All Flashcards
What were the causes and effects of the 9/11 attacks?
Causes: al-Qaeda's resentment of US presence in Saudi Arabia, support for Israel, and cultural influence. Effects: The War on Terror, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the PATRIOT Act.
What were the causes and effects of the US invasion of Afghanistan?
Causes: The 9/11 attacks and the Taliban's harboring of al-Qaeda. Effects: The toppling of the Taliban regime, a prolonged war, and the eventual killing of Osama bin Laden.
What were the causes and effects of the Great Recession?
Causes: Subprime mortgage lending, runaway real estate speculation, and complex investments. Effects: Financial institution failures, credit crisis, soaring gas prices, stock market declines, and rising unemployment.
What were the causes and effects of the rise of ISIS?
Causes: Instability in Syria and Iraq, the Syrian civil war, and the presence of former Iraqi military members. Effects: A terrorist movement that vowed to create a worldwide caliphate.
What were the causes and effects of the death of Antonin Scalia in 2016?
Causes: The unexpected death of Antonin Scalia in 2016. Effects: Senate Republicans refused to hold a hearing for Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, because Obama was in his last year in office and the Republicans wanted to hold out until hopefully, a Republican would be elected and could appoint the position.
What was the significance of the Election of 2000?
It was one of the closest and most controversial elections in US history, resolved by the Supreme Court decision in Bush vs. Gore.
What happened on 9/11?
Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked planes and attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and attempted to attack the US Capitol, killing nearly 3,000 people.
What was Operation Enduring Freedom?
The US invasion of Afghanistan aimed at capturing Osama bin Laden and ending al Qaeda's usage of Afghanistan as a base for attacks.
What was Operation Iraqi Freedom?
The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, seeking to remove Saddam Hussein from power and find weapons of mass destruction.
What was the impact of Hurricane Katrina?
It devastated New Orleans in 2005, causing widespread flooding and a failed response by FEMA, leading to significant loss of life and public dissatisfaction.
What were the key events of the Great Recession?
A housing bubble burst, leading to foreclosures, financial institution failures, and a credit crisis, resulting in soaring gas prices, stock market declines, and rising unemployment.
What was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?
Strengthened protection of equal pay for female employees.
What was the significance of Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)?
The Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment protects the rights of same-sex couples to marry.
What was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Obamacare)?
Aimed to extend affordable health care insurance to an additional 25 million Americans through combinations of subsidies, mandates, insurance exchanges, and expansion of Medicaid while introducing medical and insurance reforms to control health care costs.
What was the Arab Spring?
A wave of protests that broke out across the Middle East and North Africa in 2010, leading to civil unrest and armed rebellion.
What was Brexit?
A political event in which Great Britain voted to leave the 28-nation European Union.
Define "punch card machines" in the context of the 2000 election.
Antiquated voting systems used in Florida that resulted in some ballots not being clearly marked for any candidate, leading to disputes during the recount.
What is the "War on Terror?"
A global campaign led by the United States in response to the 9/11 attacks, aimed at combating terrorism.
Define "Bush Doctrine".
The policy that the US had the right to attack enemies before they attacked the US; pre-emptive strikes.
What are "weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)"?
Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that can cause widespread devastation and loss of life.
What is a "stimulus package?"
A set of economic policies implemented by the government to stimulate economic activity during a recession.
Define "TARP".
Troubled Assets Relief Program, a $700 billion program to purchase failing assets from financial institutions during the 2008 financial crisis.
What is "gender identity?"
An individual's internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither, regardless of their assigned sex at birth.
Define "civil unions".
A legally recognized union of a same-sex couple, with rights and responsibilities similar to those of a marriage.
What is the "individual mandate" under Obamacare?
A requirement that all individuals purchase health insurance or pay a penalty.
What is "fracking"?
Pumping high-pressured water into the ground to release natural gas and oil.
What is the "filibuster"?
A parliamentary procedure used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill.
What is the "Equality Act"?
It would amend the Civil Rights Act to "prohibit discrimination on the basis of the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes.