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Iron Curtain
The iron curtain is a hypothetical barrier that divides the democratic side of Europe from the communist zone of influence, the Soviet Union and its satellite states (Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Romania). This concept was first introduced through the speech of Winston Churchill in March of1946 about communism as a whole. Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet, saw this speech as a deliberate and unfair attempt to pain his country as one of much aggression and shouldn't be trusted. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Berlin Airlift
After World War 2, the capital of Germany, Berlin, was split into 4 different military zones. Joseph Stalin disliked the fact that capitalism flourished on the western side of the city, causing him to close off the borders in between the two sectors. In doing this, he hoped that the west would give up their hold on it and give it up to the USSR. Because nothing could go in and out of Berlin during this time, the US and Britain transported necessary supplies and food through aircraft carriers. -
North Korea invades South Korea
In July of 1950, North Korea infiltrated their neighboring counterparts, starting the beginning of the Korean War. Because Stalin wanted the dispersion of United State's resources, he chose to support Kim il-Sung in this event. The North began its attack by taking over the South Korean capital of Seoul, forcing the Allied forces to the edge of Korea. President Truman calls in for more backup troops from the United Nations international forces to be brought to Korea, most of them being American. -
Beat Generation
"Beats" or "Beatniks" were usually artists, novelists, or poets that essentially rejected the materialism and culture of modern America. They believed that people should not be weighed down by home ownership, careers, or marriages, but rather live a free-spirited life of drugs and sex. Later on, due to their similarities to a future generation, they will be labeled as "proto-hippies". Slang words, such as "Dig it" and "Man" were used often among them, being borrowed from black communities. -
G.I. Bill
The G.I. Bill, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, introduced a whole new different lifestyle for soldiers that had just participated in World War 2. It offered veterans low-interest rates on homes, making it easier to afford a house during the time. College tuition would also be paid for in order to give them an extra boost in the job market. Due to the effectiveness of the G.I. Bill, it continues to be a valid form of security for soldiers of the past and present. -
Period: to
1950s
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Ike Turner
Ike Turner is an African American musician, bandleader, talent scout, and record producer. His musical career began with his childhood piano teacher, Pinetop Perkins, who taught him the boogie-woogie that he later transformed into early rock and roll. Turner's 1951 recording of "Rocket 88" is one of the earliest examples of rock and roll with a driving backbeat, electric guitar and saxophone. It was a sharp contrast from the relatively more jazzy and sophisticated jump blues that preceded it. -
Fallout Shelters
After American tested its first hydrogen bomb in November of 1952, fallout shelters became an essential in everyday homes. They were usually a basement below their house, stocked with supplies that could last anyone months. Public facilities also became fallout shelter. Schools, shops, and even factories stored bits of food and water in order to sustain for emergency situations. In the case of an actual bombing, high ranking government officials would stay in nuclear proof bunkers made for them. -
Bill Haley and the Comets
Bill Haley and the Comets was a rock and roll band in the 50s led by Bill Haley, one of the earliest white musicians to record rock and roll, bringing it to the attention of white America. Their music was part of a tradition in jazz and rhythm and blues. Haley began his rock and roll career with a cover of "Rocket 88" in 1951. His biggest hit, and one of the most important records in rock and roll history was "Rock Around the Clock", which started slow but eventually sold 26 million copies. -
Fair Deal
The Fair Deal, implemented into society by President Truman, was created in order to help the average American gain the same independence as those of the upper class. It was essentially a set of ambitious ideas.This included improvements in health care, public housing, education, and public works. The national minimum wage was also increased, giving equal rights to all. But, due to the outbreak in Korea, the anti-communist agenda of the country seemed more a priority, scaling back the Fair Deal. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board of Education SCOTUS case overturned the segregational values of Plessy vs. Ferguson. Linda Brown's family had filed a lawsuit against the Board of education in the city of Topeka, Kansas in order to let her go to a school much closer to her home. SCOTUS ruled that segregation laws do in fact violate the 13th and 14th amendments and it was time for all the states to integrate, though many school districts tried to add in extra factors that would make graduating harder for them. -
Elvis Presley
In January of 1935, Elvis Presley was born to an extremely poor family nearby an African American community, helping him to adopt the rhythm and blues of their culture. He was most famous for his style of sexually suggestive dancing, causing him to be given the nickname "Elvis the Pelvis". He gained even more popularity through appearances on television shows such as that of Ed Sullivan. His modern way of singing, dancing, and sexualization offended millions of older generation Americans. -
Period: to
Civil Rights
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Second Red Scare
