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27th Amendment Ratified
The 27th Amendment deals with congressional pay raises and prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for Representatives. The amendment was first proposed in 1789 but lacked support from the required number of state legislatures because it needed to be ratified by 3/4 of the states (“27th Amendment - Changes in Pay for Members of Congress"). -
The United States Government Shutdown
The 1995 United States government shutdown was a significant political event that occurred during President Bill Clinton's first term in office. The shutdown was a result of a budgetary conflict between the Democratic President and the Republican-controlled Congress. The government shutdown began on November 14, 1995, and lasted for 21 days (Hendrix, Steve, and Aaron Wiener). -
President Clinton Signs the DOMA
In 1996, the United States was in the midst of a fierce battle over same-sex marriage. In response, President Bill Clinton signed the DOMA into law. The Defense of Marriage Act was a law that defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.The act had significant implications for same-sex couples, as it prevented them from receiving federal benefits and protections that were available to opposite-sex couples (“Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)”). -
President Clinton Impeached
President Clinton's impeachment was a historical event that started with his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The scandal was a huge embarrassment for the President and his administration, and it led to a series of investigations by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. ("Kruse and Zelizer, 224-.”) -
Shooting at Columbine High School
Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, carried out a shooting at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 13 people, and 21 others injured. The two students planned and executed the shooting with a variety of weapons, including guns, bombs, and explosives. It was one of the deadliest school shootings in American history and brought attention to the issue of school safety and gun control (“Columbine High School Shooting: Victims & Killers".) -
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
The attack was carried out by a group of hijackers associated with the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda. They hijacked four commercial airplanes, 2 were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, one was flown into the Pentagon, and the fourth plane crashed in a field. These events led to a significant shift in global politics, with many countries tightening their security measures and increasing their cooperation in the fight against terrorism ("Kruse and Zelizer, 243-.”) -
The United States Invades Iraq
The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 is an event that has significant implications on both the Middle East and the global political landscape.The primary objective of the invasion was to overthrow the regime of the Iraqi dictator, and to locate and destroy any weapons of mass destruction that the country was suspected of possessing. The operation was named Operation Iraqi Freedom, and it was led by the US military under the command of General Tommy Franks (“Iraq War"). -
Mark Zucherberg Launches Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg, a young computer programmer, launched Facebook in February 2004. The idea behind Facebook was to create a social networking platform that would allow people to connect and communicate with each other online. It has changed the way people communicate and connect with each other, and it has given rise to new forms of online activism and social movements (“Facebook Launches”). -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes to ever hit the United States and resulted in the loss of over 1,800 lives. Katrina was not only known for its death toll and destruction but also for its impact on the economy. Also, the response of the government, particularly was heavily criticized for its slow response to the disaster (“Hurricane Katrina - Facts, Affected Areas & Lives Lost”). -
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred when an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill lasted for 87 days, and over 200 million gallons of oil were released into the ocean. It affected over 1,000 miles of coastline, killed marine life, and caused long-term damage to the environment. The spill also affected the fishing and tourism industries in the area (“Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill”).