The United States in this Millenium

Question 1

The Rust Belt

Answer 1

• economic region concentrated in the formerly dominant industrial state of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania
• by 1980s it become what Dust Bowl had been to earlier generations -> symbolic name for a devastating economic change

Question 2

Bush v. Gore

Answer 2

• in 5-4 decision the US Supreme Court ended a statewide recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court
• this gave Florida´s votes to Bush and granted him the victory (the difference was just 537 votes)

Question 3

Presidency of G.W. Bush

Answer 3

• 2001-2009
• 9/11 and War on Terror
• Patriot Act (2001)
• Free trade agreements
• No Child Left Behind Act (2001)
• Inadequate response to the 2001-8 crisis

Question 4

9/11 and War on Terror

Answer 4

• Afghanistan (2001) – Taliban Regime
• Iraq (2003) – Saddam Hussein’s allege terrorist links; weapons of mass destruction

Question 5

“Mission Accomplished” – May 1, 2003

Answer 5

• Bush gave a “mission accomplished” speech after launching a US led invasion of Iraq 6 weeks prior
• “Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed … because the regime is no more.”

Question 6

Patriot Act

Answer 6

• 2001
• authorization of indefinite detentions of immigrants
• permission given to law enforcement officers to search a home or business wihtout the owner´s consent or knowledge
• it allowed FBI to search telephone, email, and financial records without a court order
• expanded access of law enforcement agencies to business records, including library and financial records.

Question 7

Neoconservatism

Answer 7

= emerged in the US from rejection of social liberalism and the New Left counterculture of the 1960s
- it emphasizes foreign policy as the paramount responsibility of government, seeing the America´s role as the world´s sole superpower

Question 8

The Wolfowitz Doctrine

Answer 8

• 1992
• leaked document about US foreign and defense policy
• Unilateralism
• US primacy
• Pre-emptive intervention
• Russian threat
• Oil

Question 9

Presidency of Barack Obama

Answer 9

• stimulus package addressing the financial crisis
• combatted climate change (International Climate Agreement)
• Affordable Care Act (2010) aka Obamacare
• Gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, drone warfare
• Opening up toward Cuba

Question 10

Economic Stimulus Package

Answer 10

• approved in February 2008
• cut taxes
• extended unemployment benefits
• funded public works projects
• recession ended in July

Question 11

Affordable Care Act / Obamacare (2010)

Answer 11

• % of adults without insurance lowered
• main goal was to make health care more accessible
• it expanded Medicaid eligibility, created a Health Insurance Marketplace, and prevented insurance companies from denying coverage due to preexisting conditions.