Fifty tornadoes rage in Mississippi, killing 74 people.
Atari kicks off the first generation of video games with the release of Pong
Watergate scandal, Televised hearings begin in the United States Senate.
A soccer stampede occurs in Cairo, killing 49.
The Vietnam War ends
The Irish rock band U2 is formed
Women Marines disbanded; women are integrated into regular Marine Corps.
United States President Jimmy Carter signs a bill into law which allows homebrewing of beer in the United States.
Michael Jackson releases his first breakthrough album
Former California Governor and actor Ronald Reagan is nominated for U.S. President
Michael Donald lynched.
A blizzard unprecedented in size for April dumps 1–2 feet of snow on the northeastern United States, closing schools and businesses, snarling traffic, and canceling several major league baseball games.
The final episode of M*A*S*H airs, setting a new record for most-watched television broadcast in American history.
Michael Jackson's hair catches on fire during a Pepsi commercial.
WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden.
Top Gun, goes on to be the highest grossing film.
DNA fingerprinting catches its first criminal
War on Drugs: U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs a bill providing the death penalty for murderous drug traffickers.
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Washington National Cathedral is completed after 83 years of construction.
Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins with air strikes against Iraq.
Hurricane Andrew hits south Florida and dissipates over the Tennessee valley, killing 65 and causing US$26.5 billion in damage.
World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a van bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over 1,000.
Former President Richard Nixon dies at 81. He is buried at his presidential library on April 26, following a state funeral.
Oklahoma City bombing: 168 people, including 8 Federal Marshals and 19 children, are killed at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Timothy McVeigh and one of his accomplices, Terry Nichols, set off the bomb.
Suspected "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski is arrested at his Montana cabin.
Son is born
Michael Fortier is sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined $200,000 for failing to warn authorities about the terrorist plot.
Lance Armstrong wins his first Tour de France.
9/11 attacks occur
United Airlines, the second largest airline in the world, files for bankruptcy.
The 2003 Staten Island Ferry crash kills 11 after one of its ferries slams into a pier.
Eleven American states ban gay marriage.
Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas.
NASA launches the a 9-year, 3 billion mile space mission, the first to Pluto
Halo 3 is released, breaking all previous records in entertainment history by generating $170 million in the first 24 hours of release.
United States presidential election, 2008: Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States and Joe Biden is elected the 47th Vice President. Barack Obama becomes the first African-American President-elect.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin unexpectedly announces her resignation, effective July 26, 2009
President Barack Obama signs the don't ask, don't tell repeal into law.
The unemployment rate has reportedly fallen to 8.6% - the lowest since early 2009.