2010s Flashcards
United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010
Tea Party candidate Scott Brown defeats Martha Coakley for Ted Kennedy’s seat in an upset.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010
A success of Pres. Obama’s presidency, repealed Clinton’s policy which effectively banned gays from the military.
Citizens United v. FEC
(2010) Found that corporations have First Amendment rights and can’t be restricted in their political donations.
Tea Party movement
In 2010, this rightist movement gained momentum and was able to exploit fears of Obamacare to drag the country to the right.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Controversial 2010 legislation which increased the quality of health care in the United States. It was effective in increasing the number of insured Americans.
Space policy of the Barack Obama administration
Laid out in 2010: includes increasing NASA funding, and a manned mission to Mars by the 2030s preceded by a manned asteroid mission in 2025.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
2010, worst environmental disaster ever. BP was found responsible but avoided paying heavy fines.
Arizona SB 1070
The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. A 2010 Arizona law supported by Republican gov. Jan Brewer which required all immigrants to carry proof of documentation on them at all time. It was criticized as promoting racial profiling.
2010 Times Square car bombing attempt
A failed car bombing attempt which was immediately connected to Pakistan by Sec. of state Clinton and the Obama administration.
The Flash Crash
In May 2010, the stock market suddenly crashed, losing trillions of dollars (9%) and rebounding in the same day. The cause appears to have been scores of market manipulation.
Texting while driving
A societal norm since 2000, in the late 2000s states began outlawing the practice although it continues to plague teen culture.
Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
A 2010 law signed by Pres. Obama which was the most major overhaul of the US economic system since the Great Depression.
Hollingsworth v. Perry
(2013) Since no governor of California agreed to defend Prop. 8, it remains unconstitutional.
Terry Jones
A Florida pastor whose various Quran burning events in 2010 and 2011 led to over 50 deaths.
2010 United States elections
The Republican Party sailed to widespread victory, as a result of many Independent-aligned Americans subscribing to Tea Party philosophy.
Four Loko
Caffeinated malt liquor beverages which came under national scrutiny in 2010 as a public safety concern.
United States Senate election in Alaska, 2010
Incumbent moderate Republican Lisa Murkowski was defeated in her primary by a Tea Party and Palin sponsored candidate, but went on to win the election through write-in votes.
WikiLeaks scandal
In 2010, Julian Assange published a series of confidential documents to his website Wikileaks- creating a division in public opinion as to whether he is a patriot or villain.
2010 Tax Relief Act
A compromise between Pres. Obama and GOPs in the House. Extended the Bush Tax Cuts while promoting stimulatory growth by strengthening unemployment benefits.
DREAM Act
Legislation first proposed in 2010 for the purpose of granting conditional residency to illegal aliens that are pursuing an education or career.
New START
Legislation signed in 2010 by President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia for the purpose of repairing US-Russian relations which had deteriorated since the Georgian War.
2011 Tucson shooting
Democrat Gabrielle Giffords was shot by a deranged gunman in an attack which was at first believed to be political in nature. Led to widespread criticism of American partisanship.
2011 Wisconsin protests
Protests led against Gov. Scott Walker in response to a proposed budget bill which would’ve limited the rights of unions. Occupation of the Wisconsin capital by over 100000 led to numerous recall elections.
Snyder v. Phelps
(2011) Upheld the right of the Westboro Baptist Church to protest,
Birther Movement
Beginning in 2008, a sizable group of Americans accused Pres. Obama of being born in Kenya. These unfounded attacks were levied against him by many powerful individuals.
Death of Osama bin Laden
In 2011, Pres. Obama’s administration oversaw the death and burial at sea of Osama bin Laden.
Weinergate
Refers to scandals in 2011 and 2013 in which US Rep. Anthony Weiner was embroiled in sexting accusations.
2011 military intervention in Libya
The UN obligated the USA to carpet bomb areas of Libya in response to Muammar Gaddafi’s human rights abuses. Ten members of the House brought impeachment charges against Pres. Obama because the action was done without Congressional approval.
Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association
(2011) S.C. struck down California law forbidding sale of video games to minors as video games are free speech.
Brown v. Plata
(2011) Demanded that California reduce its number of prisoners.
Caylee Anthony
Two year old girl whose mysterious 2011 death was a cause célèbre. It included character attacks against the mother and intense public influence.
