History of the United States II / Unit 16 USH2 2299 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Defense of Marriage Act
Captions available
The idea
In September nineteen ninety-six Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which barred federal recognition of same-sex marriage and the federal benefits that go with it.
In practice
Both houses passing it by margins wide enough, the anchor says, to override any veto.
Where people slip
The anchor calls the signature another step to appease political conservatives.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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