2000’s

• 2000 Election
  George W. Bush vs. Al Gore

• Gore lost all three of the debates as he chose not to exploit Clinton publicly nor take claim for his successes in office

• Also did not help that Gore had an odd personality and made some whacky claims such as he invented the internet?

Bush came from a military background, and was the son of George H.W. Bush, and was a Texas governor Gore was of military background, vice president, intelligent, but unable to inspire people- he even did not let Clinton campaign for him because of moralistic backlash- although this was a very dumb decision

But, things started to get weird during the election and vote counting

• As of Tuesday evening, Gore was the winner of Florida, but then by Wednesday morning, Bush was the winner of Florida- After all of this happened, Florida claimed that it was "too close to call"

• While Gore was popular vote, it was confusing because the ballots had to be done by hand and things were hanging off, punched incorrectly, etc.

• So, while the machines said that Bush won, democrats claimed that a manual recount would prove that Gore actually won- so Florida and South Carolina called for a manual recount, but only for some counties?

Even Bush's Brother-Jeb Bush- governor- said that some ballots were thrown out

- Then this got taken to the supreme court in Bush v Gore- where it was decided to end the recount. By December, the Supreme Court basically decided the outcome of the presidential election, with Bush coming out on top ("President select")

Important to note that Gore won popular vote with an extremely slim margin and he did not even win his home state. Along with this, voters were divided due to race and gender

• 9/11
  Considered the deadliest act of terrorism in history

• Al Qaeda had been a very real threat, and the FBI and CIA failed to exchange information and intelligence- counterterrorism was not a priority

About 3000 people killed and 6000 injured

• Planes hit the World Trade Center in New York City, Pentagon in Virginia, and some random field in PA (Although the target was supposed to be the US capital)
  There were 19 hijackers total, mostly from Saudi Arabia, but others were from Lebanon, Emirates, and egypt

• Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind behind the attacks

• All planes were landed across the United States

This called for a change in both domestic and foreign policy- Transport Security Administration (TSA) to screen airport passengers

• Post 9/11 - PATRIOT Act
  Bush immediately responds with military action by fall of 2001 and formed an alliance with
  NATO- this was the FIRST time in history where NATO enacted Article V (Attack on one of us is an attack on all of us)

• We launched retaliatory attacks on Al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan and Taliban (even though some cooperation was reluctant by Egypt and Saudi Arabia)

• Operation Enduring Freedom was a British and America action- within days we had control of the air in Afghanistan, by Nov. we had control of Kabul, and the Taliban was suppressed by January

• Yet, we still failed to capture Bin Laden

Anyways, Bush's popularity skyrocketed and patriotism was booming in the US- although the issue for fighting the long war on terrorism was that the perpetrators were non state actors

As a domestic response to 9/11, the PATRIOT Act was established

- Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism This expanded domestic surveillance of the US government- they could not wiretap phones, monitor internet/emails, search homes of suspected terrorists without warrants, obtain electronic records, etc.

Even detain terrorist suspects for 7 days without actually charging them

- Ashcroft was eventually given the power to monitor mosques and rallies

All of this eventually led to supreme court cases against wars on terror

• Rasul v Bush- Gitmo can challenge detention and cannot be held without being charged

• Hamdan v. Rumsfeld- cannot be tried in the Military courts
  The Supreme Court ruled that the Bush administration's military commissions at Guantanamo Bay were unconstitutional.

By 2002, the Department of Homeland Security was created and the US returned to the norm with travel, leisure, the MLB, etc.

• Also partisanship returned, and two parties began disagreeing on how to handle the enemy

• Iraqi War (Bush & Obama)
  Initially, Bush has a lot of foreign support behind him, but that diminishes by 2002 due to his continued unilateralism (nuclear disarmament without the agreement of the other group)
  Eventually he wants the Bush Doctrine to establish preemptive action on the "axis of evil" which is North Korea, Iraq, and Iran - which the allies inevitably objected to because it's seen as reckless and not in accordance with national law

Vice President Cheney and Secretary of defense Rumsfeld had wanted to oust Saddam Hussein since the end of the Gulf War (he was the president of Iraq and just like a bad guy)

• And, even though he had no link to Al Qaeda, they wanted to get him during this war on terrorism

• We start war planning in 2001 and removal by force by 2002

By 2002-03, Bush offered a lot of reasons to invade Iraq

• Iraq didn't follow agreements from Gulf War

• Possessed WMDs

• Ties between Al Qaeda and Iraq

• Brutality and instability towards its own people

On the other hand, neoconservatives wanted to reshape the mideast in a democratic image, protect israel, allow access to oil, ensure Bush reelection

