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Period: to
US 1980-2010
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Ronald Reagan elected
Led to a conservative shift in politics in America; foreign policies contributed to the end of the Cold War -
Sandra Day O'Connor appointed to Supreme Court
First female Supreme Court Justice -
"Discovery" of the AIDS virus
Beginning of AIDS pandemic in US and the world -
Fall of Berlin Wall
Fall of the Berlin Wall signifies the opening of Eastern Europe and the end of the Cold War -
Tiananmen Square Uprising
Chinese government squashes uprising by pro-democracy students, killing hundreds; condemned by world public opinion -
Hubble space telescope
Allows deep viewing of space -
Persian Gulf War
Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait leads to US/coalition response (Desert Shield and Desert Storm), which ousts Iraqi forces from Kuwait, leads to UN sanctions, but leaves Saddam in power -
Fall of the Soviet Union
The collapse of the USSR brings an "official" end to the Cold War and a sometimes rocky transition to capitalism and democracy (?) in Russia -
Bill Clinton elected
Clinton's election brings an end to 12 years of Republican presidents and rise of moderate Democratic policies -
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement goes into effect, lowering tariffs and promoting trade between the US, Mexico and Canada -
Oklahoma City Bombing
Timothy McVeigh blows up the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168; worst case of domestic terrorism -
Internet becomes widespread
Internet revolutionizes commerce, information flow and management, education, etc. -
Clinton impeached
Bill Clinton impeached over Monica Lewinsky scandal, only 2nd president to be impeached; reflects bitter partisan politics in Washington -
George W Bush elected
The Supreme Court intervenes in favor of Bush over Al Gore after a disputed election centered on ballot issues in Florida -
9/11
Al-Qaeda attack on WTC and the Pentagon kills approx. 2800, leads to the "War on Terror", including war in Afghanistan, Patriot Act, and Dept. of Homeland Security -
US invasion of Iraq
US invasion in search of alleged WMD's leads to the ouster of Saddam Hussein, but also many casualties and worldwide criticism -
Economic Crisis
Subprime mortgage crisis leads to worst economic collapse since the Great Depression and govt bailouts of banks and corporations. -
Barack Obama elected President
44th president is the first African-American president elected
