N O T E B O O K
G U I D E
U.S. Domestic Politics at the
Turn of the 21st Century
To what extent did Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama fulfill
their domestic policy goals?
K e y
C o n t e n t
As you complete the Reading Notes, use these
Key Content Terms in your answers:
New Democrat
Contract with America
R E A D I N G
T e r m s
No Child Left Behind
Act (NCLB)
Temporary Assistance
to Needy Families
(TANF)
9/11
Bush v. Gore
debt ceiling
stimulus
gridlock
P R E V I E W
1.In your notebook, write the following list of
domestic policy goals:
• landing a man on the moon
• deregulating businesses
N O T E S
Section 2
In your notebook, create a T-chart. Label one side
“Democrats” and the other side “Republicans.” As
you read Section 2, record at least four characteristics
of each party’s agenda, or platform, in the appropriate
column.
Sections 3 to 5
In your notebook, create three T-charts. Title each
with the name of one of the three presidents studied in
this chapter. Label one side of the T-charts “Domestic
Policy Goals Achieved” and the other side “Domestic
Policy Goals Not Achieved.” As you read Sections 3
to 5, record factual details about at least five domestic
policy goals of that president in the appropriate
column of the chart.
• freeing the slaves
• ending the Great Depression
• preserving the environment by establishing
national parks
2.Which of the following presidents was associated with each domestic policy goal: Franklin D.
Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln,
Ronald Reagan, or Theodore Roosevelt? Write the
president’s name next to the appropriate goal.
3.What factors do you think might have allowed each
president to achieve his goal?
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
U.S. Domestic Politics at the Turn of the 21st Century
1
N O T E B O O K
G U I D E
P R O C E S S I N G
If Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama
were appearing on a political talk show to discuss the
economy and social concerns during their administrations, the moderator might ask the following questions.
For each question, record a short dialogue that might
take place among the three presidents as they answer
or discuss each question. Each dialogue should include
at least two responses per president.
• What do you think the government’s role should be
when it comes to ensuring that America’s economy
is strong?
• During your presidency, what was America’s most
pressing social concern, and how did your administration handle that concern?
• To what extent do you believe that you achieved
your domestic policy goals?
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
U.S. Domestic Politics at the Turn of the 21st Century
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