Exploros | George W. Bush’s Presidency

Engage

Overview

In this experience, students examine a National Weather Service map of the Gulf Coast region during Hurricane Katrina and respond to a question about Katrina’s political implications. Then, they survey major events of the George W. Bush presidency. Next, they study and report on the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Finally, they examine and discuss the presidential election of 2000.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 3 to create reports on the lasting impact of Hurricane Katrina.

Objectives

Explain the issues surrounding the election of 2000.
Analyze the significance of Hurricane Katrina.

George W. Bush’s presidency was a series of “firsts” and pivotal events that shaped the course of American history. The presidency of George W. Bush featured:

a president who was the son of a previous president
a hotly disputed election that was eventually decided by the U.S. Supreme Court
the most devastating terrorist attack ever on the United States
costly and controversial wars in the Middle East
a response to a natural disaster that made the president’s popularity plummet

Learn all about it in this experience!

Objectives

Explain the issues surrounding the election of 2000.
Analyze the significance of Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina making its second landfall in Louisiana, Aug. 29, 2005

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made its way up the Gulf of Mexico, striking Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and east Texas. Katrina was the second-most-damaging hurricane in U.S. history, and Bush’s presidency was forever linked with Katrina and its aftermath. Look at the weather map and the caption in the photo above, and then click through the images in Hurricane Katrina: A Chronology to view what it looked like from the ground.

How might a natural disaster create political damage for a president?

Post your answer

Select one or more student posts to spark discussion. If your students were affected by Hurricane Harvey, ask them to relate the question to their own experiences.

Takeaway points include but are not limited to:

Millions of people in the path of the hurricane lost their homes or businesses, or suffered extensive personal or economic damage.
Citizens depend upon the response of government—local, state, and federal—to help them get through emergencies, such as by providing rescue services, shelter, and recovery funds.
The effectiveness of a leader’s actions in helping people in a natural disaster can cause millions of people to either approve or disapprove of that leader.
A leader’s personal image—how he or she seems to feel, how quickly and effectively the leader responds, and how much confidence the leader inspires—are part of the leader’s effectiveness in a crisis.

When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.