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World Trade Center Bombing
World Trade Center is bombed resulting in 6 dead and 1,000 injured. Controversies over whether the Iraqi governement is involved developed, making this event apart of a long string of middle eastern terrorist attacks. -
Waco Siege
Six Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists living on a compound in Waco, Texas died in a conflict between law enforcement and the occupants of the compound. The WacoSiege affected how the government handled the situation on the YFZ compound in 2008. -
Iraq Bombing
U.S. President Bill Clinton orders a cruise missile attack on the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad. The event is apart of along string of conflicts between the U.S. and the middle east. -
Celebrity Marriage
Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley marry. The marriage went down in pop culture history. -
D-Day Anniversary
50th Anniversary of D-Day. The famous mission of WWII is an important part of American history. -
O.J. Simpson Murders
Both Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are murdered in a gruesome manner. The crime is apart of pop culture. -
U.S. aids Mexico
President Clinton extends a $20 billion loan to mexico to prevent its financial collapse. The move also benefitted the United States, affecting all Americans at the time. -
OK City Bombing
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols bomb a large building in downtown Oklahoma City, killing 168 and injuring hundreds more. Some call it the most significant terrorist attack until September 11th. -
WTC Bombing Trial
Ten people are convicted in the World Trade Center bombing Trial. The trial increased Americans awareness of the growing violenceagainst the U.S. -
Una Bomber Caught
Ted Kaczynski terrorized U.S. citizens for decades with explosives, avoiding capture until 1995. The event continued to expose Americans to terrorism and raise awareness. -
Prince Charles and Princess Diana Divorce
The royal couple officialized the divorce after a four year period of separation. Americans rarely took interest in international celebrities but Princess Diana became an icon in both America and the U.K. -
Iraq Attacks Kurds
Iraq is directly linkedto an attack on the Kurdish town of Koysanjak. As many as 50 Iraqi tanks appeared at this massacre. The U.S. earlier made promises to protect the Kurds from Hussein. -
Bill Clinton Second Term
Bill Clinton is reelected and sworn in as the president of the United States of America. -
Olympic Park Bombing
Eric Rober Rudolph, a former U.S. Army explosives expert, bombs the Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 summer olympics.
The attack displays the terrorist attacks' increased frequency. -
Princess Diana's Death
Princess Diana, the princess of Wales, dies in a tragic car crash in Paris, France. The princess was featured in magazines and media all over the U.S. -
Clinton's Denials
President Bill Clinton denies any "sexual relations" with intern, Monica Lewinsky. His credibility was drastically damaged. -
NATO Bombs Serbs
NATO bombs Serbian province of Kosovo. The organization responds to the escalating conflict in Kosovo by bombing it. Many criticize NATO's actions as rash and reckless. -
President Impeached
House of Representatives impeached Clinton. However, the U.S. Senate later acquits him. This makes him the 2nd president to be impeached after Andrew Johnson. -
Columbine
Two students at Columbine High in Colorado shock the country. They brought guns to school and went on a rampage, killing 13 and injuring 25 others. Before capture the young men committed suicide. The shooting worried parents across the country and caused schools to tighten security measures. -
JFK Jr . Dies
John F. Kennedy, Jr. dies when he loses control of a plane we was piloting and crashes into the Atlantic Ocean. His family who were in the plane also perished. -
Y2K Scare
Computer software in the 80s and 90s abbreviated years by using the last two digits of the year. People feared that when the date turned to 2000 the change would cause all computers to crash, affecting all major industries like banking and airlines. Many claimed the New Year would bring about the apocalypse. -
Kenya Airways Flight 431
Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashes off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire into the Atlantic Ocean, killing 169. -
Human Genome Decoded
Scientist finished deciphering the human genome and for the first time in history knew the sequence of genes in human DNA. -
Vermont Allows Same-Sex Marriage
Vermont law goes into effect allowing same-sex couples to be recognized as a married couple. Vermont was the first state to accept gay partnership. As a gay rights activist, I believe other states should accept same-sex marriage. -
George W. Bush-President
George W. Bush becomes the 43rd president of the U.S. -
September 11th
Al-Queda terrorist group attacks twin towers in New York. Suicide bombers pilot planes into the side of the buildings killing nearly 3,000. -
Enron files for bankruptcy
