-
Pedro Zamora's Role on The Real World (MTV) (Kruse and Zelizer, 229)
Pedro Zamora, a Cuban immigrant and HIV/AIDS activist, appeared on the third season of The Real World, an MTV reality show. Zamora was open about his battle with AIDS, and his presence on the show helped raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic, particularly among younger viewers. His story had a profound impact, and after his death from AIDS-related complications in November 1994, President Bill Clinton remarked that the show had "changed the face of HIV and AIDS in America forever." -
Oklahoma City Bombing (Kruse and Zelizer, 221)
Timothy McVeigh, a former Army soldier, was seen selling anti-government merchandise in a truck in Waco, Texas. McVeigh is later caught in Oklahoma, killing 168 people. A truck bomb exploded in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. 168 people dead and over 600 injured. The attack led to changes in U.S. counterterrorism laws and policies. The passage of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 aimed to help law enforcement powers and increase penalties for terrorist activities. -
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Kruse and Zelizer, 219)
President Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which altered the U.S. welfare system. The law replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It imposed work requirements and a five-year lifetime limit on welfare benefits to help reduce dependency on government assistance. Proponents said it reduced poverty and promoted self-sufficiency. Critics argued it left families without any support. -
Creation of the Children's Health Insurance Program (Kruse and Zelizer, 222)
President Clinton signed into law the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which expanded healthcare coverage for children in low-income families. CHIP aimed to reduce the number of uninsured children by providing states with federal funding to offer affordable health insurance. By 2015, CHIP had helped cover millions of children and had become a key component of the U.S. healthcare system, ensuring that low-income families had access to essential health services for their children. -
Monica Lewinsky Scandal (Kruse and Zelizer, 227)
President Clinton was involved in a scandal involving White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton first denied having an affair with Lewinsky, but later admitted to lying under oath during an investigation. This led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The Senate cleared Clinton in 1999, and he remained in office for the rest of his term. This influenced the partisan divisions of the time. -
The Election of George W. Bush (Kruse and Zelizer, 239))
Republican candidate George W. Bush ran against Democratic candidate Al Gore. The election ultimately came down to the results in Florida, where a recount was ordered. The dispute led to a Supreme Court decision (Bush v. Gore) that halted the recount, effectively awarding the presidency to Bush. This event highlighted issues with voting procedures, including punch-card ballots, and led to widespread reforms in U.S. election laws and voting procedures. -
September 11 Attacks (Kruse and Zelizer, 249)
A series of coordinated terrorist attacks by the al-Qaeda group targeted the United States. Four commercial airliners were hijacked: two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. This event led to the U.S. launching the War on Terror, including military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and significant changes in U.S. foreign and domestic policies. -
Iraq War (Kruse and Zelizer, 261)
The Iraq War began when the U.S., led by President George W. Bush, launched an invasion of Iraq based on the belief that the country possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Despite intense international opposition and the failure to find WMDs, the invasion led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime. The war led to instability and sectarian violence, the rise of insurgent groups like ISIS, and long-term political and military involvement by the U.S. This war was very controversial. -
Financial Crisis Begins (The Great Recession and Its Aftermath, Federal Reserve History)
The financial crisis was triggered by the collapse of the housing market and the bursting of the housing bubble. Subprime mortgage lending, risky investment practices, and excessive borrowing by financial institutions led to widespread bankruptcies. Major banks and financial institutions, such as Lehman Brothers, collapsed, and the U.S. government intervened with large-scale bailouts and stimulus packages. The crisis led to the Great Recession, with millions losing jobs, homes, and savings. -
Obamacare (Kruse and Zelizer, 288)
President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, aiming to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system. The ACA expanded health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, provided protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and allowed young adults to remain on their parents' insurance until age 26. The ACA faced opposition from Republicans, who sought to repeal it, leading to ongoing debates over healthcare policy in the U.S.