Instruction
The impact of September 11, George W. Bush’s presidency, and the election of Barack Obama begin the new milleniuem. Before September 11, the Bush administration practiced a conservative agenda, cutting taxes, building defenses, and dismantling environmental policies. After the attacks, Bush launched a war on terror and quickly identified an axis of evil. American foreign policy was then fundamentally altered with the 2002 “National Security Strategy” that advocated preemptive war. The document defined national security in terms of defending freedom. Shortly thereafter the administration announced Operation Iraqi Freedom, and pursued a preemptive war against Iraq in 2003. With few allies, the United States began to look like an empire. At home, the war on terrorism affected civil liberties with the USA Patriot Act. In addition, torture of prisoners was exposed, which spurred heated debate over presidential power and prisoners’ rights under the Geneva Conventions. The chapter then examines Bush’s domestic policies, and his response to Hurricane Katrina, immigration debates, and the economic crisis. The election of Barack Obama, in June 2009 was thought to be a significant change for the country. President Obama traveled to Egypt to deliver a speech to the Islamic world entitled “A New Beginning,” President Obama acknowledged past American misdeeds and promised to respect Islamic traditions. President Obama’s first four years in office brought hope to a country looking for change.
Please read Chapter 28 from "Give Me Liberty by Eric Foner Volume and 2 5th Edition complete ALL of the questions below:
Question #1: How did the terrorist attacks of September 11 shape U.S. foreign policy?
Question #2: Does the USA Patriot Act violate civil liberties? Why, or why not?
Question #3: Discuss illegal immigration. Is it fair to allow the illegal immigrants amnesty? How do the immigrants impact the American economy?
Question #4: What did Hurricane Katrina say about the ability of the Bush administration to lead through adversity? Should there be another Great Society–type program launched?
Question #5: Assess and analyze the economic crisis of 2008. What caused the crisis? To what extent did Americans begin to question market fundamentalism?