Modern America
War, Economic Despair, and an attempt to redeem former glory
Election of 2008: McCain vs. Obama
- This United States presidential election began in 2008 after George W. Bush left office.
- The front runners were John McCain/Sarah Palin and Barack Obama/Joe Biden.
- This election was very important and televised even more so than usual, as the Democratic candidate/winner, Barack Obama, because the United States' first African American president.
- At the end of the election, Obama had 365 electoral votes while McCain had only 173.
9/11 and the lasting impact
- Ever since the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the United States has changed as far as security and immigration control goes.
- Over 3,000 people were killed in the attacks by Al-Qaeda in NY, and because of this the US has been closely monitoring the amount of people who immigrate into America via the Department of Homeland Security.
- The security in airports has also tightened up. Before the 9/11 attacks, airport security was very relaxed, but now it is very in depth, including full body scans and the occasional pat-down. This is all due to the plane hijackings of that day.
- Another lasting impact was the security cameras and detail around the Pentagon and other important buildings and landmarks. These were heightened to prevent another attack similar to the ones that happened on 9/11.
Afghanistan War
- The Afghanistan War began in 2001 and ended in 2014. It lasted for 13 years, 2 months, and 3 weeks.)
- The war resulted in the fall of the Taliban, the death of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, and the destruction of the Al-Qaeda militant camps.
- This war was ultimately the cause of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
- On May 2nd, officials announced that Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been killed in an operation conducted by the CIA and United States Navy Seals in Pakistan.