The Second Red Scare was a period from 1950 to 1956 in the USA, that was characterized by heightened political repression against communists, as well as a campaign spreading fear of their influence on American institutions and of espionage by Soviet agents. Senator Joe McCarthy became the most public face of the Second Red Scare in the United States in the 1950s due to his accusations. He had everyone believe that he had a list of over 200+ communists in the American homeland, scaring everyone. -
Polio Vaccine
Polio was a very common disease that is brought about by a virus, causing the victim to develop paralysis and would often times cause fatality. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ran his presidency with polio as well. The first ever polio vaccine was introduced in 1955 by Dr. Jonas Salk. This vaccine was able to deactivate the virus from inside, and by 1961, an oral form of this vaccination was available to the U.S. In 1994, polio was eradicated from most parts of the United States and the world. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
In 1955, young Emmitt Till had traveled to Money, Mississippi from his hometown in Chicago. During his stay, he had apparently "whistled" at Carolyn Bryant, the wife of Roy Bryant. 4 days later, Emmett Till would be abducted by Roy and his accomplice and driven down to a river where he will suffer much abuse. His body will eventually be dumped into the river and found 3 days later. At his funeral, his mother had requested to keep his casket open, so that the whole nation could see Jim Crow. -
Rock 'n' Roll
Rock 'n' Roll was a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States of America during the late 1940's and early 1950's. White teenagers from across the nation began to listen to this genre, creating a huge boom in businesses that sell records. They also became increasingly more rebellious against their parents and had much more leisure time than them as well. One of the most popular Rock 'n' Roll songs was "Rick around the Clock Tonight" by Bill Haley and the Comets. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Four months after the death of Emmett Till, Rosa Parks had refused to give up her bus seat to a white man that was demanding it from her. With the help of Jo Ann Robinson, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. African Americans, the main users of this form of transportation, now walked everywhere they needed to go. Bus companies went out of business often due to lack of income. This movement eventually succeeded, giving the rise of SCOTUS' ruling that segregated buses were unconstitutional. -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first outer-space orbiting satellite that was launched by the Soviet Union in the Fall of 1957. This object was the size of a basketball and had an attached beeping radio signal to communicate with its founders on earth. Americans were very scared of falling technologically behind to the Soviets, so they increased their research, creating the Space race between the two nations. The creation of NASA was one of the first steps America took in hopes of succeeding this competition. -
Little Rock 9
After the ruling of the SCOTUS case Brown v. Board of Education, there were still segregationists throughout many states, such as Arkansas. Central High School was to slowly begin integrating black and white children together for "halfway measure" purposes. Governor Orval Faubus denies the entry of the nine African American students that were supposed to start their first day by sending in state troopers to block the school. President Eisenhower intervenes by sending in the 101st Airborne. -
Television
Because of the outbreak of WW2, the introduction of televisions to everyday Americans was delayed. By 1955, however, almost 75 percent of the nation had owned a black and white TV. Citizens were able to receive news in the comforts of their own homes, as well as watch shows that represent the ideal American family, like "I Love Lucy," and "Father Knows Best". Politicians, such as Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy were able to use the power of television to persuade the people to their side. -
Politics (Nixon, Kennedy)
The U.S. presidential election of 1960 came at an important time. The country was engaged in Cold War with the Soviets, which had just taken the lead in the space race. In 1960, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon squared off in the first televised presidential debates in history. The Kennedy-Nixon debates not only had a major impact on the election’s outcome but ushered in a new era where crafting a public image and taking advantage of media exposure became an essential to successful campaign. -
Sit-Ins
During the Civil Rights Movement, there were many sit-ins all over the country by young youth to protest against Jim Crow and segregation. However, there were several that became especially significant because of its widespread influence through tvs. One famous sit-in happened in 1960. In Greensboro, North Carolina, four African-American college students had a sit-in at a local lunch counter. This action motivated many other people around the South to have sit-ins just like these students. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
The Earl Warren Supreme Court was a term used to describe the era of the supreme court "ruled" by Chief Justice Earl Warren. He was considered the most liberal SCOTUS in history (up until then) and created a new era of liberalism. He shot down cases that held conservative tenements, such as Engel v. Vitale and Brown v. Board of Education. His new ways of thinking brought about ideas such as interracial marriage, right to privacy concerning contraceptives, and free counseling for the accused. -
Anti-War Movement
The Anti-War Movement rose during the United States' war in Vietnam. Many Americans saw the whole process as a waste of money, time, and troops, and became weary of it. They also used this time to protest domestic injustices, such as draft deferments and presidential secrets. But with the rise of protesters, came the rise of counter-protesters as well. These people were for the war and often doused the anti-war protesters with fire extinguishers. Overall, the setting in the U.S. became violent. -
