George HW Bush and the End of the Cold War: Crash Course US History #44

In which John Green teaches you about the end of the Cold War and the presidency of George H.W. Bush. It was neither the best of times nor the worst of times. On the domestic front, the first president Bush inherited the relative prosperity of the later Reagan years and watched that prosperity evaporate. That was about all the interest Bush 41 had, domestically, so let's move to foreign policy, which was a bigger deal at this time. The biggie was the end of the Cold War, which is the title of the video, so you know it's important. The collapse of the Soviet Union was the biggest deal of Bush's term, and history has assigned the credit to Ronald Reagan. We give the guy a break and say that he helped. He was certainly an expert in foreign policy, having been an envoy to China, ambassador to the United Nations, and head of the CIA. Bush also oversaw the first Gulf War, which was something of a success, in that the primary mission was accomplished, and the vast majority of the troops were home in short order. It didn't do much to address some of the other problems in the region, but we'll get to that in the next few weeks. Along with all this, you'll learn about Bush's actions, or lack thereof, in Somalia and the Balkans, and you'll even be given an opportunity to read Bush's lips.

Chapters:
Introduction: George H.W. Bush 00:00
George H.W. Bush 0:43
The Election of 1988 1:48
George H.W. Bush's Foreign Policy 3:48
Saddam Hussein & The First Iraq War 5:25
Mystery Document 6:45
Domestic Policies: FMLA & the ADA 8:08
Rodney King & the L.A. Uprisings 9:29
Economics of the Early 1990s 10:12
Bush's Failed Re-Election Campaign 11:24
George H.W. Bush's Legacy 12:34
Credits 13:20

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[kaylaabernathy]

"The guy had more careers than Barbie!!" Laughed out loud at work.

[chuckpowell]

You do a good thing John. I'm a 35 year old railroad worker that wants to know the real history of this great country of ours and to have a better understanding of the world my two girls grow up in.
Knowing the past makes the present alot less scary(most of the time) and gives me some optimism for our nation and the human race as a whole.
Thank you sir.

[bradleysowers]

"The 1990s began in 1988..."
-John Green

[KingJaredoftheLand]

That Super Mario World-inspired thought bubble with Bowser was so great I went back and watched it twice.

[OSILVEROBULLETO]

My greatest take away from this was that no matter what decisions a government makes, it will always displease someone in the favor of another and we will always wonder what if...

[anubis]

What will I do without this channel when you get to the present?  I hope  you have plans to go back through history again talking about different evens from different angles.

[SuperKing]

damn Bush had a impressive career props for the finishing his mission in a burning plane thing that's hardcore  

[Ancor]

The US doesn't have paid maternity leave? Wow, that is

[Cucumber-ejpm]

That Soviet Bowser looked fucking awesome good job Thought Bubble (or Thought Cafe).  

[seanpowell]

Can't get enough of Crash Course. I watch it in Geography class and now at home; I'm going mad!

[alexpindell]

He was a better president then his son

[ChristopherNFP]

You forgot to mention the other iconic political moment: where Senator Benson said to Dan Quayle "I knew John Kennedy, I served under John Krnnedy. You sir are no John Kennedy".

[FirstRisingSouI]

Why is the mystery document still ancient parchment?

[Hutts]

0:48 He's the Hulk?  Thanks I know what my history project is about now :)

[dangerouslytalented]

*quick note: It is very easy to make millions of dollars in the oil industry if your father, and his father before him, and going all the way back to the 1600s were all rich. The Bushes are the oldest of "old money"...

[hamilton]

I find it funny how you can learn more things watching 14 minutes of Crash Course than sitting in a classroom for 7 hours.

[photosinensis]

George H. W. Bush is seriously one of our most underrated presidents.  His domestic policy lacked vision, but he knew foreign policy and handled the situation well.

[shubhramishra]

"More careers than Barbie" :)

[AlternateHistoryHub]

Not to hate on China or India, but I think outsourcing American jobs is one of leading contributors to the death of the American middle class.  Wonder why Detroit is dying?  That's why.

[thehistoricalgamer]

HW Bush was really a solid president, he handled the end of the Cold War brilliantly, the gulf war well, and when he thought it was necessary for the good of the nation he raised taxes. He seemed very pragmatic and competent. I would argue he was one of the better presidents of the 20th century, its too bad his son fell pretty far from the tree.