-
The United States invaded Panama in the hopes of overthrowing the dictator, Manuel Noriega. He had been charged with trafficking drugs in America, putting down the democracy in Panama, and endangering U.S. nationals residing in Panama. The U.S. crushed Noriega's defenses and he was finally forced to surrender. -
While subduing King out of his car, four white Los Angeles police officers beat Rodney King with batons, fists, feet, and stun guns. He had been pulled over for speeding on the highway and was also drinking while on probation for participating in a robbery. This beating of an African American man started a movement against police brutality in America and many violent riots came about for this cause. -
Hurricane Andrew was a category five storm that trampled over northwestern Bahamas, southern Florida peninsula, and south-central Louisiana. The damage was 26.5 billion dollars, which was the most expensive natural disaster in American at the time. Over 250,000 people were left homeless and 82,000 businesses were destroyed. The strong winds also left damage to the environment of the Florida Everglades, tearing down the trees. People were upset with the lack of government preparation and warning. -
Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally shot and murdered their parents due to their claim of emotional and physical abuse. Over the course of seven years, three trials took place and the brothers were found guilty of this crime and sentenced to life in prison with no possible attempt at parole. Their father José had immigrated from Cuba and worked to earn $14 million. The possible motive was to obtain their father's fortune because they spent about $700,000 after the murders. -
Bill Clinton signed NAFTA into effect in hopes that it would encourage other nations to work towards a broader world trade system. This agreement eliminated all tariffs between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This was one of Clinton's first great achievements. Although consumer prices went down, American jobs were lost due to outsourcing them to Mexico, where the labor was cheaper. -
O.J. Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were stabbed to death outside Nicole's condominium. O.J. was immediately considered to be a prime suspect in the case and went to trial with the plea of being "not guilty." Simpson's defense claimed that the police were racist and the evidence had been misdirected. On October 2nd, the jury found him to be "not guilty," which pleased many African Americans due to the movement against racism and corruption of law. -
In Atlanta Georgia during the Summer Olympiad, a pipe bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park. The bombing took place during a free rock concert. The mother of a child was killed and 100 other individuals were injured. An anonymous caller had informed the police of the bomb in advanced, but then the bomb exploded before the caller had said it would. Eric Robert Rudolph was captured by the FBI as one of their most wanted fugitives, and he pled guilty to the bombing to avoid a death sentence. -
A six-year old girl, JonBenet Ramsey, was killed in her home in Boulder, Colorado. Ramsey's kidnappers wanted a 118,000 dollar ransom, suspiciously the same amount as her father's bonus. She was found dead under a blanket in the basement later that day. JonBenet had been sexually abused, beaten, and strangled and the parents became suspects because there was no sign of an intruder. Her beauty pageant participation was also seen to be inappropriate because of the heavy makeup for a six-year old. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched air strikes to bomb Serbian military positions in Yugoslavia. Serbian forces had been making an attempt to ethnically cleanse the Kosovar Albanians on March 20. The Serbian troops had driven many Albanians out of their homes and massacred civilians at all ages. The bombs were directed towards Serbian government buildings and drove thousands of Albanians to flee as refugees to neighboring nations. Many refugees were airlifted to safety. -
Two armed men entered Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado and killed 13 individuals. 12 students and 1 teacher had been killed, in addition to 23 other wounded people. Afterwards, the two teens shot themselves and committed suicide. This awful crime sparked a movement for stricter gun control and school security in America. This shooting left a scar on the school, the family members of the children who had been killed, and students returning to campus.