The American People Face a New Century Study Guide - Kenney - U.S. History 2 H

George W. Bush

Republican president from 2001-2009 who called himself a "compassionate conservative." His presidency was shaped by 9/11, the War on Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and economic problems.

Barack Obama

First African American president, elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Passed the Affordable Care Act and ended combat operations in Iraq.

Joseph Biden

Vice president under Barack Obama during both of Obama's terms.

John McCain

Republican candidate in the 2008 election who lost to Barack Obama.

Sarah Palin

John McCain's 2008 running mate from Alaska who was criticized for being inexperienced.

Saddam Hussein

Dictator of Iraq accused of having weapons of mass destruction; removed from power during the Iraq War.

George Floyd

Black man whose death during a police arrest in 2020 sparked nationwide protests about racial injustice and policing.

Kyoto Treaty (Kyoto Protocol)

International agreement aimed at slowing global warming that Bush rejected, angering environmentalists.

9/11

Terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in which hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Al Qaeda

Terrorist organization led by Osama Bin Laden that planned the 9/11 attacks.

Patriot Act

2001 law that expanded government surveillance powers after 9/11 to fight terrorism.

Department of Homeland Security

Government department created in 2003 to improve national security and prevent terrorism.

War on Iraq

Conflict begun by the U.S. in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein and eliminate suspected weapons of mass destruction.

Abu Ghraib Prison

Iraqi prison where U.S. soldiers abused prisoners during the Iraq War, causing outrage.

Guantanamo Detention Camp

U.S. prison camp in Cuba where terrorism suspects were held, often without formal charges.

No Child Left Behind Act

Bush-era education law that used standardized testing to measure school performance.

Hurricane Katrina

Deadly 2005 hurricane that devastated New Orleans and exposed failures by FEMA and the government response.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Agency responsible for disaster response that was criticized for reacting slowly to Hurricane Katrina.

Sub

prime mortgage crisis - Financial crisis caused by risky home loans that contributed to the 2008 recession and housing market collapse.

Affordable Care Act

Obama's 2010 healthcare law, also called Obamacare, that expanded health insurance coverage.

Tea Party

Conservative political movement formed in 2009 that strongly opposed Obama's policies and government spending.

Occupy Wall Street Movement

Protest movement against economic inequality and the power of large corporations and wealthy Americans.

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

1996 law defining marriage as between a man and a woman for federal purposes; later ruled unconstitutional.

Obergefell v. Hodges

2015 Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Waco, Texas incident

1993 standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidians religious group that ended in a deadly fire.

Ruby Ridge incident

1992 armed standoff in Idaho between federal agents and Randy Weaver's family that increased anti-government feelings.

Oklahoma City bombing

1995 domestic terrorist attack by Timothy McVeigh on a federal building that killed 168 people.

Compassionate conservative

Bush's political philosophy that combined conservative policies with concern for social issues.

Islamophobia

Fear or prejudice against Muslims that increased after the 9/11 attacks.

Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

Nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons the U.S. believed Iraq possessed, though none were found.

Axis of Evil

Term Bush used for Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, accusing them of supporting terrorism and threatening world peace.

Mission Accomplished

Phrase displayed behind Bush in 2003 when he announced major combat in Iraq had ended, though fighting continued.

Stem cell research

Scientific research Bush restricted because of ethical concerns involving embryos.

Guest worker program

Bush immigration proposal allowing immigrants to work temporarily in the U.S. with a possible path to citizenship.

Housing bubble

Rapid rise in housing prices before 2008 that eventually collapsed and caused financial losses.

"Yes we can!"

Barack Obama's famous campaign slogan during the 2008 election.

Affordable healthcare reform

Obama's effort to expand healthcare access through the Affordable Care Act.

Tea Party goals

Reduce taxes, decrease government spending, and oppose Obama's healthcare reforms.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Military policy banning openly gay people from serving; repealed under Obama.

Osama Bin Laden

Leader of Al Qaeda and mastermind of 9/11 who was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan in 2011.

Drones

Unmanned aircraft used by the U.S. military for surveillance and attacks during Obama's presidency.

Occupy Wall Street goals

Protest economic inequality and the influence of wealthy corporations in politics.

Economic inequality

Growing gap between rich and poor Americans, especially noticeable after the 1980s.

Super PACs

Political groups allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support candidates.

Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

2012 school shooting in Connecticut that renewed debates over gun control laws.

Edward Snowden

Former government contractor who leaked information about U.S. surveillance programs in 2013.

DREAM Act

Proposed law to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

DACA

Obama-era program protecting some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.

Shelby County v. Holder

2013 Supreme Court case weakening parts of the Voting Rights Act.

Same

sex marriage - Marriage between two people of the same sex, legalized nationwide in 2015 through Obergefell v. Hodges.

ISIS

Extremist group in Iraq and Syria known for violent attacks and attempts to gain territory.

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -

Proposed trade agreement between Pacific nations intended to increase trade and economic ties.