-Barrios-segregated neighborhoods

Organizations to fight back
-United Farm Workers
-MAPA
-La Raza Unida









Latino American Rights

Latino Americans are the fastest growing minority in America and are now the largest minority


Farm Workers
*Hard work for little pay or benefits
*Cesar Chavez sought to organize and unionize Latino American farm workers using nonviolent means
*United Farm Workers-farm workers union formed by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta
*1965-1970 Grape boycott-Chavez organized a boycott of grapes in supermarkets all across the country, until the farm owners recognized the UFW and gave them better pay and benefits
*Bilingual Education Act of 1968-provided for bilingual education and cultural heritage programs in schools



Native Americans
*Have suffered highest unemployment and poverty rate. Also have suffered more from suicidem health problems, and alcoholism.

*American Indian Movement (AIM)-militant Native American movement started in 1968 confronting the government to demand recognition of Nat. Am.'s poor treatment throughout history

-1969-Occupation of Alcatraz Island for 18 months

-1973-Protest in Wounded Knee -> against poor living conditions

-1972- Indian Education Act

-1975-Indian Self-Determination and Ed. Assistance Act









Women's Rights

Feminism
*The belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men

Civil Rights Act of 1964
*Prohibits discrimination based on "gender"

The problem:1950
*Only 1 in 3 women worked

*Many jobs (e.g. construction, military combat) were closed to women

*Women were still paid less for the same work in many cases

*Women were rarely promoted to highee level management positions

*Women are supposed to stay at home, take care of children, cook, clean house and have babies


Betty Friedan
*Writes "The Feminism Mystique: about women's modern feeling of emptiness at being stuck at home


Gloria Steinem
*Organize N.O.W. to actively work for women's rights


The Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.)
*Constitutional amendment passes in 35 states/38 needed


Results
*Female Law Sch. Grad.
-1970-5%
-2000-49%

*Med. Sch.
-1970-8%
-2007-49%

*Women Working
-1950-29%
-2007-75%

Women in Congress
-1975-19
-2009-93 (76-HR, 17-S)









Women's Movement vs. New Right

Gloria Steinem
-> N.O.W.

->Ms. Magazine

->Pro-E.R.A.

->Roc v. Wade
*Pro abortion rights

->New attitudes!

->New oppurtunities!

->New rights for women!

->No more job and wage discrimination!

->Feminism



Phyllis Schlafly

->"Stop E.R.A." campaign

->Anti-abortion

->Traditional family

->Traditional moral values

->Women belong in the home caring for families

->Equal rights will mean women will be drafted and husbands won't have to pay child support!

->Conservative









60s Counterculture

*Long Hair

*Drug Use
-LSD
-Marijuana

*Colorful clothes

*Rock music

*American materialistic society is B-A-D!

*Peace & Love



*Liberal views on sexuality

*Communes
-peaceful cooperative living

*Eastern Religions
-Zen Buddhism
-Transcendental Meditation



Results
+New Art-Andy Warhol
+New clothing styles
+Woodstock-music festival
+New perspective
*On religion
*On sexuality
*On lifestyles
*On the govt.
*On peace and war


x Drug overdoses
x Charles Manson/violence
x Many live off welfare
x Moral decay
x Conservative reaction
*Republicans win 1968 election
*Country turns conservative (Pres. Reagan/Bush)