Period: to
1960s
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Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer based program created in 1950 that is run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps consists of three major goals: providing technical assistance to countries around the world, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture and help them to assimilate. It has served a total of sixty-eight countries, twenty-six of which are located in the continent of Africa. -
Freedom Rides
The Freedom Riders consisted of approximately 400 black and white Americans who, by putting their lives at risk, traveled on buses through the Deep South in violation of Jim Crow segregation laws for six months, starting on May 4th, 1961. Along the way, they were met with violence and hatred by segregationists and members of the Ku Klux Klan. On September 22nd, 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued a federal order to end segregation in bus, train stations, and other forms of transports -
LSD
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a synthetic crystalline compound that is known for its psychological effects on the human body. Because it is a form of acid, to the person taking this drug, it alters their awareness to their surroundings, perceptions, and feelings, making them feel like their in a whole different world. LSD, along with heroin, were very popular drugs in the 1960s and was usually taken by "hippies" and others that considered themselves part of the "counterculture." -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was an incident that caused the whole nation to remain alert, where the Soviet missiles were placed in Cuba as a response to help. Years before, Cuba had just overturned into a communist state, receiving much disapproval from its neighbors, the United States. The event greatly increased tensions between the Soviets and the Americans because of their aid to communist Cuba. As a result, an emergency hotline was established between the two nations to avoid any accidents. -
Malcolm X
Malcolm X was an African American nationalist and civil rights activist that affected the country through his influence. In 1946, Little was put in prison for burglary and discovered the Nation of Islam while he was there. Malcolm believed that black people should fight for their rights in any way they could, even if they had to become violent. He also thought that black people should support one another by shopping in stores owned by black people. He was critical of the civil rights movement. -
Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez was one of the three main Mexican-Americans that led the beginning of the Chicano Movement. He protested through strikes and marches for better working and living conditions for workers of the Mexican origin. He organized the United Farm Workers Union (UFW), which was a labor union for migrant farm laborers. Through his influence, seventeen million other Americans joined in his boycott of non-union picked grades. Because of him, conditions and wages were increased by a good amount. -
Birmingham Bombing
In September of 1963, a bomb was thrown inside of the 16th Street Baptist Church, a predominantly black church, in Birmingham, Alabama. It resulted in the death of 4 young African American girls: Addie Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol Denise McNair. It was, later on, found out that members of the Ku Klux Klan were responsible because they were upset about Martin Luther King's march. The men, however, were not put on trial until after the 21st century began, almost 40 years. -
Assassination of JFK
On John F. Kennedy's tour through major Texas cities, specifically Dallas, he was spontaneously killed. The shots came from Lee Harvey Oswald, who was positioned on the 6th floor of a nearby book depository, as soon as his parade made a left turn on Elm Street. A total of five shots were fired, but two ended up inside of Kennedy's body. He was then quickly rushed to Parkland Hospital, where he will be pronounced dead within an hour of is stay. Lyndon Johnson will take his place as president. -
Ascendency of Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon Johnson's presidency began after the assassination of Kennedy and because of his popularity, was reelected in the year 1964. He gained the Civil Rights Act of 1964, accomplishing what John F. Kennedy had wanted before his tragic death. Johnson called his version of the Democratic reform program the "Great Society". In 1965, he had Congress pass many Great Society measures that he had promised to the people, which includes Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education. -
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was an American ex-marine that had moved to live in the Soviet Union, before sneaking back into the U.S. During President Kennedy's visit to Dallas, Texas, Oswald shot a total of 5 bullets, two of which ended up fatally killing him. Through various escape methods, he gets away from the police by hiding in a movie theater. Two days after assassinating the president of the United States, he himself was assassinated by Jack Ruby, who ends up dying over cancer just 4 years later. -
Great Society
The Great Society was a version of the Democratic reform program that was brought up by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This national agenda consisted of promises for better education, standards of living, and the beautification of our country. In 1965, Congress was able to uphold these promises by passing Great Society measures, that include programs such as Medicare, Civil Rights legislation, and federal aid for higher education. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was also passed under this reform. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