Leal Garcia v. Texas
(2011) A Mexican citizen was executed in Texas in a possible violation of international law.
ATF gunwalking scandal
A series of operations from 2006-2011 in which the ATF placed tracking devices on guns then sold them to Mexican cartels. Damaged Mexican-US relations. Pres. Obama refused to release documents concerning Eric Holder’s involvement.
Budget Control Act of 2011
Part of the Debt Ceiling crisis, signed by Pres. Obama to resolve said crisis.
United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011
1) America’s Standard & Poor’s credit rating was lowered.
2) The Dow fell continuously in August.
Anonymous
An internet group which rose to prominence in the 21st century. They receive widespread attention for their various cyberattacks on particular organizations.
Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011
The largest recall election in US History resulted in Wisconsin Republicans retaining their majority and governance.
Solyndra
A solar power company which declared bankruptcy in 2011 two years after receiving 50 million from the Obama administration.
Occupy Wall Street
A national protest against income inequality which began in 2011. Opened a national dialogue about the 99%. In 2014, it was revealed that the FBI and CIA extensively infiltrated the movement.
American Jobs Act
Legislation proposed by Pres. Obama in a televised address in 2011. The Republicans balked, as did many Democrats facing tough reelections. Many of those Democrats would end up losing anyway. This legislation involved cutting payroll taxes for the poor, modernizing schools, and infrastructure.
Arizona v. United States
(2012) Overturned parts of a controversial state law by finding that Arizona could not create immigration law, but could inquire as to any person’s residency status.
2012 Aurora shooting
A movie theater shooting which prompted an increase in theater security, as well as several copycat shootings in the years following.
Marvin Lee Wilson
A retarded man illegally executed in Texas in 2012.
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
A 2012 shooting which resulted in state gun control laws being passed, federal legislation was defeated in the Senate.
Trayvon Martin
A black 17 year-old shot to death in 2012 by a man named George Zimmerman, who was ultimately acquitted under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law, despite the fact that Zimmerman was told by law enforcement to not pursue Martin prior to the shooting.
The gay marriage turning point
March 9th-11th, 2012 during which it was found that 51% of Americans support gay marriage and numerous Democrats including Pres. Obama came out in support as well.
Joe the Plumber
A Republican who was used as a metaphor for small town, middle class, Americans by McCain during the 2008 election.
National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius
(2012) Upheld Congress’s right to enact most provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Congress may withhold from states refusing to comply with the ACA’s Medicaid expansion provision only the additional funding for Medicaid provided under the ACA.
Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting
In 2012, a white supremacist opened fire murdering six people worshipping at a mosque.
Chelsea Manning
Soldier convicted of violating the Espionage Act in 2013, after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly 750000 secure documents including a video that showed a U.S. helicopter crew firing on a group of people that included two Reuters employees. She was arrested and sought treatment for gender dysphoria, after a hunger strike, the US Army agreed to her request and supplied treatment including reassignment surgery. One of Pres. Obama’s last acts as president was commuting her sentence to end in May 2017.
American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
Signed on January 1st, 2013 by Pres. Obama to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” A compromise measure, it gave permanence to the lower rate of much of the Bush tax cuts, while retaining the higher tax rate at upper income levels.
The fiscal cliff
A situation that came into existence in January 2013, whereby a series of previously enacted laws would come into effect simultaneously, increasing taxes while decreasing spending. The Bush tax cuts of 2001, which had been extended for two years by the 2010 Tax Relief Act, were due to expire on December 31, 2012. Planned spending cuts under the Budget Control Act of 2011 also came into play. That Act was passed as a compromise to resolve a dispute concerning the United States debt ceiling and address the failure of the 111th Congress to pass a federal budget. The United States technically went over the fiscal cliff for two hours on January 1st, 2013.
The debt ceiling
A legislative limit on the amount of national debt that can be issued by the US Treasury, thus limiting how much money the federal government may borrow. The Treasury may take “extraordinary measures” to prevent the debt ceiling from being crossed. It is frequently raised by Congress. Critics question its effectiveness, supporters argue that it imposes restraint.
United States presidential election, 2012
Incumbent Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a relatively close popular vote but decisive electoral victory. The slow economic recovery was a defining issue of the election.
