Changes

== 21st Century ==

== 21st Century ==

 

The 21st Century began in 2001 (though many thought it started in 2000), with a new President George W. Bush being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2001.  That election was the most contested since 1876, when Rutherford was declared the winner over Tilden based on the Compromise of 1877 to end Reconstruction.  Bush defeated his opponent, Al Gore, by a few hundred votes in the decisive state of Florida but it took the U.S. Supreme Court (Bush v. Gore) to intervene to stop the Democrats from recounting and reevaluating ballots in an attempt to declare Gore the winner.

The 21st Century began in 2001 (though many thought it started in 2000), with a new President George W. Bush being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2001.  That election was the most contested since 1876, when Rutherford was declared the winner over Tilden based on the Compromise of 1877 to end Reconstruction.  Bush defeated his opponent, Al Gore, by a few hundred votes in the decisive state of Florida but it took the U.S. Supreme Court (''Bush v. Gore'') to intervene to stop the Democrats from recounting and reevaluating ballots in an attempt to declare Gore the winner.

President George W. Bush described himself as a "compassionate conservative," which meant expanding government to give more "entitlements" (handouts).  He did slightly cut taxes, but let government spending increase beyond control.

President George W. Bush described himself as a "compassionate conservative," which meant expanding government to give more "entitlements" (handouts).  He did slightly cut taxes, but let government spending increase beyond control.

Less than eight months into the presidency of George W. Bush, on September 11, 2001 ("9/11"), 19 Saudi Arabians hijacked four planes (about five hijackers per plane), and flew them in suicide missions into targets.  Two flew into the World Trade Centers in southern Manhattan, one for each tower, causing a massive fire at about 9am in the upper floors of the towers (see diagram at right).  Unbeknownst to the terrorists, many New Yorkers do not fully arrive to work until about 9:30am; the building was only partially full and many below the impact were able to evacuate.  But many could not evacuate; some were trapped above the point of impact and fled to the roof that soon became too hot to stand upon; and hundreds of firefighters courageously entered the building to try to save who they could.  Within an hour both towers collapsed from the fires, killing nearly 3,000 people (including those who died on the airplanes).  A third hijacked plane went to D.C., probably seeking the White House as its target.  But the White House is not easy to see from the air, and the plane crashed into the much easier-to-find large Pentagon military building, killing 66.  By then the passengers on the fourth hijacked plane learned of what happened to others by making calls to loved ones on their cell phones.  They fought back against the hijackers, preventing it from ever reaching its target of D.C., but died when the plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field during the struggle.  Ironically and tragically, pilots who regularly carried guns on flights for self-defense had been disarmed by the government just a few months earlier, leaving all pilots defenseless against this attack.  A program to rearm pilots after this attack proceeded slowly, amid opposition by proponents of gun control.

Less than eight months into the presidency of George W. Bush, on September 11, 2001 ("9/11"), 19 Saudi Arabians hijacked four planes (about five hijackers per plane), and flew them in suicide missions into targets.  Two flew into the World Trade Centers in southern Manhattan, one for each tower, causing a massive fire at about 9am in the upper floors of the towers (see diagram at right).  Unbeknownst to the terrorists, many New Yorkers do not fully arrive to work until about 9:30am; the building was only partially full and many below the impact were able to evacuate.  But many could not evacuate; some were trapped above the point of impact and fled to the roof that soon became too hot to stand upon; and hundreds of firefighters courageously entered the building to try to save who they could.  Within an hour both towers collapsed from the fires, killing nearly 3,000 people (including those who died on the airplanes).  A third hijacked plane went to D.C., probably seeking the White House as its target.  But the White House is not easy to see from the air, and the plane crashed into the much easier-to-find large Pentagon military building, killing 66.  By then the passengers on the fourth hijacked plane learned of what happened to others by making calls to loved ones on their cell phones.  They fought back against the hijackers, preventing it from ever reaching its target of D.C., but died when the plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field during the struggle.  Ironically and tragically, the few pilots who carried guns on flights for self-defense had been disarmed by the government just a few months earlier, leaving all the pilots defenseless.  A program to rearm pilots after this attack proceeded slowly and amid opposition by proponents of gun control.

9/11 was the deadliest attack ever on American soil, and was even deadlier than the attack on Pearl Harbor.  President Bush addressed a joint session of Congress and the entire nation, vowing to hold the perpetrators responsible.  Quickly blame was pinned on Osama bin Laden, who was in Afghanistan leading the terrorist group "Al Qaeda."  Bush demanded that the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan at the time, expel him from its country.  The Taliban refused, and Bush ordered American troops to invade Afghanistan to defeat Al Qaeda and look for bin Laden, who was never found.  Terrorists were captured in the process, and included an American later charged with treason and sentenced to 30 years in jail; some terrorists were (and still are) held at Guantanamo Bay.

9/11 was the deadliest attack ever on American soil, even deadlier than the attack on Pearl Harbor.  President Bush addressed a joint session of Congress and the entire nation, vowing to hold the perpetrators responsible.  Quickly blame was pinned on Osama bin Laden, who was in Afghanistan leading the terrorist group "Al Qaeda."  Bush demanded that the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan at the time, expel him from its country.  The Taliban refused, and Bush ordered American troops to invade Afghanistan to defeat Al Qaeda and look for bin Laden, who was reportedly not found and killed until May 2011.  During the 2011 invasion of Afghanistan, American soldiers captured terrorists, including an American later charged with treason and sentenced to 30 years in jail; some terrorists were held at Guantanamo Bay, and hundreds are still being held there a decade later while awaiting trial.

Congress quickly passed the Patriot Act of 2001, which authorized extensive phone and email surveillance of Americans possibly connected with terrorism, and authorized deportation or detention of suspected terrorists.  The internal surveillance and fighting in Afghanistan became known as the "War on Terrorism," which began in 2001 and continues to this day.

Congress quickly passed the Patriot Act of 2001, which authorized extensive phone and email surveillance of Americans possibly connected with terrorism, and authorized deportation or detention of suspected terrorists.  The internal surveillance and fighting in Afghanistan became known as the "War on Terrorism," which began in 2001 and continues to this day.