On August 2, 1964, according to the United States, a Northern Vietnamese torpedo boat attacked an American ship. Just two days after the first account, another American ship was "attacked" as well. Suspicion arose due to the fact that no ships were reported and constant excuses, such as the radar not working. It was later found out that the whole incident was set up by the Johnson administration. The attacks led to further aggression in the Vietnamese War and the arrival of even more troops. -
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was a paramilitary organization that was originally founded in Oakland, California. As a symbolism of power, they were often dressed in all black commando attire. The main goal of this organization is to teach self-defense to black people, promoting a more violent form of protest, unlike Dr. Martin Luther King, who wanted the civil rights movement to be civilly disobedient. Many white civilians feared the black panthers because of their militancy style of everything. -
Counter Culture
The Counter Culture is a new generation of people that seceded the Beat generation. Just like their predecessors, they rejected the middle-class values and renounced material possession. The counterculture consisted of very free-spirited people who often used drugs such as LSD and heroin to enter what they considered a "different dimension." Their overall values were free to love and peace. Many of the older generations thought they were too "out of it" and wanted them to return back to reality. -
Feminism
During the Civil Rights era, women split away to create their own protests, a movement known as feminism. Helen Gurley, a popular leader, believed women should be empowered through their sexuality and encouraged them to explore themselves sexually. This movement wasn't always about sex though; many of its main focal points were focused on equal treatment, opportunity, and pay. A new formal title was also introduced: "Ms.", which indicates a women that has not yet been bounded down by a man. -
Anti War Movement
Even through the late 1960s, though the Vietnam war was coming to an end, there was still discontent about the war effort. Many Americans saw the war are a waste of resources and continued to feel weary towards it. They also used this time to protest domestic injustices. But with the rise of protesters, came the rise of counter-protesters as well. These people were for the war and often doused the anti-war protesters with fire extinguishers. Overall, the setting in the U.S. became violent. -
Decline of the Industrial Midwest
As the overall manufacturing of goods increases exponentially, the U.S. steel production increases to 14 percent of the world production. Foreign competition begins to become an issue, causing factories to find (or create) new and cheaper methods of producing their products. Steel Mills that were once located in the Midwest were not relocated to manufacturing companies in the South due to cheap labor and the creation of Air Conditioning. This means the closing of rust belts and new sun belts. -
OPEC
OPEC, or the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Companies, was a worldwide establishment that was created in September of 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. As of today, this organization controls most of the world's supply of oil. The United States was embargoed for supporting the state of Israel, creating extremely long lines for gas (used for cars) across the country. The embargo ultimately ends when president Nixon convinces the Israelis to give up some of their territories for the United States use. -
Period: to
1970s
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Watergate
The Watergate scandal was one of the two most prominent political predicaments to encounter the twentieth century. Five of President Nixon's "plumbers" illegally intercepted important campaign information through a broken wiretap at the Watergate Hotel. They were caught by a security guard, who arrested them. Though Nixon initially distances himself from the situation, the Watergate scandal comes back to him during the trial of the plumbers, which revealed that he had used the taping system. -
War Powers Resolution Act
The War Powers Resolution Act was passed directly after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, which occurred under the Johnson administration. This federal law limited the military operations by the President to sixty days, after which, the approval of Congress would be needed. It was created in order to ensure the president would not have too much power in committing the U.S. to any armed conflict and made the president's role more efficient during a war. The contents of this act are still intact today. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade is one of the few Supreme Court Cases that continues to remain controversial and still applies to the current generation of Millenials. As feminism rose to great power, protests to legalize abortion began to increase as well. At the time, most states made the aborting of infants illegal, though there were still a few exceptions, like being a danger to the mother. Eventually, the results came out for this case: SCOTUS had ruled that the outlawing of abortion was unconstitutional. -
The Moral Majority
The Moral Majority was a new form of a religious movement that took place in order to "regain the moral conscience of Americans." Its founder, Jerry Falwell, was an evangelical preacher who believed in pro-life, pro-family, pro-Americans, a pro-morality. A few of his more prominent follows/leaders were Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Oral Roberts, who all advocated for a conservative ideology of the world. By the late 1970s and 1980s, a conservative political bloc had formed itself a party. -
Nixon's Resignation
