Final answer:
NAFTA's importance stemmed from its political, economic, and societal implications. The agreement, associated with globalization, had both advocates and detractors due to its significant impacts on jobs, environmental legislation, and trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
If NAFTA really didn’t do much, why did people make such a big deal out of it? The answer involves a combination of factors including political significance, economic impacts, and societal effects. NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, brought with it a range of promised benefits and detriments that were hotly debated. Proponents of NAFTA envisioned a boost in economic growth and job creation. In contrast, prominent figures like H. Ross Perot warned of job losses, coining the term “giant sucking sound” to describe the potential relocation of jobs to Mexico due to lower wages. Despite initial fears, the U.S. experienced substantial job growth in the years following NAFTA's implementation. However, critics later pointed to data that suggested a loss of U.S. jobs attributable to NAFTA. Environmentalists and labor unions worried about negative consequences, such as reduced effectiveness of protective legislation and loss of American jobs. In Mexico, NAFTA was associated with economic instability, notably the Tequila Crisis, and increased illegal immigration to the U.S due to unemployment. Ultimately, NAFTA was so controversial because it represented a tangible component of globalization and had diverse and significant effects on multiple facets of the economy and society in the U.S. and Mexico.