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?
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2. Compare and contrast the views of Bill Clinton with
Ronald Reagan concerning the role of the government
and taxes. How were they different?
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3. What was the plan of Newt Gingrich for the mid-term
Elections of 1994? Was he successful? Explain.
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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):
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Answers:
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?
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 3 rd 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.
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.