Due to the Watergate scandal, SCOTUS ruled that Nixon could not withhold information in his wrongdoing. On August 5th or 1974, the unedited version of his tapes was released, revealing his hidden guilt. Just three days later, Richard Nixon becomes the first president to resign from office, though it was more of a forced decision. His vice president, Gerald Ford, was to take over the remainder of his term. Even today, the watergate scandal continues to make Americans distrustful of presidents. -
Phyllis Schlafly
Phyllis Schlafly was an anti-feminist and an instrumental in the defeat of the Feminist Movement. She organized other conservative women that had the same ideals as her to help counter the ongoing feminist rallies. Along with those women, she also gained the support of other conservatives across the country, men, and women alike. She feared that equal rights would reduce the rights of wives and harm the "perfect" nuclear family life. Unisex bathrooms and women in the miliary were also no no's. -
Jimmy Carter's Presidency
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States achieved many things during his term, including the pardoning of the Vietnam War draft evaders. The Camp David Accords in which peace talks between Egypt and Israel were mediated by Jimmy Carter during the Arab-Israeli Conflict. The Iran Hostage Crisis when 53 American hostages were taken from the United States Embassy in Teheran. Domestically, U.S. nuclear power plant operating history occurred during the Three Mile Island Accident. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords was an agreement between Israel and Egypt that was signed on September 17, 1978, that led to a peace treaty between those two countries. This was the first ever treaty between Israel and any of its Arab neighbors. Influenced by U.S. President Jimmy Carter between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian Pres. The agreements became known as the Camp David Accords because the negotiations took place at the U.S. presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
The Iran Hostage Crisis erupted when a group of militant Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Teheran and took 53 American hostages. The Iran Hostage Crisis arose following Iran's Islamic Revolution by supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini and the forced exile of the Shah of Iran. On 22 October 1979, President Carter made the decision to allow the exiled Shah into the United States for medical treatment and this action resulted in Iran Hostage Crisis with demands to extradite the exiled Shah. -
Election of 1980
This election was between Democrat Jimmy Carter and Republican Ronald Reagan. The economy at this time was bad due to a recession and high inflation. Reagan campaigned to cut income taxes and to reduce government spending while increasing defense spending to challenge the Soviet Union. Carter fought for more government programs and mentioned the importance of human rights and preventing nuclear war. Ronald Reagan's victory resulted in Republicans gaining more power for the next few decades. -
Period: to
1980s
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Reagan Presidency
Ronald Reagan was the 40th American President and served in office from 1981-1989. The Presidency of Ronald Reagan spanned the period in United States history that surrounds the events of the Cold War Era and the age of the Space Race and the Cold War Arms Race. President Ronald Reagan represented the Republican political party which influenced the domestic and foreign policies of his presidency that included Reaganomics, the economic policies introduced during the Reagan administration -
Sandra Day O' Connor
Sandra Day O' Connor was the first female Supreme Justice to ever take a seated position in the Supreme Court. She was able to take up this open opportunity when President Ronald Reagan nominated her after serving as a judge in Arizona. Her political approach held a more moderate view, though she usually sided with the conservatives of the court. Later on, however, she will increasingly side with the liberals. In 2006, O' Connor retires due to her husband's declining health (Alzheimer's) -
Discount Retailing
The creation of discount stores began the 1960's, but didn't reach its prime establishment time until the 1980's. A discount store is usually a store that sells many different brands all in one place, which causes each of those product's prices to be reduced, hence the category name. Popular ones at the time include K-Mart, Home Depot, and Best Buy. Later on, other innovations would be added, like giving out free samples and timed inventory, in order to make products more appealing to Americans. -
Sam Walton's Just-in-Time Inventory
Sam Walton, the creator of Walmart and Sam's Club, was the pioneer of the “just-in-time” inventory. This stocking method eliminated the need for storage at each store that he had owned. Instead, the local distribution center can know, via satellite, when a given store is nearly out of a product and can begin to restock more product immediately. These products are simply stored in the semi-trailer until the night crew can offload the truck and restock the shelves. This also got rid of waste. -
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) “Star Wars”
President Ronald Reagan's proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, also known as "Star Wars," which called for a land-or space-based shield against any possible nuclear attack by countries such as the Soviet Union. As space technology increasingly grew advanced, fear for the destruction of space time tech became even greater. Although this strategy was criticized as unfeasible and in violation of the Antiballistic Missile Treaty, Congress approved billions of dollars for its development. -
Entertainment
For the first time ever, cable television programs were available, opening up an even wider range of shows/ channels that an American family is able to watch. Among the most popular were news channels that still remain relevant today, like CNN, ESPN, and MTV. Because the young generations had the most free time, they contributed to the entertainment portion of the economy the most. Also during this time, rap music, videos games, and video arcades became especially popular with young people. -
