9.6 - Challenges of the 21st Century

The War on Terrorism

• George W. Bush entered office with little foreign policy experience but surrounded himself with experienced advisors like Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

• The September 11, 2001, attacks by Al-Qaeda terrorists killed nearly 3,000 people and united the country against terrorism.

• Bush ordered the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan after they refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders.

• U.S. and Afghan forces succeeded in toppling the Taliban, but Afghanistan remained unstable.

Homeland Security:

• In response to 9/11, the USA PATRIOT Act was passed, enhancing the government’s ability to monitor and investigate suspected terrorists, including expanded surveillance powers and increased authority to detain suspects.

• The Bush administration created the Department of Homeland Security, the largest government reorganization since WWII, to protect against future terrorist attacks.

• The FBI and CIA were criticized for failing to prevent 9/11, leading to the creation of a director of national intelligence to improve coordination among intelligence agencies.

Iraq War

• In 2002, President Bush labeled Iraq, North Korea, and Iran as the "axis of evil," suggesting they were a threat to global security.

• Despite no evidence linking Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration claimed Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

• An inspection plan was agreed upon with the UN, but inspectors found no WMDs in Iraq.

Operation Iraqi Freedom:

• In early 2003, Bush declared Iraq had not complied with UN resolutions and initiated air attacks on March 19 without UN Security Council approval.

• U.S. forces quickly overran Iraq, captured Baghdad, and ended Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.

• No WMDs were found, leading to criticism of the war and the Bush administration's strategy.

• Although Bush declared victory just a few days after the initial invasion, massive insurgent attacks and counterattacks destabilized the Middle East, trapping the U.S. in a prolonged conflict for many years.

Elections of 2004 and a Bush Second Term

• The Democrats were hopeful to unseat Bush, with Senator John Kerry as their candidate.

• Republicans energized their base with issues like terrorism, tax cuts, and opposition to abortion and gay marriage.

Afghanistan

• Obama prioritized the fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, increasing U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.

• Despite some success with the troop surge, the use of drone attacks in Pakistan increased anti-American feelings.

• In 2012, Obama signed a long-term partnership agreement with Afghanistan, shifting the U.S. focus to training and supporting Afghan forces.

Death of Osama bin Laden

• In May 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed in a CIA and Navy SEAL operation in Pakistan.

• His death led to questions about the continued U.S. military presence in the region.

Rise of ISIS

• ISIS, an extremist group in Iraq and Syria, aimed to create a global caliphate under strict Islamic law.

• Former Iraqi military members joined ISIS, and the group used social media to recruit globally.

• Obama was hesitant to commit ground troops but did provide air support and military training to help Iraq fight ISIS, with around 5,000 U.S. personnel in Iraq by 2016.

Domestic Policy of the George W. Bush Years (2001–2009)

• Bush's No Child Left Behind Act aimed to improve education by increasing accountability and testing.

• Medicare reform provided prescription drug coverage, but was criticized for benefiting insurance and drug companies.

• FEMA’s failure during Hurricane Katrina, combined with other issues, led to a loss of public confidence and Democratic control of Congress in 2006.

Domestic Policy of the Obama Presidency (2009–2017)

• In response to the Great Recession, Obama enacted stimulus programs based on Keynesian economics to promote recovery.

• The Dodd-Frank Act (2010) reformed financial regulation to prevent future crises and protect taxpayers from business bailouts.

• Affordable Care Act (2010):

  • The Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," aimed to expand health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

  • It required individuals to have health insurance or face a penalty, provided subsidies to help lower-income people afford insurance, and expanded Medicaid in participating states.

Election of 2012

• The 2012 election focused on the economy, healthcare, immigration, and
  fiscal issues, with Obama defeating Mitt Romney 332 to 206 in the
  Electoral College.

• Obama’s strong support among Hispanic voters was crucial to his victory.

• Republicans retained control of the House, while Democrats held the Senate, with Republicans gaining control of both chambers in the 2014 midterm elections.

2020 Pandemic

• COVID-19 was first identified in China in December 2019 and confirmed in the U.S. by January 2020.

• Despite initial travel restrictions, the Trump administration downplayed the pandemic, leading to inconsistent policies across states and poor response compared to other advanced nations.

• By early 2021, over 500,000 Americans had died, and the pandemic caused massive economic disruption, though it benefited e-commerce companies.

• Operation Warp Speed, a government initiative to accelerate vaccine development, successfully led to the first vaccinations in December 2020.

Attack on the Capitol and a Second Impeachment

• On January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally that led to his supporters attacking the Capitol, marking the first such attack since 1814.

• Five people died, and after the mob was subdued, the Senate confirmed Biden's victory.

• Trump became the first president to be impeached twice, though the Senate did not convict him.

Biden’s Administration

• President Biden called for unity in his inaugural address, prioritizing pandemic relief through a $1.9 trillion aid package and a plan to vaccinate all Americans by fall 2021.