Final answer:
George W. Bush became President of the US in 2000 through a narrow decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. He campaigned on a promise of 'compassionate conservatism' and nonintervention abroad, but the 9/11 attacks shifted his focus to a 'war on terror'.
Step-by-step explanation:
George W. Bush became President of the US in 2000 as a result of the narrow decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore. He was declared the winner of the presidential election with a majority in the Electoral College, despite receiving fewer popular votes than his Democratic opponent, Al Gore.
Bush campaigned on a promise of 'compassionate conservatism' at home and nonintervention abroad, appealing to those who felt the Clinton administration had gotten the US involved in foreign conflicts unnecessarily. However, his domestic agenda took a backseat after the 9/11 attacks, leading to a shift towards a 'war on terror'.