- On the other hand, critics were questioning how this all connected to our war on terrorism

The Security council was divided, with us and Britain wanting military action and other UN countries wanting us to force inspection (led to Resolution 1441- rigorous new arms inspection)

• By March 2003, Congress votes to topple Hussein - eventually successful with Operation Iraqi Freedom - but postwar stability is unable to be maintained

• Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" and the CPA disbanded the Iraqi military- we later capture Hussein and execute him

• Violence persists from numerous groups in the mideast and eventually Bush loses his credibility as a result of no WMDs being found, and US losses building up

The war was increasingly unpopular abroad AND at home and despite democratic elections in Iraq, the fighting still persists in the region

After the Bush reelection, the situation in Iraq worsens as more money is spent, more Americans killed, more Iraqis dying due to civil war, and sectarian violence

• We respond with a "surge" - sending thousands of troops over there (high cost and deaths)

• People call for us to withdrawal

Obama Iran Policy

• Withdrawal troops from Iraq ("Timeline")
  Obama Doctrine- Stressed US couldn't afford to be world's only policeman
  In terms of Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama Change trajectory by getting out of Iraq & defeating primary enemy Al Qaeda
  By 2009, he announced troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by end 2011 (9 yrs); Troops removed 2011

• We basically left behind an unstable and dangerous nation that did not like the US

• There ended up being no WMDs and no direct link between Hussein and Al Qaeda

War in Afghanistan (Bush & Obama)

Bush Launch retaliatory strikes against Al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan and Taliban after 9/11

• Operation enduring freedom (US & GB) - within days have control of Air in Afghanistan

• Confronting war is apart of Obama's plan in 2008

Obama's initial actions in office -Expand troops in Afghanistan

• Critics call the escalation Obama's War

• Obama dispatched troops to get rid of Al Qaeda, conducts mission to suppress terrorists rather than transforming into a capitalist democracy, 5/11 →US seals kill Bin Laden

• Hurricane Katrina (Bush Administration)

(2005) This was a natural disaster turned political that occured in the south- lots of death and these states were practically flooded, with people stuck in the superdome (bad conditions)

• FEMA's response reinforces an image of incompetence by the administration

• This brings attention to race and poverty and the links between them (African Americans)

• Great Recession - Bush/Obama actions
  Very Bad downturn (comparable to Great Depression) |
  "Housing Bubble" occurs

• Rooted in the economy of the 80s

• Subprime mortgages are given to people who usually don't apply (no income no assets people)

• House demand went up, prices went up, and lenders kept lending as the risk was low and wall street keeps bundling the mortgages

• By 2007, the bubble bursts and trillions are lost, foreclosures, defaults start with less demands, prices drop-and wall street didn't have enough capitol to cover these losses

• Global economic meltdown resulted of these declines in house prices

Credit markets are paralysed and Bush gives money to wall street (TARP- Troubled Asset relief program)

- Bailouts happen to protect financial institutions, but unemployment goes up with dropping demand and personal debt goes up - By October of '08, the stock market crashes- people are angry, bailouts continues, Bush popularity plummets

After the election of '08, Obama comes into office by winning with the economy debating subject

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - is a billion dollar stimulus to jumpstart the economy,

bailouts, money given to help people suffering, unemployment still an issue

• Did not fix the recession, but stopped us from getting worse essentially

• Bush Domestic Policy
  "Compassionate conservatism"

• Largest tax cut in history and erases Clinton's surplus

• He emphasizes religion with even allowing prayer in the justice department

• Deregulation of oil, finance, industry, mining, etc.

• Appoints conservatives to the Supreme Court (Alito and Roberts)

He also expands the US education system with the "No Child Left Behind" system

- federal law passed in 2001 that aimed to improve education in the United States, particularly for disadvantaged students. It required states to establish academic standards, implement standardized testing, and hold schools accountable for student achievement. The law also focused on ensuring that schools had highly qualified teachers.