Challenger Explosion
On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart during its take-off into outer space after about 73 seconds, killing all seven of its passengers. Before the disaster, the Challenger had flown 9 successful missions starting in 1983, most of them lasting around one week. After a thorough investigation by a commission appointed by President Ronald Reagan, they discovered that a part called an "O-ring" seal on the rocket booster had failed largely due to the cold temperatures. -
Iran Contra Affair
The scandal of the Iran Contra Affair arose due to the foreign policies of President Ronald Reagan regarding the change of government in the two countries of Iran and Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, a militant socialist movement seized power and the U.S. provided financial backing to the contras, who were attempting to overthrow the new regime. The US scandal of the Iran Contra affair became a secret arrangement to provide financial aid to the Nicaraguan contra rebels to gain by selling arms to Iran. -
AIDS Crisis
AIDS, or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is a disease that had affected thousands of homosexuals for years. It refers to a set of symptoms and illnesses that start to occur at the very final stage of HIV infection through blood transfusions, it increasingly spreads to the heterosexual community. As a result of this crisis, the disapproval for the gay people is justified. Many from the outside viewpoint saw the spread of AIDS to the heterosexual community as a punishment for being gay. -
Internet
The internet was a web system that was originally created in the 1960's as a simple way for the government and universities to share information together. In the late 1980's, the term for this electronic connection was renamed to the "Internet". The world wide web was created in 1990 and was used to send graphics and multi-media across the globe from country to country. By 1993, the first browser was created, and years later, computers would be accessible to more than 75% of the United States. -
Balkans Crisis
The Balkans Crisis began when the Serbian dictator Solodan Milosevic started to carry out a series of armed conflicts to suppress independence movements in the former Yugoslav provinces of Slovenia, Croatis, and Bosnia and in Kosovo. This event proves to be the worst conflict Europe had been apart of since its participation in World War II and were a troubling reminder of how World War I had started. NATO forces led by the United States conducted aerial bombardment to prevent more killings. -
Persian Gulf War/ 1st Iraq War
The Persian Gulf War, or the First Iraq War, was an armed conflict involving Iraq and 34 other countries in the Middle East region, led by the United States. It began with the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and ended the following spring when Iraq's armies were defeated. Many of the problems caused by this war were never resolved. There were two special operations that were prominent to this war: the Operation of Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The war ended on February 28, 1991. -
Period: to
1990s
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Rodney King Incident
Rodney King was a man of color that was brought to fame through his victimization of police brutality. Video footage was taken of a Las Vegas police officer beating an African American after a 115-mph chase throughout LA ended with him allegedly lunging at one of the officers. King received a total of 56 blows from nightsticks while a dozen other officers stood by and watched. Americans around the country found this to be a controversial matter and the fight to end police brutality started. -
Election of 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 was an American presidential election in which Democratic nominee Bill Clinton defeated the current executive officer holder Republican President George Bush. A third-party independent candidate, Ross Perot, managed to secure nearly 19 percent of the votes, the highest percentage of any third-party candidate in a U.S. presidential election in almost 80 years. Many Americans watched this election intensely due to the stiff competition between all. -
Health Care Reform
The health care reform plan was proposed by President Bill Clinton and developed by a force headed by First Lady Hillary Clinton. The goal of the reform plan was universal health care for all Americans, and required each United States citizen to be enrolled in a health insurance plan. All employers would be required to contribute toward the costs of insurance premiums for their health plans that would compete for their enrollment, with the expectation that most would choose managed care plans. -
World Trade Center Attack - 1993
A terrorist bomb exploded in a parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the collapse of concrete floors. Although the terrorist bomb failed to damage the main structure of the skyscrapers, six people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured. After the attack, authorities evacuated 50,000 people from the buildings, hundreds of whom were suffering from smoke inhalation. A truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. -
NAFTA
President Bill Clinton created the world's largest free trade zone by signing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The purpose of the NAFTA agreement was designed to increase trade among United States, Canada, and Mexico by eliminating restrictions on commerce life tariffs. NAFTA also eased restrictions on immigration and travel. To the modern day, the elimination of trade barriers and the opening of markets has led to economic growth and rising prosperity in all three countries. -
Entertainment
