Ch.23 The 1990s, Pt. 1

Advances in Technology

• Advances in technology were the biggest changes toward the end of the 20th century.
• Technology can be defined as the use of science for machines and industry.
• Technology is often related to computers, cellphones, and the Internet, but it is not always limited to computers.
• Technology can be simple, such as the wheel of a car.
• Technology advanced in the 1990s and evolved into the creation of computers and the Internet.
• Military research developments benefit everyday citizens.
• Military's science and technological research was useful through the twentieth century.
• The military invested in scientific research, especially new technologies, by the end of WW2 in 1945.
• The groundwork for computers and the Internet was laid in the 1940s and 1950s through military research.
• The first electronic computer was built at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.
• Early computers were unlike desktops or laptops, and contained many switches and panels
• Early computers were the size of entire rooms, and few knew how to use them. By the 1960s, many large businesses and companies had at least one computer, but most people did not own them in their homes.
• Personal computers were introduced in the 1970s, but most people still did not own one.
• In the late 1980s, Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft) made personal computers easier to use with his software programs and operating systems.
• Steve Jobs at Apple revolutionized technology with his inventions.
• People began talking about the Electronic Age and a technological revolution.
• More people owned computers by the 1990s.
• The World Wide Web became accessible to the public in 1991, but was previously only available to the government and military.
• Technology and the Internet improved communications, medicine, and defense weapons and changed the way we live.

The Persian Gulf War

• Dictators who went against the world during the WW2 had to be stopped
• Stopping the dictators had a very high cost.
• President George H. W. Bush dealt with these types of dictators.
• In August 1990, Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq, invaded neighboring Kuwait.
• Iraq invaded Kuwait because it believed Kuwait was drilling oil from Iraq's territory.
• Iraq also owed Kuwait money from a previous war and asked Kuwait to forgive the debt, but Kuwait refused.
• Many countries worldwide condemned Iraq for invading Kuwait, including some of Iraq's close allies.
• The US told Iraq that it had to leave Kuwait or face war.
• The countries tried to solve the situation peacefully, but Iraq would not leave.
• The US and President Bush led a group of 28 countries against Saddam Hussein by blocking trade with Iraq.
• Although the United Nations approved using force if Iraq did not exit Kuwait, Saddam Hussein did not listen.

Persian Gulf War Cont.

• On January 16, 1991, the US Armed Forces launched an attack against Iraq, which resulted in the Persian Gulf War
• The advances in technology were well developed, and weapons were much better than in any previous war.
• Technology changed how the war was fought and how people saw the war.
• The Vietnam War was the first television war.
• By the Persian Gulf War, media could broadcast live from the frontlines.
• Americans at home watched as "smart" bombs struck their targets on television.
• One month after the bombing started, ground soldiers were sent and the war was over.
• Iraq withdrew from Kuwait and the US kept forces in Kuwait to help maintain peace.
• Even after Iraq was out of Kuwait, the problem was not over.
• Saddam Hussein was allowed to rebuild his army and he did horrible things to his own people.

Era of Superpower

• America was called a superpower after WW2, having a reputation for its strong and prepared military.
• Bush gained popularity with the swiftness of the Gulf War, but he only served one term.
• In 1992, Americans elected William Clinton, the young and energetic governor of Arkansas from the Democratic Party.