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Star Wars Defense Plan
President Ronald Reagan initiated a defense program that would prevent and protect the United States from foreign missile attacks, especially from the Soviet Union. The President wanted to keep the U.S. safe from nuclear attacks. This program would be very innovative. -
Space Shuttle Challenger Explodes
The Challenger launched from Florida on Tuesday, January 28th. It was carrying 7 people and all died when it exploded in front of millions of people who were watching on TV. This was a tragic day for the people of the United States. -
Black Monday
The Stock Market took a huge crash on Black Monday in the autumn of 1987. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 22.6% in a single trading session, which was the worst crash in one day in the nation's history. This was the worst market downturn in the U.S. since the Great Depression. -
World Wide Web Invented
This invention made the Internet accessible and useful to people everywhere. The World Wide Web made it even easier for people to communicate around the world. -
Hubble Telescope Launched Into Space
The Hubble Telescope was launched by NASA to help the world better understand outer-space. It gives a view of the Earth that surpasses that of a ground telescope. This is considered one of NASA's greatest successes because it has shed light on some of astronomy. -
Operation Desert Storm
Iraqi forces would not leave Kuwait when an alliance that included the U.S., demanded they leave by January 15, 1991. These two countries exported large amounts of oil around the world and the U.S. couldn't let the Iraqi government and their leader, Suddam Huessin, gain that much control over the world's oil supply. So, Desert Storm was put into action and the Iraqi forces were heavily bombed. -
Official End of the Cold War
The Soviet Union's leaders were overthrown and the leader of the Russian Soviet Republic took control of the government and the country when the people sided with him. Then in December of 1991, Russia declared independence and the Soviet Union was dissolved. This signaled the end of the Cold War. -
Oklahoma City Bombing
A truck bomb explosion destroyed a federal building in Oklahoma City and killed 168 people. The blast was set off by an anti-government militant, Timothy McVeigh. This was the worst terrorist attack to date. America was left grieving and afraid of other terrorist attacks. -
Clinton Impeachment
President Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on the charges of lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstruction of justice. He lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. The Senate then held a trial, but failed to get the 2/3 vote needed to impeach him. Clinton remained in office. This shook the nation's confidence in their president. -
9/11 Attack
On September 11th, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks on targets within the U.S. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Centers, the third plane hit the Pentagon, and the last one crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. This was the most devastating terrorist attack in American history. The nation would be forever changed. -
War Against Iraq
The United States led an invasion in Iraq on March 20th, 2003 to overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein. He was captured and eventually executed. This war would continue throughout the decade to come and effect America greatly. -
Hurricane Katrina
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States with full force. It was a Category 3 storm and brought devastating winds that were up to 140 miles per hour. The storm also caused major flooding, which resulted in many losing their homes. It is estimated that this storm cost over $100 billion in damage. -
Obama Elected President
President Barack Obama was elected as the 44th United President in 2008 and he won a reelection in 2012. History was made when he was elected because he is the first African American to hold the presidential office. He works for changes in response to health care and economic crisis. -
Osama bin Laden's Death
The United States planned a mission to kill bin Laden for months and it was finally enacted on May 1st, 2011. A special force team was sent in to his hiding place in Pakistan and it took very little time to locate him and complete the mission. This mission was warranted because bin Laden was believed to have ordered the 9/11 tragedy and many other terrorist attacks. -
Cuba Removed from Nations that Support Terrorism List
President Obama announced that he has plans to take Cuba off this list so that diplomatic relations can improve after decades of hostilities. Their placement on the list has caused many economic issues for the Cubans. Their removal from the list will hopefully help mend bad relations between the United States and Cuba that originated in the Cold War.
