End of the 20th Century

The United States always has been a place where different ideas and views compete to influence law and social change. The liberal activism of the 1960s–1970s gave way to conservatism in the 1980s.

Conservatives wanted limited government, strong national defense, and tax cuts.
  American politics, however, can change quickly: In 1992, Americans elected the more liberal Bill Clinton as president.
Politics became more bitter than usual when the election was very close in 2000. A Supreme Court ruling about disputed ballots in Florida ensured that George W. Bush won the election over Al Gore.President Bush expected to focus on education, the U.S. economy, and Social Security. On September 11, 2001, everything changed.

Bush declared war on worldwide terrorism and sent U.S. troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. At first, most Americans backed President Bush, but many grew uncomfortable with his policies. In 2008, Americans chose Barack Obama for the presidency. Obama became the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

The United States has dramatically changed from its beginnings as 13 little-known colonies. Its population of 300 million people represents almost every national and ethnic group in the world. Progress continues in economics, technology, culture, and society. Americans live in an interdependent, interconnected world.