Enron, one of the world's leading energy providers declares bankruptcy. Its collapse heavily affects banks all over the world which loanedthecompany money. -
No Child Left Behind Act Passed
The No Child Left Behind Act required all students in a school to undergo standardized testing if that school is to receive funding. -
Arms Embargo on Terrorists
The UN Security Council begins an arms embargo and freezes the assets of Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. -
President Gains Power
The Congress of the United States passes a joint resolution, allowing the President to use the US Armed Forces as he deems necessary and appropriate, against Iraq. -
Space Shuttle Columbia
At the conclusion of a mission, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates before landing, killing all 7 astronauts onboard. -
US DHS Formed
The United States Department of Homeland Security is developed to fight terrorism in the country. This new department was formed in reaction to the 9/11attacks. -
U.S. Forces Conquer Baghdad
U.S. forces take control of Baghdad, officially ending the regime of Saddam Hussein. -
U.S. War with Iraq Based on Falsehoods
No evidence of weapons of mass destruction are found in Iraq. This causes doubt among the American people because that suspicion is part of what motivated the country to fight the war. -
Gruesome Details of War
US media release graphic photos of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Americans further doubt reasons for our involvement in the war. -
WWII Memorial
The National World War II Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC. The momument preserves the war's victims and history for future generations. -
Diplomatic Relations
Presidents Bush(US) and Putin(Russia) attend military parade in Red Square to celebrate end of World War Two. -
London Terror
Terror attacks target subways and buses in London, England. -
New Orleans Floods
Hurricane Katrina destroys New Orleans. People around the world donate money to aid the victims. However, soon the shock wears off and the people of New Orleans are left homeless and without much help. -
Avian Flu
A swan with Avian flu is discovered in Scotland, A person in the UK is found to have avian flu. Worldwide panic ensues. -
Cuban Power Shift
Fidel Castro temporarily relinquishes his position of Cuban president to his brother Raúl before surgery. This was an opportunity for revolt in Cuba. America would probably support this revolution as relations between America and Cuba are strained. The U.S. maintains an embargo against Cuba until Cubans establish a more democratic government and would likely jump at the chance to aid a more democratic leader gain power. -
Iraq Leaders Overthrown
Iraqi court finds President of Iraq Saddam Hussein and 2 of his senior allies guilty of crimes against humanity. They are sentenced to death by hanging. -
War in Somalia
The Battle of Ras Kamboni begins the war. Eight people are later killed in a attack on Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. -
Chinese Slave Scandal Revealed
In Shanxi, a city in northern China, thousands of slave workers are found in illegal brickyards. Human traffickers captured many people, including children, to sell to these brickyards. -
Bin Laden's Video
A video is released of Bin Laden's opinions on the American people and the country's flaws. The video shocks the American publics and is commented on my former president, George W. Bush. -
YFZ Ranch Raid
The YFZ Ranchisa community for members of the FLDS church, a church formed from a schismin the Morman church. The FLDS church approves of polygamy. Texas Child Protective Services separated all of the children on the compound from their parents, suspecting child abuse. Young girls were found to be pregnant as a result of underage marriages. The children were returned and the FLDS church renounced child marriage. This event outraged many citizens because they worried for the children. -
Phoenix Spacecraft
NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft become the first to land in a Martian polar region. The new data collected from the Phoenix shows water exists on the planet, bringing us one step closer to confirming or denying the prospect of life on Mars. -
U.S. Swimming in the Summer Olympics
Michael Phelps wins eight gold medals for the U.S. in swimming, surpassing Mark Spitz's record. As a swimmer, I appreciate the amount of work that must go into such an accomplishment. -
Obama's Inauguration
Barack Obama is inaugurated, becoming America's first African-American president. His election reveals America's changing perspectives of race and equality. -
Taliban Video
A video is released by the Taliban depicting the beheading of Piotr Sta?czak, a Polish geologist. The video shocks viewers around the world. Personally, I couln't watch it. -
NATO Anniversary
Sixty years after the founding of the organization, the 21st NATO Summit is held. The U.S., of course, is a member of NATO. -
H1N1 Influenza
The outbreak of the swine flu is officially deemed a global pandemic. It is the first since the Hong Kong flu of 1967–1968. People around the world panic.
