9.5-9.6

📘 Chapter 9.5: Immigration in the Modern Era

  • Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965: Law that ended the quota system based on national origins and allowed more immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

  • Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996: Increased penalties for undocumented immigrants and made it easier to deport them; aimed to crack down on illegal immigration.

  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Policy created under Obama in 2012 that protects eligible undocumented youth who came to the U.S. as children from deportation and allows them to work legally.

  • Asylum seekers: Individuals fleeing persecution in their home countries who seek protection and legal residence in another country.

📘 Chapter 9.6: Politics and Global Challenges in the 21st Century

  • George W. Bush: 43rd president (2001–2009); led U.S. response to 9/11, launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and passed tax cuts and education reform.

  • Al Gore: Vice president under Clinton; Democratic candidate in the disputed 2000 presidential election.

  • Colin Powell: First African American Secretary of State; played a key role in building support for the Iraq War.

  • Al-Qaeda: Islamist terrorist group responsible for the 9/11 attacks; founded by Osama bin Laden.

  • Osama Bin Laden: Leader of Al-Qaeda; mastermind behind 9/11; killed by U.S. forces in 2011.

  • Afghanistan: Country invaded by the U.S. in 2001 to dismantle Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power.

  • Taliban: Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan and sheltered Al-Qaeda; later regained power in 2021.

  • World Trade Center: Twin towers in New York City destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

  • September 11, 2001: Terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda on U.S. soil; marked a turning point in U.S. foreign and domestic policy.

  • USA PATRIOT Act: Law passed after 9/11 that expanded surveillance powers of law enforcement to combat terrorism.

  • Department of Homeland Security: Created in 2002 to coordinate national efforts to protect against terrorism.

  • Saddam Hussein: President of Iraq; accused of possessing WMDs; overthrown in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

  • “Axis of Evil”: Term used by Bush to describe governments accused of sponsoring terrorism: Iraq, Iran, and North Korea.

  • Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs): Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; the supposed reason for the Iraq invasion, though none were found.

  • Operation Iraqi Freedom: 2003 U.S. military campaign to remove Saddam Hussein and establish democracy in Iraq.

  • Abu Ghraib: Prison in Iraq where U.S. soldiers abused detainees, sparking global outrage.

  • Bush Doctrine: Policy supporting preemptive military action to defend U.S. interests.

  • Hillary Clinton: First lady, senator, Secretary of State, and 2016 presidential candidate.

  • Barack Obama: 44th president; known for healthcare reform, economic recovery, and ending U.S. combat in Iraq.

  • John McCain: Republican senator and 2008 presidential candidate who lost to Obama.

  • Arab Spring: Series of anti-government protests and uprisings across the Arab world beginning in 2010.

  • ISIS: Terrorist group that emerged from Al-Qaeda in Iraq; known for extreme violence and control of territory in Iraq and Syria.

  • Ukraine: Country invaded by Russia in 2014 and again in 2022; central to rising U.S.-Russia tensions.

  • Cyber attacks: Digital assaults on government or corporate systems, often by foreign nations or hackers.

  • WikiLeaks: Organization that publishes classified or sensitive documents; known for leaking U.S. military and diplomatic information.

  • No Child Left Behind Act: Bush-era education reform that emphasized standardized testing and accountability.

  • Enron: Major corporate scandal in the early 2000s involving accounting fraud.

  • Hurricane Katrina: 2005 natural disaster that devastated New Orleans; federal response was widely criticized.

  • Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP): 2008 bailout of financial institutions during the Great Recession.

  • Great Recession: Severe economic downturn starting in 2007–2008 caused by the housing bubble and financial crisis.

  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Obama’s stimulus plan to revive the economy after the Great Recession.

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Agency created to protect consumers from unfair financial practices.

  • Affordable Care Act: 2010 healthcare reform law expanding insurance coverage and regulating insurers.

  • “Obamacare”: Nickname for the Affordable Care Act; often used politically.

  • Tea Party: Conservative political movement that emerged in response to government spending and Obama’s policies.

  • Mitt Romney: Republican presidential candidate in 2012; lost to Obama.

  • Donald J. Trump: 45th president (2017–2021); known for populist rhetoric, immigration policies, and impeachment trials.

  • Robert Mueller: Special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential ties to Trump.

  • COVID-19 pandemic: Global health crisis starting in 2020; caused massive disruptions and led to federal emergency responses.

  • Attack on the Capitol: January 6, 2021 assault by Trump supporters attempting to stop certification of the 2020 election results.