1. George W. Bush

2. Election of 2000 Democrats nominated Vice-President Al Gore Democrats nominated Vice-President Al Gore Republicans nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush Republicans nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush Environmentalist and reformer Ralph Nader ran as an independent Environmentalist and reformer Ralph Nader ran as an independent

3. Controversy In one of the closest elections in US history, Bush won by only 6 electoral votes, thanks largely to his victory in Florida In one of the closest elections in US history, Bush won by only 6 electoral votes, thanks largely to his victory in Florida The votes in Florida were so close that a recount was called, but due to problems with the ballots, recounting was difficult and required too much interpretation of voter intent The votes in Florida were so close that a recount was called, but due to problems with the ballots, recounting was difficult and required too much interpretation of voter intent

4. Bush v Gore When Bush was declared the winner in Florida, Gore sued When Bush was declared the winner in Florida, Gore sued The US Supreme Court was forced to rule on the validity of the election results and found that a hand recount of ballots, requiring interpretation of voter intent, was unfair, thereby allowing the election results to stand The US Supreme Court was forced to rule on the validity of the election results and found that a hand recount of ballots, requiring interpretation of voter intent, was unfair, thereby allowing the election results to stand

5. George W. Bush 1946 – Present 1946 – Present 43 rd President (2001 -09) 43 rd President (2001 -09) Former Governor of Texas Former Governor of Texas Son of President George H.W. Bush Son of President George H.W. Bush Former part-owner of the MLB’s Texas Rangers Former part-owner of the MLB’s Texas Rangers Only US President to have an MBA Only US President to have an MBA

6. 9/11 Sept. 11, 2001 Sept. 11, 2001 Terrorists seized control of 4 airliners, crashing 2 into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, 1 into the Pentagon, and 1 into a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3000 Americans, more than died at Pearl Harbor or on D-Day Terrorists seized control of 4 airliners, crashing 2 into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, 1 into the Pentagon, and 1 into a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3000 Americans, more than died at Pearl Harbor or on D-Day

7. Reasons for Attacks Al Qaeda cited increased Western influence in the Muslim world, the presence of US military bases in Saudi Arabia, US sanctions against Iraq, and the US’ support for Israel as reasons for the attacks Al Qaeda cited increased Western influence in the Muslim world, the presence of US military bases in Saudi Arabia, US sanctions against Iraq, and the US’ support for Israel as reasons for the attacks

8. Osama bin Laden 1957 – 2011 1957 – 2011 Billionaire member of a high-ranking Saudi family Billionaire member of a high-ranking Saudi family Reported leader of al Qaeda terrorist group Reported leader of al Qaeda terrorist group Believed to have orchestrated or been involved with multiple attacks, including the USS Cole bombing, US embassy bombings, and attacks in London and Madrid in Europe Believed to have orchestrated or been involved with multiple attacks, including the USS Cole bombing, US embassy bombings, and attacks in London and Madrid in Europe

9. The War on Terror After the 9/11 attacks, Bush declared a “War on Terror” aimed at destroying terrorist organizations anywhere in the world and stated that any nation which did not support the US in this effort would be viewed as hostile to our interests After the 9/11 attacks, Bush declared a “War on Terror” aimed at destroying terrorist organizations anywhere in the world and stated that any nation which did not support the US in this effort would be viewed as hostile to our interests Bush also vowed to engage in “preventive war” against nations which actively support terror groups Bush also vowed to engage in “preventive war” against nations which actively support terror groups

10. Dept. of Homeland Security Created in 2002 to coordinate all federal agencies in the fight against terrorism Created in 2002 to coordinate all federal agencies in the fight against terrorism Oversees the Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Transportation Security Agency (TSA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Oversees the Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Transportation Security Agency (TSA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

11. The Patriot Act Passed in Oct. 2001 Passed in Oct. 2001 Allowed secret searches in terror cases Allowed secret searches in terror cases Allowed wire-tapping, tracking of voicemail and e-mail Allowed wire-tapping, tracking of voicemail and e-mail Criticized by many as a violation of 4 th Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure Criticized by many as a violation of 4 th Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure

12. Afghanistan & the Taliban Oct. 2001 – Present Oct. 2001 – Present US began campaign against Taliban forces in Afghanistan due to their support of al Qaeda operations US began campaign against Taliban forces in Afghanistan due to their support of al Qaeda operations By Dec. 2001, Taliban had been ousted from leadership in the Afghan government, but continued to mount a resistance campaign By Dec. 2001, Taliban had been ousted from leadership in the Afghan government, but continued to mount a resistance campaign Over 2300 US soldiers have died in the campaign Over 2300 US soldiers have died in the campaign

13. The Axis of Evil Bush also focused US attention on North Korea, Iran, and Iraq as major threats to world peace and to US security Bush also focused US attention on North Korea, Iran, and Iraq as major threats to world peace and to US security He collectively called these states an “axis of evil” in a speech in early 2002 He collectively called these states an “axis of evil” in a speech in early 2002

14. Iraq & WMDs Iraq was identified by the Bush administration as the greatest threat due to suspicions that they possesses chemical, biological, and possibly nuclear “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) Iraq was identified by the Bush administration as the greatest threat due to suspicions that they possesses chemical, biological, and possibly nuclear “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD)

15. Invading Iraq 2003 - 2011 2003 - 2011 After UN sanctions failed to satisfy US suspicions of Iraqi possession of WMDs, Bush authorized invasion After UN sanctions failed to satisfy US suspicions of Iraqi possession of WMDs, Bush authorized invasion US quickly toppled Saddam Hussein’s government, but no WMDs were ever found US quickly toppled Saddam Hussein’s government, but no WMDs were ever found Almost 4500 US soldiers died in Iraq Almost 4500 US soldiers died in Iraq

16. No Child Left Behind Act Passed in 2001 Passed in 2001 Required states to begin using standardized testing in schools to measure improvements in education Required states to begin using standardized testing in schools to measure improvements in education States which do not use testing or which do not meet growth levels set out by the federal government lose federal funding for education States which do not use testing or which do not meet growth levels set out by the federal government lose federal funding for education Allows parents to move their children to another school if the school they are in does not meet standards for growth Allows parents to move their children to another school if the school they are in does not meet standards for growth

17. The Columbia Disaster Feb. 1, 2003 Feb. 1, 2003 After suffering damage to its heat-resistant tiles on take-off, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated while re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, killing all 7 astronauts on board and raining toxic debris across Texas and Louisiana The remaining space shuttles were grounded for over 2 years while engineers studied what happened

18. 2004 Election Republicans nominated Bush for a 2 nd term Republicans nominated Bush for a 2 nd term Democrats nominated Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts Democrats nominated Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts Bush won by a narrow margin, largely due to support for his handling of the 9/11 attacks Bush won by a narrow margin, largely due to support for his handling of the 9/11 attacks

19. Hurricane Katrina August 2005 August 2005 Killed over 1800 along the Gulf coast, heavily damaged city of New Orleans Killed over 1800 along the Gulf coast, heavily damaged city of New Orleans Bush endured harsh criticism, including charges of racism, over the slow federal response to the disaster Bush endured harsh criticism, including charges of racism, over the slow federal response to the disaster

20. The Great Recession As federal deficits climbed in the mid-2000s, the US economy became unstable As federal deficits climbed in the mid-2000s, the US economy became unstable Over-extension of credit led to a collapse in the housing market Over-extension of credit led to a collapse in the housing market Sharp declines in consumer spending led to business failures and a sharp rise in unemployment Sharp declines in consumer spending led to business failures and a sharp rise in unemployment

21. 2008 Election Republicans nominated Sen. John McCain of Arizona for President and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for Vice President, only the 2nd woman to ever appear on a presidential ticket Republicans nominated Sen. John McCain of Arizona for President and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for Vice President, only the 2nd woman to ever appear on a presidential ticket Democrats nominated Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the first black candidate for president in US history Democrats nominated Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the first black candidate for president in US history

22. Barack Obama 1961 – Present 1961 – Present 44 th President (2009 – Present) 44 th President (2009 – Present) First president from Hawai’i First president from Hawai’i Won 2008 election by a wide margin, winning over 10 million more popular votes and nearly 100 more electoral votes than his opponent Won 2008 election by a wide margin, winning over 10 million more popular votes and nearly 100 more electoral votes than his opponent