Also expands Medicare with lowering the costs of prescriptions- but this costs the US government a lot of money

• Election of 2008
  McCain and Palin (R) VS Obama and Biden (D)

• McCain and Palin did and said some weird stuff that was really off putting for them getting elected during debates and interviews (ignorant about the economy especially as a wealthy guy)

• Doesn't help that the Republican party is in disarray during this time period

Obama is different and targets the young people and blacks who don't usually vote with an active social media presence - also very inspirational speeches

• The main point of the debates was economy and McCain said the economy was good which backfired

• Barack Obama Presidency
  Healthcare Act

• Obama wanted to reduce partisanship, but tensions increased as he offered new

• healthcare plans

Affordable Healthcare Act

• Purpose was Streamline healthcare system, Health insurance more affordable & available to

• everyone

• Known as Obamacare

Obama Foreign Policy

• Withdrawal troops from Iraq ("Timeline")
  Obama Doctrine- Stressed US couldn't afford to be world's only policeman
  In terms of Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama Change trajectory by getting out of Iraq & defeating primary enemy Al Qaeda
  By 2009, he announced troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by end 2011 (9 yrs): Troops

• removed 2011

• We basically left behind an unstable and dangerous nation that did not like the US

• There ended up being no WMDs and no direct link between Hussein and Al Qaeda

He also expanded forces to Afghanistan, the escalation calling for "Obama's war"

• Wanted to suppress terrorists not necessarily turn it into a democratic capitalist society

• By May, Navy Seals kill Bin Laden and we began to withdraw forces between 2011 and 2014

By the 2012 elections, Obama and Biden supported gay marriage and campaigned the DREAM act- which said that illegal immigrants brought to the US as a child were able to stay as citizens

- Beat Romney with his insensitivity about immigration reform

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Obama Second term domestic policies

- Department of defense lifted the ban on women serving in combat positions

• Creation of civil rights organization (BLM) to address racial injustices in judicial/ police system

• Republicans tried to get rid of Obamacare, eventually led to government shut down for two weeks (removal of anti-ACA provision)

Foreign Policy in Second term

• Communication with iran and eventually treaty to limit nuclear weapons

• Putin sent troops to CRIMEA of Ukraine and all hope was lost of them being a friend to
  Ukraine

• By 2013, we do not recognize annexation and economically sanction russia

• ISIS soldiers rampaged Syria and Iraq- torturing anyone that was not Sunni

• Obama conducted airstrikes on these places to prevent a genocide and built a coalition of middle east and european partners

• Obama's accomplishments

• US navy Seals kill Bin Laden

• Troops taken out of Iraq in 2011

• American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

• Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare)

• Tea Party
  Arose during the 2010 midterm election

• Group of conservative who believed in limiting government involvement

• It wasn't really its own party, but rather they tried to gain control of the Republican party

This was mostly white, older males of the middle class- republicans

- Defeated many long-serving congressional leaders

Gained control of the house and almost the senate

• 2016 Election

• Clinton beat Bernie Sanders to be the first woman to run for president as a major party candidate (scandal with her email leaks and Trump was suspected to be involved)

• People actually were not happy about trump's campaign and people were divided in the
  US more than ever (Trump was a recognizable name although he had never ran for office)

Trump refused to disclose tax returns, wanted to "drain the swamp", and used people's anger about the economic situation to fuel his campaign - also resentful of unregulated immigration

• Highly involved with social media and said that anyone who challenged him was "fake news"

• Planned to get rid of obama care, cut taxes, end NAFTA, reverse environment protections, increase military funding, build a wall and make Mexico pay for it

• Spontaneous speeches, exaggerations, lies/ half truths, praised white supremacists and foreign

dictators

• Important women in 2000's

Nancy Pelosi

This is the first woman speaker of the house (democratic party)

- Pivotal during the Midterm elections of 2006 when the house was democratically controlled. - rejected Bush

Sarah Palin

• Ran with McCain during the election of 2008 for the republican party

• This is the second woman ever to run as the vice president candidate

• Her interviews and debates were off putting and one of the main reasons (along with McCain's ignorance) they lost to Obama

Hilary R. Clinton

• Ran against Barack Obama to represent the Democratic party in 2008

• First woman to run for president as a representative of a major party (democratic) in the 2016 election

• She was also secretary of state

Condoleeza Rice

- first female National Security Advisor

Sonia Sotomayor

- 3rd female SC Justice (1st Hispanic supreme court justice)

• Supreme Court Cases/decisions of the 2000's

Bush v Gore

- decided the 2000 election after confusion of votes in Florida (Bush won)

Hamdan v Rumsfeld

SC ruled against Bush administration and reinforced that the government must follow the military law and cannot set up tribunals without Congressional approval (Guantanamo Bay is

• Made gay marriage legal in all 50 states

• Changing demographic in America in the 2000s

Increased Diversity, late 1900's

• More immigration

• New technology (internet, cable)

• Replace shared mass culture of radio/TV

• Identity becomes more complex with appeals to specific age, class, gender

• Census and "multiracial category"

• Latinos bypass African Americans and become 2nd largest group after non-hispanic whites

• USA exceeds 300 million people