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= = =S **e c t i o n 3** =

**The election of 1988 **
During the election of 1988, the republicans were strongly behind George Bush, but the democrats were ready to have a strong man run against him. Jesse Jackson was eager to lead the group, but the democrats chose Dukakis. In the end, George Bush received 53 percent of the votes, and became the next president.

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**The New President **
Bush brought experience to the white house  Although the president spoke of new ideas and a new era, he took his starting steps with caution. He had to incorporate Reagan's work, while working with the democratic congress.
 * Pilot during WWII
 * Started successful oil business in Texas
 * Served as congress member
 * Director of the CIA

During the 1980's when drug abuse was high, Bush made a point to speak out and try to control the spread of drug abuse. He appointed William Bennett as "drug czar", to help Bush oversee the problem.

Bush also focused on education and environmental issues and cut back on government programs to make room for the new issues. William Reilly was appointed as head of the EPA  Bush also focused on reducing nuclear waste plants, because they posed such a threat to the environment. = =
 * Signed law to reduce air pollution in 1990

The Savings and Loans Crisis
The once convenient savings and loans institute that was supported by the government to encourage people to save money, took a turn during the 1970s when banks had to have long term, high interest mortgages.

The Reagan administration tired to lower government control on S&L's, but due to the low real estate market, little progress could be made. The Bush administration came up with a plan to buy failed banks and sell them. During the 1990's the nation's banking system weakened overall due to the S&L's
 * The low real estate market was due to falling energy prices.




 The president came up with a plan that would cut the deficit by $500 billion over 5 years.
 * Increased taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and gas

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">Flags and the Supreme Court
In 1989, the law against burning and defacing the nation's flag was tuned down. The court claimed that making it illegal would go against free speech. Bush was angered by this and called for a new amendment that would ban defacing of the flag. This caused much debate and many opinions arose.



=<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(255,0,145);">S **e c t i o n 4** =

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">The End of the Cold War?
In 1989 and 1990, things in eastern Europe began to change when communist governments began to fall. Former enemies of the state came into power. In 1989, the most significant event in the change from communism occurred when the Berlin Wall was opened. Before, the wall symbolized containment and cold war hostility.
 * Barbed wire and cinder blocks
 * Guards prevented anyone from crossing

The opening of the wall led to a union between East and West Germany. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1990, after 45 years, Germany became one nation. <span style="background-color: rgb(255,255,255); font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1989, the Czechoslovakian government had to resign due to protests and demonstrations against communism. The United States was thrilled with the new democratic changes made to Czechoslovakia, and Bush even decided to provide economic support.

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">New Directions In Latin America
Former president Reagan took more militant action when dealing with Nicaragua. On the other hand, Bush did not want to press military aid to the contras. He decided to take a different approach and worked out a bipartisan agreement with the country.
 * This mean that the US would provide medical supplies, food, and clothing.

Former friend of the United States, Manuel Noriega, betrayed the United States by becoming involved in drug smuggling. Noriega declared defiant when the federal court indicted him on drug charges. He immediately called a state of emergency and corrupted Panama's elections. Bush decided to take action, and on December 20th 1989, he sent military forces into Panama. Noriega went into hiding at first, but then surrendered and was taken to trial. The US offered to rebuild the government and the economy.



<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">Unrest In China
More and more people wanted to continue the spread of democracy, and in the spring of 1989, students in China gathered in Tiananmen Square to campaign for reforms. Many had hope that the protesting would pull through, but that summer army tanks stopped the progress by breaking up the campaigning and arrested and killed many innocent people. <span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">

Congress called for economic sanctions to limit trade and investment.

 * ======This was done to pressure the African government to end the apartheid.======

He tried to reduce racial tensions in Africa, and freed Nelson Mandela.

 * ======Nelson Mandela was an opposer of the apartheid.======

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">War Clouds In the <span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,62,255);">Middle East
The middle east decided to raise their military power. In 1990, Saddam Hussien and his troops invaded Kuwait, an oil producing nation. To stop this invasion, Bush sent troops to Saudi Arabia and tried to get other nations to join together and force Saddam out of Kuwait. Countries joined together, but Saddam threatened us by holding Americans and other foreigners hostage.
 * During the 80's oil was in high demand, and if Saddam took control over Kuwait, he would monopolize the oil industry.
 * Saddam warned he would kill the hostages if action was taken against him

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,48,255);">Fugitives in a desert Drama
Surprisingly, Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait and attacked.
 * They invaded stores, hospitals and businesses

Many Americans living in Kuwait went into hiding. Some Kuwaitis helped Americans and took them into safe places.

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; color: rgb(0,48,255);">War in the Persian Gulf
Action had to be taken to stop Saddam, so Bush declared a decline for Iraq's removal from Kuwait. Bush also sent 200,000 more troops to the Middle East. After this threat, Saddam refused to negotiate, but released most of the hostages.



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