Sept. 11, 2001  Al Qaeda launched terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC  Hijacked commercial airliners flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  2, 998 Americans died

 Department of Homeland Security ◦ Established to protect Americans BEFORE terrorists attack  Operation Enduring Freedom ◦ Invasion into Afghanistan to find Al-Qaeda leaders ◦ Destroyed network, difficulty maintaining control

 Operation Iraqi Freedom ◦ Searched for weapons of mass destruction  Found none ◦ Captured Hussein  Executed for crimes against humanity

 Al Gore vs. George W Bush  Al Gore won the popular vote  Bush won the electoral college  Florida was the deciding state ◦ There was controversy over the votes in Florida ◦ After a month of debate Bush won the election.

 North American Free Trade Agreement ◦ Free trade (tax-free) agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada  Downsides: ◦ Put Mexican farmers out of work because of US subsidies. ◦ Americans out of work because of businesses outsourcing (mostly manufacturing) ◦ Little to no regulation of environment in Mexico

 Bill Clinton had improper relations with a White House intern, Monica Lewinski  He lied about the affair under oath before a Grand Jury. (perjury)  Impeached but acquitted by the Senate ◦ Found it acceptable for him to finish his term

 Believed that the government had become too big and too expensive. He wanted to roll back many New Deal policies and give more authority back to the states.  Reganomics: His economic policy 1.Cut budget 2.Cut taxes  “trickle down theory” 3.Increase defense

 Nicaragua became under the control of a pro-Soviet government - Sandinistas  The US secretly provided support and training for Contras who were rebels against the Sandinistas ◦ Congress cut funding because it went against the neutrality laws

 Some in the Reagan administration found another way to fund it: ◦ In exchange for help to release US hostages in Lebanon we would secretly sell arms to Iran ◦ Using the money from the sale, US would continue to support the Contras  Biggest scandal since Watergate

 Governor of Georgia  Condemned countries for violating human rights  Camp David Accords: ◦ Carter brought Egypt and Israel together ◦ Peace treaty was signed between the two nations and they would agree to coexist!

 Revolution in Iran forced the US supported Shah to flee.  US offered the Shah asylum  In response the Iranians stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and held the 52 US citizens hostage.  US failed negotiations and a military attempt  Released after 444 days, when the Shah died

 Détente = policy to ease tensions with Cold War enemies 1. First President to recognize and visit Communist China 2. Signed SALT (Strategic arms limitations treaty) with the USSR

 Republicans tapped the phones of the Democratic Headquarters (Watergate Hotel) fearing political conspiracies. The men were caught and arrested.  Nixon participated in the cover-up but not the initial plan.  Found out Nixon was recording phone conversations. These tapes incriminated him.  Nixon resigns before he could be impeached. ◦ Ford pardons him