The 21st Century
Overview:
Events since 2000 underscore the utter unpredictability of the future. The 2000 election was the first in 112 years in which a president lost the popular vote but captured enough states to win the electoral vote. It took five weeks to determine the election's outcome, which hinged on a few hundred votes in Florida. By a 5-4 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court halted a recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court on the ground that it violated the principle that all votes must be treated equally and that there was not enough time to conduct a new manual recount that would meet constitutional muster.
The new president, George W. Bush,described himself as a “compassionate conservative” committed to the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, strong families and local control. He proposed to improve public schools by insisting on competency testing. Under his proposed “faith-based initiative,” religious institutions would be able to compete for government funds to provide social services. A major legislative success involved cutting taxes. But terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, would reshape the direction of his presidency.
On September 11th, hijackers turned commercial airlines into missiles and attacked key symbols of American economic and military might. These hideous attacks leveled the World Trade Center towers in New York , destroyed part of the Pentagon, and left Americans in a mood similar to that which the country experienced after the devastating Japanese attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
In retaliation for the attacks, a U.S.-led coalition overthrew the Taliban government of Afghanistan, which harbored al-Qaeda, the terrorist networks that had staged the assaults. Congress enacted legislation giving law enforcement agencies broader authority to detain or deport aliens and to conduct wiretaps. It also created a cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security to reduce the country's vulnerability to terrorism.
On March 20, 2003, the United States and a coalition of allies went to war against Iraq, one of the country's that President Bush regarded (along with Iran and North Korea) as part of an "axis of evil." The invasion did not receive United Nations' backing, which might have provided greater international legitimacy to take out Hussein's regime. Iraq 's military, severely weakened during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, quickly collapsed before coalition forces. On May 1, 2003, Bush told the American people that “major combat operations in Iraq have ended.” At that juncture, 137 American military personnel had been killed.
More than three years after toppling Hussein's government, U.S. and coalition troops were fighting insurgent forces, made up of remnants of the old regime and disgruntled Sunni and Shiite Iraqis, joined by terrorists who infiltrated the country. By March 2006 more than 2300 American troops had died in Iraq .
In 2004, as in the election of 2000, a single state decided the outcome, based on a the distribution of electoral votes. Ohio 's 20 votes gave Bush the margin of victory over Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts . Still, with a 3.5 million popular vote margin, Bush won the first outright majority in the popular vote for president in 16 years, and the Republican party succeeded in expanding GOP majorities in the House and Senate.
The Republicans succeeded by galvanizing more supporters than did the Democrats, especially among religious conservatives concerned about moral values. It seems likely that the decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court to legalize gay marriage—which led eleven states to vote on initiatives banning gay marriage—helped the Bush campaign mobilize religious voters.President Bush's top priority in his second term was to end the insurgency in Iraq . He also announced an aggressive domestic policy agenda that included allowing younger workers to divert part of their Social Security taxes into personal investment accounts, making permanent the $1.9 trillion tax cuts he won in his first term, and promoting energy production. Although he had several successes, including a revamping of bankruptcy laws, restrictions on class-action lawsuits, and energy legislation, many of his other proposals, especially his plan to reform Social Security, faced stiff resistance from Democrats in Congress.
Our Online Textbook| The Disputed Election of 2000 Compassionate Conservatism September 11, 2001 Civil Liberties and National Security: Trying to Strike a Balance |
Arab Americans and Muslim Americans The Axis of Evil War with Iraq The 2004 Elections |
Primary Source Documents
International Reaction to the September 11, 2001 Attacks on New York City and the Pentagon in Washington
Citizens from across the United States and the world reacted to the September 11 th attacks with prayer sessions and rallies. Nearly 500 foreigners from 91 countries died in the attacks, including dozens of Bangladeshis, Britons, Chinese, Filipinos, Germans, Irish, Israelis, Italians, Japanese, Mexicans, South Koreans, Taiwanese, Thais, and Zimbabweans. Britain suffered the most deaths with 67. World leaders reacted with revulsion to the terrorist attacks.
President George W. Bush
September 11, 2001
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed….
Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America . These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve….Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair
September 11, 2001
This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world. The people who perpetrate it have no regard whatever for the sanctity or value of human life, and we the democracies of the world, must come together to defeat it and eradicate it. This is not a battle between the United States of America and terrorism, but between the free and democratic world and terrorism. We, therefore, here in Britain stand shoulder to shoulder with our American friends in this hour of tragedy, and we, like them, will not rest until this evil is driven from our world.
French President Jacques Chirac
September 11, 2001
The attacks that struck the United States today are a terrible tragedy. Never has any country in the world been the target of terrorist attacks of such scope or of such violence. I want to convey to the American people once again the solidarity of the entire French people during this tragic ordeal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
September 12, 2001
The event that occurred in the US today goes beyond national borders. It is a brazen challenge to the whole humanity, at least to civilized humanity. And what happened today is added proof of the relevance of the Russian proposal to pool the efforts of the international community in the struggle against terrorism, that plague of the 21st century.
Russia knows at first hand what terrorism is. So, we understand as well as anyone the feelings of the American people. Addressing the people of the United States on behalf of Russia I would like to say that we are with you, we entirely and fully share and experience your pain. We support you.
Ambassador to the U.S. , Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
September 13, 2001
Whoever committed these criminal acts, which violate all divine religions and all religious, moral and human values, is not Muslim…. Islam specifically refutes terrorists and terrorism…. If it turns out, beyond reasonable doubt, that those who carried out these acts were people who claim to belong to Islam, they are Muslim in name only…. The Saudis, like all Arabs and Muslims, are standing firm behind efforts to unveil the identity of those who committed these acts.
Yasir Arafat, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority
September 11, 2001
We are completely shocked. It's unbelievable. We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people, to the American President, and to the American administration, not only in my name but on behalf of the Palestinian people."
Sheik Ahmed Yassin, leader of the militant Middle Eastern group Hamas:
September 11, 2001No doubt this is a result of injustice the U.S practices against the weak in the world. The U.S. has been sowing the seed of injustice and racial discrimination against the weak, and therefore the U.S. is collecting now the harvest of what it did.
Glossary
Blowback The notion that the United States funded and supported individuals who later came back to threaten American interests. Commonly cited examples include Saddam Hussein, who the United States supported in the 1980s as a counterweight to Iran, and Manuel Noriega of Panama, who received support from the CIA. A major subject of debate is whether Osama bin Laden and his network of supporters are in some sense a product of blowback. Following Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in 1979, the United States government provided weaponry and other assistance totaling about $3 billion to mujahedin rebels. The rebels also received support from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which, in particular, was eager to foster a Sunni government as a counterweight to Shia Iran. In 1992, Afghanistan's Communist government fell, and for two years, mujahedin factions struggled for power. It was during this power struggle that the Taliban, which promised to end violence and restore order and received support from Pakistan, attained power. Significant numbers of outsiders arrived in Afghanistan only after the Taliban had begun to achieve power in 1994.
Mujahedin This term is used to refer to the Islamic anti-Communist resistance fighters in Afghanistan during the 1980s and 1990s or to Islamic soldiers more generally.
Taliban Deriving their name from the word for religious students, the Taliban came to world attention in 1994. Drawing their support primarily from the Afghanistan's Pashtun ethnic group, the Taliban were able in 1995 to gain country over the southern and eastern parts of the country. Their success was a product of their ability to restore stability to areas that had been marked by social chaos. The Taliban promised to strictly enforce Islamic law, expel Communists from the country, and eliminate corruption and lawlessness. After taking control of Kabul in 1996, the Taliban sought to establish a truly Islamic state. They forbid television and movies, introduced public executions, and forbid girls from attending school.
Terrorism The definition of terrorism is subject to intense controversy. Currently, the Reuters news service discourages its correspondents from using the term on the ground that one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter. In common parlance, the word terrorism refers to acts of violence inflicted against a civilian population that occur outside of war. Technically, the term now is used to refer to politically-motivated violence perpetrated by non-state organizations against an established nation state.
