9.3 etc Key Events and Figures in Recent U.S. History

Osama bin Laden

Founder of al-Qaeda and mastermind of the 9/11 attacks; killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan in 2011.

Afghanistan

The first target of the U.S. War on Terror after 9/11, where the Taliban harbored al-Qaeda.

Taliban

An Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan and sheltered terrorists before and after 9/11.

Asymmetric warfare

A conflict where one side uses unconventional tactics like terrorism or cyberattacks to offset military disadvantages.

USS Cole

A U.S. Navy ship attacked by al-Qaeda in 2000 while refueling in Yemen, killing 17 sailors.

World Trade Center

Iconic twin skyscrapers in NYC destroyed by hijacked planes during the 9/11 attacks.

September 11, 2001

Coordinated terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda using hijacked planes, killing nearly 3,000 and prompting U.S. wars abroad.

USA PATRIOT Act

2001 law expanding surveillance, detention, and investigative powers to fight terrorism more effectively.

Department of Homeland Security

Established in 2002 to coordinate national defense against terrorism and manage disaster response.

Director of National Intelligence

A role created in 2004 to oversee and coordinate all U.S. intelligence agencies after intelligence failures on 9/11.

Saddam Hussein

Authoritarian Iraqi leader overthrown by the U.S. in 2003; accused of developing WMDs and supporting terrorism.

Axis of evil

Label by President Bush in 2002 for Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as threats due to terrorism or WMD programs.

Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

Nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons; falsely cited as justification for invading Iraq in 2003.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein and promote democracy in Iraq.

War of choice

Criticism of the Iraq War, arguing it was unnecessary and not directly tied to U.S. security.

Regime change

U.S. policy of removing hostile governments like Saddam's in Iraq, often through military intervention.

Abu Ghraib

Iraqi prison where U.S. guards were found to have tortured detainees, damaging America's global image.

Kyoto Accord

1997 global climate agreement to cut greenhouse gases; the U.S. withdrew in 2001 under Bush, citing economic harm.

Bush Doctrine

Post-9/11 policy allowing preemptive strikes against threats and promoting democracy, especially in the Middle East.

Unilateralist approach

U.S. foreign policy strategy of acting independently, often without support from allies or international groups.

Obama Foreign Policy (WOR)

Focused on diplomacy, withdrawing troops from Iraq, multilateral cooperation, and restoring America's global image.

Hillary Clinton

First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State under Obama, and 2016 Democratic nominee who lost to Donald Trump.

Barack Obama

44th president (2009-2017), known for the Affordable Care Act, killing bin Laden, and economic recovery efforts.

John McCain

Vietnam veteran and longtime Arizona Senator; 2008 Republican presidential nominee who lost to Obama.

Arab Spring

A wave of pro-democracy protests in the Arab world starting in 2010, leading to revolutions and civil wars.

ISIS

Terrorist group that broke from al-Qaeda, forming a brutal Islamic state in Iraq and Syria before being largely defeated.

Ukraine

Eastern European country invaded by Russia in 2014 and 2022, sparking war and Western support.

Vladimir Putin

Russian president known for cracking down on opposition and expanding Russian influence through military aggression.

Cuba

Under Obama, diplomatic ties with Cuba were restored after decades of Cold War tensions.

Cyber attacks

Hacking attempts often by foreign governments or criminals targeting national security, elections, or corporations.

WikiLeaks

Website that publishes leaked government and corporate documents; known for revealing classified U.S. military info.

No Child Left Behind Act

2002 education law that emphasized standardized testing and accountability to close achievement gaps.

Enron

Energy company whose 2001 collapse due to fraud led to reforms in corporate accounting practices.

Elections of 2004

President George W. Bush won re-election, defeating Democrat John Kerry during the Iraq War.

John Kerry

Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee who criticized the Iraq War.

Privatize Social Security

Bush's controversial proposal to let Americans invest retirement funds in private accounts; it failed.

Hurricane Katrina

2005 hurricane that devastated New Orleans; the federal government faced criticism for a slow disaster response.

John Roberts

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by Bush in 2005, known for key rulings on health care and voting.

Samuel Alito

Conservative Supreme Court Justice appointed by Bush in 2006, strengthening the Court's right-leaning majority.

Great Recession

Massive economic downturn from 2007 to 2009 triggered by the housing and financial markets collapse.

Securitization

Practice of bundling loans like mortgages into investments; contributed to the housing bubble and crash.

Fannie Mae

Government-backed mortgage lender central to the housing market collapse.

Freddie Mac

Another key mortgage company whose risky loans contributed to the 2008 financial crisis.

Lehman Brothers

Investment bank whose 2008 bankruptcy symbolized the financial meltdown.

Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP)

$700 billion bailout to stabilize banks and restore credit during the financial crisis.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Obama's 2009 economic stimulus package to create jobs, fund infrastructure, and boost recovery.

Federal Reserve

Central bank that cut interest rates and injected money into the economy to prevent collapse during the recession.

Dodd-Frank Act

2010 financial reform law aimed at preventing future crises through tighter regulation and oversight.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Agency created under Dodd-Frank to protect consumers from abusive lending and banking practices.

Sonia Sotomayor

First Latina Supreme Court Justice, appointed by Obama in 2009, known for liberal legal views.

Elena Kagan

Supreme Court Justice appointed by Obama in 2010, strengthening the liberal bloc on the Court.

Paris Agreement

2015 global climate pact to limit warming; the U.S. joined under Obama, left under Trump, and rejoined under Biden.

Every Student Succeeds Act

2015 law replacing No Child Left Behind, giving states more control over education standards.

Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")

Sweeping 2010 health reform law that expanded insurance coverage and banned denial for preexisting conditions.

Tea Party

Grassroots conservative movement opposing taxes, government spending, and Obama's policies.

Mitt Romney

Republican presidential nominee in 2012 who lost to Obama and later became a moderate GOP Senator.

Sequestrations

Automatic spending cuts triggered by Congress's failure to reduce the deficit in 2013.

Undocumented immigrants

People living in the U.S. without legal status; immigration crackdown was a key Trump policy.

Donald J. Trump

45th president (2017-2021) whose presidency was marked by populism, controversy, and two impeachments.

"Make America Great Again"

Trump's slogan promising to restore American prosperity, strength, and traditional values.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

2017 law that reduced taxes for individuals and corporations, increasing the national deficit.

Neil Gorsuch

Trump's first Supreme Court appointee, confirmed in 2017, known for strong conservative rulings.

Brett Kavanaugh

Confirmed in 2018 amid allegations of misconduct; strengthened the Court's conservative majority.

Amy Coney Barrett

Trump's final Supreme Court appointee in 2020, replacing liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Border wall

A central Trump campaign promise to expand the barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop illegal immigration.

Robert Mueller

Special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible Trump obstruction.

First impeachment

In 2019, Trump was impeached for abusing power over Ukraine aid; the Senate acquitted him.

"America First"

Trump's foreign policy emphasizing national self-interest over global alliances and institutions.

COVID-19 pandemic

Global health crisis beginning in 2020 that caused widespread illness, death, and economic shutdowns.

Second impeachment

In 2021, Trump was impeached again for inciting the Capitol riot; he was again acquitted by the Senate.

Attack on the Capitol

On January 6, 2021, pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop the certification of Biden's win.

Joseph Biden

46th president, elected in 2020, focused on COVID recovery, restoring alliances, and infrastructure investment.