Barack Obama vs John McCain

Answer the following questions:

1. How was Barack Obama able to defeat John McCain? Discuss the impact of President Bush’s approval ratings, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the economy. Lastly, discuss the ways that issues of race and gender affected the election.
2. Explain the history of California’s Proposition 187 and Arizona Senate Bill 1070. Describe the way that
   college students throughout the Borderlands sought to impact the debate regarding immigration.
3. What is Third-Wave Feminism and Critical Race Theory? Provide examples of how these ideas might
   impact a current debate regarding race and gender equality in the United States.
4. Describe the controversy regarding disputed votes in Florida and explain how Bush could win the election
   despite polling fewer votes than his opponent.
5. What was the immediate reaction of the nation to the 9/11 attacks? What were the federal government’s
   attempts to prevent future terrorist attacks?

Sample Solution