Wahhabism A strain of Islam, which emerged in Arabia during the eighteenth century and is the official theology of the Gulf states. Named after Mohammed ibn al-Wahhab (1703-1792), Wahhabism seeks to return Islam to its beginnings through a literal interpretation of the Koran.
Images
Multimedia tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
http://attacked911.tripod.com or
http://www.achieveezine.com/videos/attack.swf
President Bush visits "ground zero" at the World Trade Center site
link to site
President Bush visits the Pentagon
link to site
Photographs relating to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
link to site
Political Cartoons relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks
link to site
Popular Culture Artifacts relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks
link to site
September 11, 2001 attack in comic books
link to site
Speeches
President Bush, speaking at a school in Sarasota, Florida, says the country has suffered an "apparent terrorist attack."
link to site
President George W. Bush addresses the nation, saying "thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil" and asks for prayers for the families and friends of the September 11, 2001 victims.
link to site
Congressional remarks and spontaneous singing of "God Bless America" outside of the Capitol building.
link to site
President Bush address before a joint session of Congress (part 1).
link to site
President Bush Address before a joint session of Congress (part 2).
link to site
President George W. Bush, speaking from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, says that all appropriate security measures are being taken, including putting the U.S. military on high alert worldwide.
link to site
President Bush speaks at the National Memorial Service (National Cathedral)
link to site
Music
Beatles "Yesterday" remix
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/WTCbeatles.asx
Billy Gilman
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/WTCbillygilman.asx
Eric Clapton
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/WTCclapton.asx
Sarah McLachlan "I Will Remember You" remix
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/WTCsarah.asx
"We're Still Standing"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/WTCstillstanding.asx
"Message to Osama"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/WTCmessagetoosama.asx
Osama Bin Laden "Dead or Alive"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladendeadoralive.asx
Osama Bin Laden song by the band Jackyl
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenjackyl.asx
Osama Bin Laden rap song
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenrap.asx
Osama Bin Laden "Grinch" parody
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenbinch.asx
Osama Bin Laden "Give Up Osama"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladengiveuposama.asx
Osama Bin Laden bomb song
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenbombsong.asx
Osama Bin Laden Folgers coffee parody
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenfolgiers.asx
Osama Bin Laden song: "Ohhhh Taliban"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenohhhhtaliban.asx
Osama Bin Laden: Parody of Crocodile Hunter
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/binladenosamahunter.asx
50 Ways to Get Bin Laden
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/50_ways_to_get_bin_laden.asx
Bob Rivers, "Osama Got Run Over By a Reindeer"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/bob_rivers-osama_got_run_over_by_a_reindeer.asx
FBI Attacks The Taliban
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/fbi-attacks_taliban.asx
I Wanna Bomb Osama
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/i-wanna-bomb-osama.asx
Ray Stevens, "Osama Yo' Mama"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/ray_stevens-osama_your_momma.asx
Alan Jackson, "Where Were You? (When The World Stopped Turning)
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/alan_jackson-where_were_you.asx
Toby Keith, "Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/toby_keith-courtesy_of_the_red_white_and_blue.asx
Bruce Springsteen, "The Rising"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/bruce_springsteen-the_rising.asx
Bruce Springsteen, "Empty Sky"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/bruce_springsteen-empty_sky.asx
Bruce Springsteen, "My City of Ruins"
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/attackonamerica/asx/bruce_springsteen-my_city_of_ruins.asx
Quiz
1. On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked all but one of the following buildings. Select the EXCEPTION.
A. The Pentagon
B. The U.S. Capitol
C. The World Trade Center
2. How many airliners were hijacked on September 11, 2001?
A. three
B. four
C. five
3. The mastermind behind the terrorist attack was
A. Timothy McVeigh
B. Saddam Hussein
C. Osama Bin Laden
4. The United States responded to the terrorist strikes by attacking the Taliban government, which harbored the terrorists, in:
A. Afghanistan
B. Iraq
C. Yemen
5. Several weeks after the September 11th terrorist strike, the United States suffered a number of deaths produced by
A. smallpox
B. sarin gas
C. anthrax