-
9/11
On September 11, 2001, terrorists from al-Qaeda hijacked four planes. Two hit the Twin Towers, one hit the Pentagon, and one crashed in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people died. Afterward, the U.S. started the War on Terror, invaded Afghanistan, and made big changes to airport security and surveillance.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/september-11-pictures-remembrance -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and flooded New Orleans. Over 1,800 people died. The government’s slow response made many people angry. This showed how unprepared the U.S. was and led to calls for better emergency help.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Katrina -
The 2008 Finacial Crisis
The Financial Crisis started when the housing market in the U.S. crashed and big banks went bankrupt. It caused a lot of problems around the world, with governments trying to help save banks and keep the economy from getting worse. This showed how risky the financial system had become. People were really upset about the way the economy was being run. This led to major changes in how financial systems are managed today.
https://financialregnews.com/fdic-releases-history-2008-financial-crisis/ -
Election of 2012
Barack Obama was re-elected president, beating Mitt Romney. Big topics were healthcare and the economy. This was significant because people supported Obama’s ideas like the Affordable Care Act.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-2012-election-what-happened-what-changed-what-it-means/ -
Election of 2016
Donald Trump won the election against Hillary Clinton. The race was very divided. Trump’s win changed U.S. politics and led to lots of debate over government and leadership.
https://news.yale.edu/2021/04/21/swing-vote-trumped-turnout-2016-election