CHALLENGES of the 21st Century in America [APUSH Review Unit 9 Topic 6] Period 9: 1980-Present

The Disputed Election of 2000 and 9/11 Attacks00:00:38

The 21st century began with the highly contested 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in Bush's favor. Shortly after, on September 11, 2001, the al-Qaeda terrorist group executed coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, prompting a unified American demand for justice.

The War on Terror: Afghanistan and Iraq00:01:23

In response to 9/11, President Bush launched the 'War on Terror.' After the Taliban refused to surrender Osama bin Laden, US troops invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, swiftly overthrowing the Taliban but failing to capture bin Laden until the Obama presidency. In 2003, Bush initiated the war in Iraq, codenamed Operation Iraqi Freedom, based on unsubstantiated claims of Saddam Hussein's involvement in 9/11 and development of weapons of mass destruction. While Hussein's regime was quickly toppled, establishing a stable government in the region proved difficult.

Domestic Security Measures: Patriot Act and DHS00:02:37

Following the 9/11 attacks, a heightened national sentiment allowed the federal government to implement more invasive security measures. The Patriot Acts of 2001 and 2003 expanded government surveillance powers, including monitoring phone calls and emails, which critics argued infringed on privacy rights. The Department of Homeland Security was also created, consolidating over 20 federal agencies into the largest governmental reorganization since World War II to protect the nation from further attacks.

Environmental Challenges: Fossil Fuels and Climate Change00:03:23

America continued to grapple with environmental issues. The nation's dependence on Middle Eastern oil, highlighted by the 1970s energy crisis and Iraq's invasion of oil-rich Kuwait in 1990, renewed debates on alternative energy sources. Additionally, growing concerns about climate change, popularized by Al Gore, brought to national attention the impact of fossil fuel usage on greenhouse gases and global warming. This issue continues to divide political parties, with Democrats generally supporting carbon regulation and Republicans often attributing global warming to natural phenomena.