18.2 The Bush Administration

Why was the 2000 Presidential election controversial?

• Florida was to close to call so Presidential candidate Al Gore asked for a recount.

• George Bush refused to concede because he won the Electoral College vote.

What was the outcome of the Supreme Court case Gore v Bush?

• The court voted 5-4 to stop the recount making Bush the winner of the 2000 Presidential election.

• The court decided to nullify the results of six highly contested states and have a new election.

How did the events of 9/11 influence US foreign policy?

• President Bush formed a US led coalition of nations to fight international terrorism cells such as Al-Qaeda.

• President Bush deployed troops to help secure key infrastructure and national borders.

How was Operation Enduring Freedom initially a success?

• US forces removed the Taliban and set up direct elections to make Afghanistan a democracy.

• US developed new defensive weapons systems to protect our nation and our allies from terrorism.

What was the purpose of the Patriot Act?

• to equip US law enforcement agencies with the tools necessary to fight terrorism

• to help the economic recovery of our nation following the terror attacks of 9/11

Why did the Patriot Act receive criticism?

• Political opponents of the Congressional Act claimed it violated several civil liberties.

• Political opponents of the Congressional Act believed it encouraged illegal immigration.

Why did President Bush expand the war on terror to Iraq?

• The US government believed Iraq violated UN sanctions and were building weapons of mass destruction.

• A CIA report indicated that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein sold weapons of mass destruction to the Taliban.

How was the Iraq War successful?

• The US led coalition toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, arrested him, and tried him for war crimes in an international court.

• The US led coalition ousted Al-Qaeda forces who abandoned Saddam Hussein's Red Army and retreated to Syria.

How was the Iraq War a failure?

• United Nations weapons inspectors did not find evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

• Due to intense antiwar protests at home, the US led coalition surrendered and returned home.

How did the Iraq War affect George W. Bush's legacy?

• The Iraq War was widely supported by the American public because it ended terrorism.

• The Iraq War caused rising public discontent due to casualties and perceived mismanagement.