Modern America A decade in review I. President George W. Bush Republican George W. Bush defeated Democratic Vice President Al Gore in the controversial 2000 election. President George W. Bush Gore won the popular vote by a narrow margin. The electoral vote remained in doubt because of disputed ballots in Florida. Both candidates needed Floridas 25 electoral votes to win the election. After 46 days the Supreme Court stopped the Florida recount and Bush was declared the winner. September 11, four American planes were hijacked by terrorists from the Middle East. Two were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. After a few hours both towers collapsed. A third hijacked plane struck military headquarters at the Pentagon. On the fourth hijacked plane courageous passengers fought back against the terrorists and the plane crashed into a field outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Blame was placed on the Al Qaida Terrorist Network, which was led by Osama Bin Laden. George W. Bush declared war on terrorism. American forces attacked military sites and terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. In 2003 The U.S. launched Operation Iraqi Freedom- George W. Bush began a controversial campaign to oust Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, from power. The U.N. did not support this effort, but the U.S. has support of the United Kingdom and other allies. Husseins government was toppled and Bush vowed to install a new democratic regime in Iraq. December 14, 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured in a six foot hole 9 miles from his hometown of Tikrit. December 29, 2006, Saddam Hussein was executed for 148 Shiite deaths in He was charged with crimes against humanity. Iraqis continue to try to build a democratic nation. In the Election of 2004 George W. Bush defeated Senator John Kerry (democrat). II. President Barack ObamaPresident Barack Obama Democratic Senator, Barack Obama, defeated Republican Senator John McCain in the 2008 election. Obama is the first African American President of the United States. In his First Hundred Days in office, President Obama dealt with a variety of issues, including: The Economy, launching the largest Stimulus Plan in American History Homeland Security Strengthening relationships abroad Healthcare Energy and The Environment Immigration On May 1, 2011, President Barack Obama announced that after 10 years of hunting, a team of CIA officers and Navy SEALs killed bin Laden in a firefight near the Pakistani capital. Osama Bin Laden was quickly buried at sea. Long believed to be hiding in caves, bin Laden was tracked down in a costly, custom-built hideout not far from a Pakistani military academy. President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, which reforms the healthcare system in the U.S. Critics nicknamed it, Obamacare. In the Election of 2012 Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney and is serving a second term. III. A Global Economy In recent years, trade and communication with other nations has grown dramatically. This increase in connectivity is known as globalization. A Global Economy In this growing world economy, the U.S. faces tough competition from industrialized countries in Europe and Asia. American companies pay their workers higher wages than companies in most other nations. Foreign products are often less expensive to manufacture and cost less than American made ones. Foreign competition has led to trade deficits for the U.S. U.S. imports exceed exports. To encourage trade, The U.S. signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The U.S., Canada and Mexico agreed to remove tariffs among them. IV. The Future of America In 2014, Americans face challenges. *Struggling Economy & National Debt *Terrorism and War *Violence and Drug Abuse*Rising Cost of Healthcare *Energy and the Environment*Changing Population The Future of America But Americans have faced challenges before, and have triumphed in the face of adversity. As we face these challenges, it is important to remember the advice from those who have made history. Americans have opportunities of which others in the world can only dream. The rest of American History is unwritten. You will learn it as you live it.