2000s Flashcards
Rage Against the Machine 2000 concert
Amidst the height of the Dot-Com Bubble, Rage Against the Machine preformed a concert on Wall Street which forced trading to close early.
Elián González
A young boy returned to Cuba in 2000 by decree of Janet Reno.
FDA v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.
(2000) Found that the government couldn’t regulate the sale of tobacco, a blow to Pres. Clinton’s anti-smoking legislation and platform.
“405”
A three-minute short film released in 2000, perhaps the first viral video ever, and a landmark in Internet film.
Elaine Chao
Asian-American Secretary of Labor under Pres. Bush, she oversaw the Marin County Sludge disaster.
USS Cole bombing
A 2000 suicide bombing on a US ship which strengthened Pres. Bush’s resolve against Al-Qaeda.
United States presidential election, 2000
Republican George W. Bush defeats Democrat Al Gore in the electoral college, but not by popular vote. The final outcome isn’t known for over a month due to disputed votes in Florida.
Katherine Harris
Florida Secretary of State in 2000 who attempted to stop recount efforts until the Florida Supreme Court overruled her.
Bush v. Gore
(2000) Demanded that Florida stop its recount due to irregularity in voting patterns.
The Wichita Horror
A 2000 crime spree which resulted in five deaths. The murder of four black young adults the week earlier received less coverage than the crimes against white victims.
Kyoto Protocol
A UN resolution calling for the reduction of greenhouse gases, Pres. Bush removed US support for this legislation in 2001.
Cincinnati riots of 2001
Riots resulting from the shooting death of Timothy Thomas. The ensuing protests and boycotts against the city took a serious economic toll and caused a change in local police practices.
The 2000 U.S. Senate Elections
The US Senate in 2000 was left with a 50/50 split. It was also notable that Hillary Clinton won election as the First Lady.
Jim Jeffords
Senator from Vermont who left the Republican Party to caucus with the Democrats, giving them brief control of the Senate from 2001-2002.
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001
One of the two “Bush tax cuts,” this legislation lowered tax rates and simplified pension plans.
Aaliyah
A singer who died in a tragic 2001 plane accident.
9/11
A series of four airplane attacks against the United States led by al-Qaeda which led to the US launching the War on Terror, and invading Afghanistan to break up the Taliban, which was believed to be harboring al-Qaeda.
2001 anthrax attacks
Anthrax mailings to members of the media and two senators which increased fear and anti-terrorism paranoia in the weeks following 9/11.
Operation Enduring Freedom
The name given to several American operations as part of the War on Terror. Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan began in 2001 as a result of 9/11 and consisted of NATO forces.
Patriot Act
A 2001 law which limited individual liberty, but allowed the government to fight terrorism with more reign. Pres. Obama renewed the key sections of the provision in 2013. In 2015, the NSA’s right to access phone information was qualified due to an outcry of privacy concerns.
American Airlines Flight 587
A 2001 plane crash in New York City which was immediately thought to be terrorism. It was later proved to be human error. The victims were 90% Dominican-American New York City residents.
Richard Reid
AKA the Shoe Bomber, his 2001 attempted terrorist attack contributed to a culture of fear and changed airplane policy.
Enron scandal
A 2001 scandal which resulted in the bankruptcy of Enron and public discontent against white collar industry.
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
A Cold War era treaty the US withdrew from in 2001 so that it could develop its missile technology in the War on Terror.
No Child Left Behind Act
A 2002 law which extended federal oversight into the day-to-day functioning of local school districts.
Daniel Pearl
An American journalist decapitated in 2002 by al-Qaeda in protest of Guantanamo Bay.
Axis of evil
A coin termed in 2002 by Pres. Bush in reference to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea.
Rudy Giuliani
Mayor of New York during the 9/11 attacks, in 2002 he was knighted by the Queen.
Beltway sniper attacks
Highly publicized 2002 shootings in the DC area.
United States Department of Homeland Security
Created in 2002 by Pres. Bush as an office which works to prevent domestic terrorism.
Human shield action to Iraq
In 2003, some war protestors travelled to Iraq to serve as human shields to Iraqi civilians- knowing that no allied force would attack a location knowing that an allied civilian was present.
Three-strikes law
A controversial California law which was upheld in 2003, demands that on one’s third offense they are locked away for a very long period of time.
Shock and awe
A military principal which includes making great displays of force and power to sap an enemy’s will to fight- practiced by the US in 2003 in the Iraq War.
The Iraq War
A 2003-2011 conflict which began as an attempt to remove WMDs from Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein. After the initial invasion, the US couldn’t provide any substantial proof that there had been WMDs. The government set up in the aftermath of Hussein’s removal from office contributed to the growth of ISIL.
Battle of Baghdad
In 2003, American led forces invaded Baghdad and removed Saddam Hussein from power. The battle had the effect of destroying Baghdad economically.
“Mission Accomplished”
In 2003, Pres. Bush gave a speech in front of a banner reading Mission Accomplished due to the success of the Battle of Baghdad. The US would remain in Iraq for a number of years due to guerilla warfare.
Grutter v. Bollinger
(2003) Upheld the use of affirmative action.
Lawrence v. Texas
(2003) Declared sodomy laws unconstitutional.
The Plame affair
In 2003, the identity of Valerie Plame as a CIA covert agent was leaked to the public. An agent of the State Department released her name as political retribution against Plame’s husband, who had written an article disagreeing with Pres. Bush’s claim that Saddam Hussein had purchased large amounts of uranium from Africa.
2003 California recall election
Democratic California governor Gray Davis was recalled and replaced with actor and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Goodridge v. Department of Public Health
(2003) Landmark Massachusetts case which found that same-sex couples have the right to marry.
