The American Nation A History of the United States, Combined Volume (14th Edition)

880 Chapter 32 Shocks and Responses: 1992–Present

Key Terms

axis of evil A pejorative phrase, coined by
President George W. Bush in 2002, referring to
states that supported terrorism and sought
weapons of mass destruction. He specifically iden-
tified Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, 859
Contract with America A pledge, signed by many
Republicans running for Congress in 1994, to
support conservative reforms limiting federal
power and expenditures. Championed by House
Speaker Newt Gingrich, it contributed to a
Republican electoral victory; but opposition by
President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, prevented
passage of much of the contract’s legislative
agenda, 852
improvised explosive device (IED) Also known as
“roadside bombs,” IEDs are homemade bombs
that usually consist of captured artillery shells that
are wired to a detonator. Either they are exploded
remotely or by suicide bombers. IEDs accounted

for over a third of the casualties sustained by

American and United Nations forces in the Iraq

and Afghanistan wars, 867

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

A 1993 accord signed by Canada, Mexico, and the

United States to reduce and eventually eliminate

barriers to trade, including tariffs, among the sig-

natories, 853

“surge” The sudden increase in troop strength

that appeared to have been used successfully

against the Iraq insurgency in 2007. President

Barack Obama similarly adopted a surge in

2009 to stabilize a deteriorating situation in

Afghanistan, 868

war on terror Initially, a worldwide campaign

to catch and prosecute those guilty of the

September 11, 2001, attacks; as terrorist attacks

spread throughout the world, the war became

defined far more broadly, 858

1992 Democrat Bill Clinton is elected president
1993 Ruth Bader Ginsberg becomes second woman
justice of the Supreme Court
1994 Republicans win control of both houses of
Congress
Congress defeats Clinton’s health care reform plan
1996 Democrat Bill Clinton is reelected president;
Republicans retain control of Congress
Measure revamping federal welfare system is
passed by Congress and signed by
President Clinton
1998 The House of Representatives impeaches Clinton
1999 Clinton acquitted by Senate, Clinton remains
in office
NATO troops, including Americans, are sent to
Kosovo to stop Serbian “ethnic cleansing”
Gun violence in schools escalates; twelve die at
Columbine High School in Colorado
2000 Republican George W. Bush is elected president
when Supreme Court halts Florida recounts
2001 Terrorists hijack airliners and fly them into the
twin towers of the World Trade Center in New
York and the Pentagon, killing 3,000
United States drives Taliban from power
in Afghanistan

2002 President Bush prepares for war as he accuses

Saddam Hussein of Iraq of developing weapons

of mass destruction

2003 United States and United Kingdom attack and

defeat Iraq and capture Saddam Hussein

2004 Republican George W. Bush is reelected president

2005 Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans and

Gulf Coast region

2007 Democrat Nancy Pelosi becomes first woman

Speaker of the House

2008 Deranged student kills thirty-three at

Virginia Tech

Democrat Barack Obama is first African American

to be elected president

Collapse of U.S. mortgage markets triggers global

financial crisis

2009 Obama implements troop surge in Afghanistan

2010 Congress approves health care bill

BP-owned rig explodes, killing eleven and spewing

oil into the Gulf of Mexico

Arizona passes law to crack down on illegal

immigrants; national debate ensues

Republicans take control of House of

Representatives

Milestones

Chapter Summary