Unit 11—Chapters 19 – 20 The 1980s to the Present

CSS 11.8, 11.9, 11.10, 11.11

Part FourThe Bush Presidency

George W. Bush

• son of George H.W. Bush

• governor of TX• “compassionate

conservatism”• education

2000 Election

R George W. Bush 50,455,156 271

D Albert Gore, Jr. 50,997,335 267

G Ralph Nader 2,882,897 --

I Pat Buchanan 449,102 --

• Gore won the most votes but Bush won the election• Gore failed to win his own

state (TN)• lots of allegations of voter

fraud, bad ballots, and abuse of power

• Nader pulled votes from the Democrats that cost them several states• NH, FL

• creation of Red-Blue divide

George W. Bush

• Bush v. Gore, 2000• the vote in Florida was too

close• Bush – 2,912,790• Gore – 2,912,253

• Gore demanded a recount• Bush’s brother, Jeb, was

governor

• Supreme Court voted 5-4 to support Florida

George W. Bush

• No Child Left Behind Act, 2001• Bush required all states to

test their students and show progress

• both school-wide and subgroups

• failing schools are put on a list and face sanctions

• students at failing schools can be bussed to better ones

• all students will be proficient by 2014

• if each grade does its part…

2004 Election

R George W. Bush 62,040,610 286

D John Kerry 59,028,439 251

G Ralph Nader 463,655 --

L Michael Badarnik 397,265 --

• Bush won by a larger margin than in 2000• lots of ads paid by interest

groups instead of candidates

• Bush beat Kerry

George W. Bush

• Hurricane Katrina, 2005• most expensive and

devastating hurricane in US history

• $81 billion in damages• 1,836 died most in Louisiana

• disproportionately hit the poor and elderly

• 80% of New Orleans submerged

• many criticized the government’s response

• 3 million left without electricity• inadequate housing, relief,

troops,

War on Terrorism

• 9-11• Al Qaeda attack on the

twin towers shifted America’s attention to foreign policy• more than 3000 were

killed

• four airplanes were hijacked and used as weapons• 2 in NYC, 1 in PA, and 1 in

DC

War on Terrorism

• Operation Enduring Freedom, 2001• al Qaeda was hiding out in

Afghanistan which was ruled by the Taliban

• Bush vowed to punish al Qaeda and any nation that sponsored terrorism

• Bush Doctrine• he demanded that the Taliban

hand over the terrorists• within 3 months the US, UK, allies,

and rebels overthrew the Taliban• democratic elections were held for

the first time

War on Terrorism

• Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003 • Bush believed that Saddam

Hussein was stockpiling nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons

• Bush called Iraq, Iran, and North Korea the “triple axis of evil”

• Saddam and his followers were killed or captured

• fighting lasted from March to May, 2003

• WMDs were never found

• troops remained in Iraq for the rest of Bush’s presidency

War on Terrorism

• USA PATRIOT Act, 2001• laws created to fight terrorism

within the US• House vote 357-66• Senate vote 98-1

• allows the government to search bank records, seize property, and monitor phone calls

• cell phones are all monitored• “sneak and peek”

• criticized for giving too much power to the President

Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act

War on Terrorism

• Department of Homeland Security• new agency ensures domestic

security• coordinates federal and state

agencies in emergency• color code threats

• FBI, CIA, NSA had separate information that could have prevented 9-11