Election of 2000
This candidate won the 2000 presidential election after a Supreme Court decision stopped the Florida recount.
George Bush
This law, passed after September 11 attacks, expanded the government’s power to monitor phone calls, emails, and other communications.
USA PATRIOT Act
This system of engineered barriers was meant to protect coastal cities like New Orleans from flooding but failed during a major 2005 disaster.
Levees
A key goal of Obama’s campaign was to reduce the number of Americans without this, especially for young adults under their parents’ plans.
What is health insurance coverage?
This issue became a major concern during the 2008 election because millions of Americans lost jobs and homes during the economic crisis.
Unemployment
This state became the center of controversy because the election results were extremely close.
Florida
This term describes the government closely watching people’s communications and activities to prevent terrorism.
Surveillance
This federal agency responsible for coordinating disaster response was widely criticized for its slow and ineffective response after the 2005 hurricane.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
During the 2008 United States presidential election, Barack Obama’s campaign focused on this idea of improving the economy and government to better serve everyday Americans.
Change
This practice involves stopping people at airports or borders based on perceived risk factors like nationality or religion, which became controversial after 9/11
Racial Profiling
This court case decided the outcome of the 2000 election recount.
Bush v. Gore
This phrase describes the U.S. military campaign started after 9/11 to fight terrorist groups around the world.
War on Terror
This discriminatory housing practice denied services like loans and insurance to residents in predominantly Black neighborhoods, which contributed to increased vulnerability during flooding in Hurricane Katrina.
Redlining
One major part of Barack Obama’s campaign was this plan to expand access to healthcare so more Americans could afford medical care.
Healthcare reform (later known as the Affordable Care Act)
This federal department was created in 2002 to coordinate national security efforts, including immigration control and disaster response.
The Department of Homeland Security
This Democratic candidate won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College in 2000.
Al Gore
This government agency was created after September 11 attacks to improve airport security and screen travelers.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
During the evacuation of Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans who could not leave were directed to this large sports arena, which became overcrowded during the storm.
The Superdome
This slogan, meaning “change,” was a central message of Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign.
“Yes We Can” or “Change We Can Believe In”
This 2008 financial crisis caused major job losses, home foreclosures, and a global economic downturn during the end of the George W. Bush presidency.
The Great Recession
These confusing paper ballots in Florida became famous in the 2000 election because small pieces of paper were left partially attached after voting.
Hanging Chad
This terrorist organization, led by Osama bin Laden, was responsible for planning the September 11 attacks against the United States.
al-Qaeda
After Hurricane Katrina, this became a major criticism of the U.S. government’s response, as many residents in New Orleans and surrounding areas waited days for rescue and basic supplies like food and water.
Delayed emergency response (or government response failure)
During his campaign, Barack Obama emphasized helping low- and middle-income families by making college more affordable through this type of financial aid support.
Grants and student financial aid programs
Launched in 2004, this social media platform quickly grew into a major way people communicate and share information online.