As the decade changed, so did the American people's taste in entertainment. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey became famous for hosting well-known talk shows, and others like Lionel Sosa who created famous ads for large corporations. Television programs became big too, like Black Entertainment Television (BET), for example. New colored TVs could easily entertain anyone, hence the progress in making them the best digital screens they can be. Celebrities often recieved large amounts of wealth. -
Lewinsky Affair
Monica Lewinsky was an intern for President Clinton and had a sexual affair with him during his term in office. Her blue dress became infamous because it contained Clinton's semen. She lied about the affair during depositions in the Paula Jones lawsuit and was included in the indictment of Clinton. Though he lied under oath, most Americans didn't want Clinton to be removed from office, or impeached, because they approved of his performance in his presidential office but not his moral values. -
Election Controversy
The controversy occurred when the electoral votes did not reflect the popular vote. In Florida, there were recounts because of the voting machines. These machines were inaccurate because they were punch cards and if not punched thoroughly the vote is not counted. So recounts were demanded frequently. The Secretary of State for the Republican campaign at the time was Katherine Harris. She refused to authorize the recounts and declined to extend a deadline for making an official certification. -
Election of 2000
The Election of 2000 was between 2 major candidates. The Democratic Party's nominee was Al Gore, who had served as vice-president for both of President Bill Clinton's terms. The Republican Party's nominee was George W. Bush, a governor of Texas and son of former President George Bush. He campaigned on a platform of a strong national defense and an end to questionable ethics in the White House. The election was very controversial. In the end, George Bush became the forty third president. -
Period: to
Contemporary
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9/11 Attacks
The terrorist attack, also known as "9/11" was a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda, a terrorist group, upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners, putting all of the passengers at risk. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and more than 3000 others working in the buildings. -
Patriot Act
The US Patriot Act was a law that was passed in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. This new law was created in order to help prevent further terrorist attacks by allowing the United States government to have a greater range of access to personal civilian electronic communications and other information about the everyday person. Many Americans criticized this new law's approval because they felt like it was violating civil liberties and an invasion of personal property. -
2nd Iraq War
The 2nd Iraq War was fought between Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, and United States forces from March 20, 2003 to December 18 of 2011. Conflict in Iraq erupted just weeks after the Gulf War had ended. Iraq broke the peace terms by failing to comply with UN weapons inspectors and relinquish weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein refused to step down and in March 2003 US troops led the invasion of Iraq. The U.S. formally declared an end of Iraq War and its withdrawal in December 2011. -
Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Hurricane Katrina was a major hurricane that destroyed New Orleans and the golf region back in August 2005. Over 1,800 people died, many others were hurt or left without a home for many, many years. The lack of response from the government and compassion sparked much debate about the poverty and race issues in America. President Bush's administration was accused of not showing enough compassion to those who were affected by the massive storm, which caused he popularity to steaply decline. -
Election of 2008
In the election of 2008, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama fought for the Democratic nomination, while John McCain was the only Republican nominee. Obama, the only African-American nominee ever, ran a grassroots campaign that tried to engage the young voter population and the black community into the political world to vote for him. At the centerpiece of his campaign/ election was the current failing economy. Obama's ideas for bringing up the economy helped him to win the election of 2008. -
The Great Recession
The Great Recession was a major financial crisis, the worst one since the Great Depression. It became prominently visible in September 2008 with the failure, merger or conservatorship of several large United States-based financial firms. The causes leading to the crisis had been reported in business journals for many months, with commentary about the financial stability of leading U.S. and European investment banks, insurance firms and mortgage banks consequent to the subprime mortgage crisis. -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more commonly referred to as the stimulus bill, was a spending bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 2009. It was one of the early things Barack Obama did as president. Despite Obama trying to get Republicans as well as Democrats to vote for the bill, only three did. The bill gave more money to unemployed people, cut taxes for workers, students, and the middle class, gave more money to Medicaid and gave more money to build infrastructure. -
Affordable Care Act (ACA) “Obamacare”
Before the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, was put into place, over 50 million Americans did not have any kind of health insurance. This created a risk for the country as a whole, with an enormous population that risks bankruptcy if they fall ill and require medical attention. The act overall features three key characteristics, which includes: new customer protections, improvement of healthcare quality and lowering it's cost and increasing the affordability of needed care.
