George W. Bush & The War On Terror

1. George W. Bush & The War On Terror Mr. Ermer U.S. History; Miami Beach Senior High

2. The Election of 2000 • Gov. George W. Bush vs. Vice-President Al Gore • Both candidates run moderate, centrist campaigns • Republicans maintain control of House of Representatives • Senate evenly split (50-50) between two parties • Gore wins the popular vote by .05% • Neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes needed • Florida’s election results so close, prompts a recount • Recount ends weeks later with Bush leading Gore by 300 votes • Some counties report voting irregularities, hand recount ordered • Ballots not fully counted by court ordered deadline • FL Sec. of State Katherine Harris declares Bush the winner • Gore contests result, Bush appeals to Supreme Court • Supreme Court decides Bush v. Gore 5-4 for Bush

6. The Second Bush Presidency • Bush promised to use Clinton budget surplus to fund massive tax cut—largest in U.S. history • Bush campaigned as moderate, governed as conservative • Political advisor Karl Rove staunch conservative • Rejects extension of Clinton’s assault weapons ban • Proposes constitutional amendment banning gay marriage • “Faith-based” programs mobilizes Christian Right

7. Roots of Terrorism • Globalization causes counter reaction • Muslim fundamentalism, militancy rises in Middle East • Espousal of Terrorism • Terrorism rises in the Twentieth Century • 1983: Beirut Marine Base • 1988: Plain explosion over Lokerbie, Scotland • 1993: Islamic terrorists bomb World Trade Center bombing • 1995: Timothy McVeigh bombs Oklahoma City federal building • 2000: Bombing of U.S.S. Cole

9. The War On Terror • Most Americans do not expect terrorism at home • 9/11/01: Islamic terrorists hijack American airliners • Attacks on World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon • Bush responds with “War on Terror” • Al Qaeda and leader Osama bin Laden claim responsibility • Taliban government of Afghanistan provided Al Qaeda safety • U.S. launches attack on Afghanistan, Taliban flees • U.S. and anti-Taliban troops pursue terrorists into mountains • Captured Al Qaeda and Taliban sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba • Patriot Act of 2001 • Suspended civil liberties for terrorists, broadened government’s power to investigate terrorists without warrants • Bush creates new Department of Homeland Security • Patriot Act and Guantanamo unpopular with Americans

13. Iraq War • 2002: Bush claims existence of “Axis of Evil” • Iraq, Iran, North Korea included in this group of “evil doers” • Bush begins to slowly build case to invade Iraq, 2 reasons: • Vague claim that Iraq supported terrorist groups • Iraq was developing “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) • Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons • Later, U.S. adds human rights violations by Hussein • Human rights violations only ones that ended up being true • March 2003: U.S. and Britain invade Iraq, topple gov’t • Bush declares “Mission Accomplished,” U.S. fights on for 6 years • Bush administration changes U.S. foreign policy • U.S. no longer constrains itself, now takes aggressive stance • U.S. acts unilaterally to support “freedom” over “stability”

16. Election of 2004 • President Bush challenged by Sen. John Kerry • At beginning of campaign, voters evenly divided • Both campaigns take negative turns • Bush wins election with 51% of vote to Kerry’s 48% • Bush wins 286 electoral votes to Kerry’s 252 • Ohio vote, for 20 electoral points, very close • If Kerry had won Ohio, he would have won presidency

18. The Fall of The Bush Presidency • First three years, Bush is popular for fighting terror • Even while domestic policies not widely supported • Bush tax cuts seen as mostly helping wealthy • No Child Left Behind unpopular with many

19. Work On It: • On page 513, write and answer questions 1-5