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Period: to
1990s
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Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act
In 1986, the bill's first draft was created by the National Council on Disability and presented to the House and Senate in 1988. On July 26, 1990, George H. W. Bush signed it into law. The law is intended to protect people with disabilities from any kind of discrimination. The law also requires employers to provide "reasonable accomodations" to those employees with disabilities as well as certain public accomodations for disabled customers. -
Confirmation of Clarence Thomas
Upon Thurgood Marshall announcing his retirement, President George H. W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court. Many civil right's groups and women's groups opposed Thomas on his certain political views. Anita Hill claimed sexual harrasment allegations against Thomas, creating a media frenzy and further investigations. Thomas was later confirmed on to the Supreme Court by a vote of 52 to 48. -
Magic Johnson's HIV Announcement
This legendary Los Angeles Lakers point guard shocked the world when he announved that he had contracted HIV , the virus that causes AIDs. This event completely changed America's perception if the virus. It showed that anyone can contract HIV, even NBA superstars. Magic Johnson has since lived much longer than expected with the help from new modern medicines. -
Blackhawk Down
Blackhawk down, or otherwise known as the Battle of Mogadishu, was part of what was called Operation Gothic Serpent. Taking place in Somalia, it was a battle between US forces and Somali malitiamen. The event was significant becuase it was planned to be an easy operation, but all hell broke loose when a US blackhawk helicopter was shot down by an unknown attacker in the street of Mogadishu. The battle gained popularity when Somali civilians were shown dragging US soldiers through the streets. -
Passage of N. American Free Trade Agreement
The NAFTA is an agreement that was signed by the United States, Mexico and Canada. It came into force on January 1, 1994. The agreement essentially created a trilateral trade bloc in North America. With Mexico becoming a part of the deal, the previous Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement was superseded. -
Harding/Kerrigan Scandal
Tonya Harding was an American figure skating champion and an two time olympian. On Jan. 6, 1994, Harding's main competitor, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked after a practice session held in Detroit. Harding's husband and bodyguard had hired a man named Shane Stant to break Kerrigan's leg. Her leg was never broken but it still disallowed her from competing. Harding won that event, and plead guilty to the attack years later following a media frenzy. -
OJ Simpson Trial
Held in Los Angleles, was a trail in which former NFL star OJ Simpson was tried on the murders of his ex-wife and ex-wife's new boyfriend. The case was so significant becuase the evidence stacked so against Simpson that it seemed impossible for him not to be found guilty. But with the help from his defense team, he was aquitted of the charges on Oct. 3, 1995. The case went down in history as the most publicized criminal trial in American history. -
Unabomber Attacks and Arrest
The Unabomber, otherwise known as Ted Kaczynski, was a domestic terrorist in the 1980s and 1990s. He went through with a nation-wide bombing against people that were invloved in modern technology. Living in a remote cabin in Montana, he would send his bombs via mail. He was discovered when his manifesto was published and his brother recognized that it was the words of his estranged brother. An investigation lead to his arrest in April of 1996. -
NATO bombings in Yugoslavia
These bombings were the result of a NATO military operation against the Serbian people as well as the Fdereal Republic of Yugoslavia. According to NATO, they were trying to stop human rights abuses in Kosovo. This event was significant becuase it was the first time NATO used military force without approval from the UN Security Council. The bombings ended with the establishment of a U.N. mission in Kosovo. -
Columbine Shooting
One of the worst mass shootings in United States history and the deadliest school shooting in US history. Two students conspired together in an effort to kill anyone in the school. 12 students were killed and one teacher leaving 23 others wounded. This event made the word Columbine stand for something on its own as well as make America come to a scary realization that things like this are too easy to make happen.
