04 Worksheet the Presidency of Bill Clinton And

Name:______Date:______Class:______Bill Clinton and the Role of Government: 1992-1996

Part A: Short Answer: Instructions: In at least one paragraph, answer the questions below. 1. How did Ross Perot impact the Election of 1992 and the Election of 1996? ______

2. Compare and contrast the views of Bill Clinton with Ronald Reagan concerning the role of the government and taxes. How were they different? ______

3. What was the plan of Newt Gingrich for the mid-term Elections of 1994? Was he successful? Explain. ______

Part B: Important Terms: Instructions: For each term, write at least one sentence explaining the historical significance of the word. 1. George H.W. Bush:

2. Family Medical Leave Act:

3. The Brady Bill:

4. The National Rifle Association:

5. Contract with the America:

6. Bob Dole:

7. Welfare:

8. The Reform Party:

9. Electronic Data Systems (EDS):

Part A: Short Answer: Instructions: In at least one paragraph, answer the questions below. 1. How did Ross Perot impact the Election of 1992 and the Election of 1996? In 1992, Ross Perot ran in the Presidential Election. Perot started a company called Electronic Data Systems and was a billionaire. Perot championed conservative ideals, such as loose gun control, and many felt he pulled votes away from the Republicans. Perot received over 18% of the popular vote, a high percentage for a 3rd party candidate. He ran again in the Election of 1996, for the Reform Party, and lost to Bill Clinton.

2. Compare and contrast the views of Bill Clinton with Ronald Reagan concerning the role of the government and taxes. How were they different? Ronald Reagan believed in reducing funding for government programs to ensure less taxes were placed on citizens. Therefore, he believed in shrinking the government. Bill Clinton believed the government should have a significant role in society and was willing to increase taxes to fund government programs. While Clinton claimed he was more moderate than past Democrats, these distinctions between Democrats and Republicans persist to today. Most Republicans want lower taxes and a smaller government. Most Democrats are willing to increase taxes to fund government programs. 3. What was the plan of Newt Gingrich for the mid-term Elections of 1994? Was he successful? Explain. Partially as a backlash against Clinton’s attempts to expand the government’s involvement in healthcare, the Republicans strategized a political takeover. They claimed Clinton was not the moderate he claimed to be but was actually very liberal on political issues. Newt Gingrich, a Republican Congressman from Georgia, proposed what he called the Contract With America. This was a Conservative plan to limit the government’s involvement and spending. His goal was for the Republicans to gain the House of Representatives. Although the Democrats gained the Presidency in 1992, the Republicans rallied massive victories in the 1994 midterm elections. Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Part B: Important Terms: Instructions: For each term, write at least one sentence explaining the historical significance of the word. 1. George H.W. Bush: Though he won the Election of 1988, he lost the Election of 1992 to Bill Clinton. 2. Family Medical Leave Act: This law required businesses to give employees time off for medical emergencies without the risk of losing their job. Bill Clinton signed this bill into law. 3. The Brady Bill: This law required background checks to purchase guns.

4. The National Rifle Association: This lobby group opposed the Brady Bill and supported loose gun laws. 5. Contract with the America: This was Newt Gingrich’s agreement with voters and his strategy to take over the House of Representatives in the midterms elections of 1994. 6. Bob Dole: He lost the Election of 1996 to Bill Clinton. 7. Welfare: Clinton agreed to reform welfare by requiring recipients to seek for work. 8. The Reform Party: This was a political party that supported Ross Perot in the Election of 1996. 9. Electronic Data Systems (EDS): This was a business owned by Ross Perot that helped him become a billionaire.