Operation Red Dawn
The 2003 military operation which resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Dean Scream
Howard Dean’s lively but strange scream at the end of a 2004 concession speech that many believe contributed to his eventual loss of the Democratic nomination.
The funeral of Ronald Reagan
Reagan’s funeral occurred in 2004 and was a weeklong and heavily orchestrated affair which received some criticism for lionizing Pres. Reagan.
9/11 Commission Report
A thorough and controversial 2004 study, released into the public domain by request of Pres. Bush, which was nominated for a National Book Award.
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
A 2003 law signed by Pres. Bush banning partial-birth abortion.
Jim McGreevey
New Jersey governor who announced he was gay in 2004 and then resigned his office.
Killian documents controversy
In 2004, 60 Minutes showed fake typewritten memos involving Pres. Bush’s Air Guard service. The Internet quickly proved the documents to be inauthentic.
United States presidential election, 2004
Pres. Bush narrowly wins the popular vote in his victory over Democrat John Kerry.
YouTube
A website founded in 2005 that became wildly popular.
Roper v. Simmons
(2005) Unconstitutional to execute minors for crimes committed before they turn 18.
Giuliana Sgrena
An Italian journalist who was freed from Iraq in 2005. After US troops accidentally fired at her car, killing Italian agents, Italy removed itself from all Iraqi fighting.
Terri Schiavo case
Legal struggle over the use of euthanasia which lasted from 1990-2005, resulting in Pres. Bush signing legislation designed to try and keep Schiavo alive. The feeding tube was ultimately removed.
2005 Quran desecration controversy
A worldwide controversy surrounding allegations that US military personnel had desecrated the Quran just to stir the anger of Muslims.
Oil-for-Food Programme
A UN program began under the administration of Pres. Clinton which allowed Iraq to sell its oil in exchange for food and medicine but not money.
Hurricane Katrina
The federally funded levees of New Orleans broke in 2005 resulting in over 1800 deaths. Allegations of racism and federal incompetency resounded as a result of FEMA’s inaction.
Abu Ghraib torture
Beginning in 2003, members of the US Army tortured certain Iraqi civilians. Pictures of Lynndie England abusing residents created international outcry.
Harriet Miers
2005 Supreme Court nominee and friend of George W. Bush. He was accused of cronyism and she was attacked as unqualified.
Dick Cheney hunting incident
In 2006, Dick Cheney accidentally shot an acquaintance during a hunting trip.
2006 North Korean missile test
A 2006 launch of missiles by North Korea.
United States housing bubble
Increased foreclosure rates and a credit crisis beginning in 2006 led to the Great Recession in 2008.
Battle of Ras Kamboni
A 2007 battle of the Somali War in which the US led air strikes.
2007 Boston bomb scare
Advertising materials were mistaken explosive devices leading to international criticism for Boston.
Virginia Tech shooting
A 2007 shooting which led to international condemnation of the US’s gun policy and mental health treatment programs.
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
A bill outlawing hate crimes which was signed into law by Pres. Barack Obama in 2009.
2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident
A scandal which resulted in several high profile resignations as a result of the botched handling of nuclear warheads.
Halo 3
A video game released in 2007 that shattered any pre-existing records.
The Great Recession
A global economic downturn which is commonly said to have begun in 2008.
Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
Signed into law by Pres. Bush, this legislation provided tax rebates to low- and middle-income Americans, business tax incentives, and mortgage reform. This law was a slight success.
The murder of Larry King
A 15 year old boy was shot to death for being gay in a highly publicized 2008 incident.
2008 Democratic presidential primaries
Sen. Barack Obama narrowly defeated Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The bailout of the financial system, backed by Pres. Bush- allows government funds to be relayed directly into the banking systems.
United States presidential election, 2008
Democrat Barack Obama defeats Republic John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin. Major issues included the Iraq War, the Great Recession, and Palin’s incompetency in interviews.
Oscar Grant
A black man shot by the LAPD in 2009 leading to widespread protests.
2009 shootings of Oakland police officers
Four dead LAPD officers highlighted how truly radical race relations have become.
Maersk Alabama
A ship hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009, Pres. Obama authorized a successful sniper operation freeing her captain.
Swine flu
A 2009 pandemic that affected 19% of Americans and resulted in 12,000 deaths.
Death of Michael Jackson
Jackson’s 2009 death triggered a ridiculous public outpour of grief for months on end.
111th Congress summer recess
During the summer of 2009, representatives took time in their district to understand how their populations felt about health care reform: gearing up for the fight ahead of them.
2009 imprisonment of American journalists by North Korea
Euna Lee and Laura Ling were pardoned by Kim Jong-Il, after he met with Bill Clinton, for the crime of trespassing.
Joe Wilson
US Representative from South Carolina who heckled Pres. Obama in 2009 by yelling “You lie!” at him.
9-12 Project
Glenn Beck’s 2009 project based on returning Americans to the unity they felt on 9/12/2001. The beginning of the Tea Party Movement.
Balloon boy hoax
In 2009 a family gained international attention by pretending to send their son into space in a weather balloon.
2009 Nobel Peace Prize
Pres. Obama was widely criticized for winning this prize, which many felt he did not deserve, but was indicative of the global excitement at the thought of his presidency.
New York’s 23rd congressional district special election, 2009
The slight victory of the Democrat Bill Owens over a conservative businessman was seen by many to exemplify both the splintering of the Republican Party and a referendum on Barack Obama.
Enhanced interrogation techniques
A euphemism for the systematic torture of detainees by the CIA, FBI, and members of the George W. Bush administration at various CIA black sites around the world.
Bagram torture and prisoner abuse
In 2005, the New York Times revealed that two Afghan prisoners were beaten to death by American troops in 2002. In 2005, charges were introduced against seven soldiers.
