CrashCourse U.S. History: The 21st Century

Introduction

• Focus on the presidency of George W. Bush and its impact on modern U.S.
• Insight into political and historical events shaping current policies
• Understanding post-9/11 world dynamics and domestic policies

The 2000 Election

• Democratic candidate: Al Gore, sitting Vice President
• Republican candidate: George W. Bush, governor of Texas
• Bush campaigned as a "Compassionate Conservative"
• Election controversy: Gore won the popular vote; Bush won Electoral College
• Florida's vote and legal battles: Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore

Early Bush Presidency

• Key policies: missile defense, stem cell research funding ban, oil drilling in ANWR
• Environmental stance: rejection of 1997 Kyoto Protocol on carbon emissions
• Education reform: No Child Left Behind Act
• Significant tax cut to stimulate economy post-dot-com bubble

September 11, 2001

• Al Qaeda's terrorist attacks: hijacking of 4 airliners
• Targets: World Trade Center, Pentagon, crash in Pennsylvania
• Outcome: ~3,000 deaths, unifying national trauma
• Bush's increased popularity and the Bush Doctrine

Bush Doctrine

• War on Terror: no distinction between terrorists and their harboring nations
• Initial military action: airstrikes in Afghanistan, ousting of Taliban
• Creation of new Afghan government, women's rights improvement
• Proclamation of "axis of evil": Iran, Iraq, and North Korea

The 2003 Iraq War

• Justifications: weapons of mass destruction, potential links to 9/11
• Invasion led to fall of Baghdad, sectarian chaos ensued
• Insurgency and increased terrorism in post-war Iraq
• High human and economic costs: American and Iraqi casualties, financial burden

Domestic Policies and Challenges

• USA PATRIOT Act: expanded law enforcement powers, surveillance controversies
• Guantanamo Bay: detention of suspected terrorists
• Economic downturn: "jobless recovery," manufacturing job loss
• Re-election in 2004 against John Kerry

Second Term and Challenges

• Scandals: indictments of Cheney’s and DeLay’s aides
• Hurricane Katrina: poor emergency response, exposed racial and economic issues
• 2006 Mid-terms: Democrats gain Congress, Nancy Pelosi first female Speaker
• 2007 Recession: housing bubble burst, banking crisis

Conclusion

• Bush era's impact on global and domestic policy
• Evolving definitions of freedom and security
• Upcoming focus: 2008 financial collapse
• Encouragement to support and engage with educational content