-
Period: to
lifetime
-
1980
The eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 was the worst volcanic disaster in U.S. history; however, it offered scientists an exceptional opportunity to examine and study a large volcanic eruption, which has enriched scientific knowledge of volcanoes -
Wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles
On July 29, 1981, Lady Diana Spencer (20 years old) married Prince Charles (32 years old) at St. Paul's Cathedral. Their wedding was large, extravagant, and wondrous. It was the wedding of the decade. Nearly 3,500 people attended personally, 600,000 people lined the streets of London hoping to catch a peek, and approximately 750 million people from around the world watched it on television -
First Woman Appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court
On September 21, the United States Senate confirmed O'Connor in a vote of 99 for and zero against. Sandra Day O'Connor was officially sworn in and took her seat on the U.S. Supreme Court on September 25, 1981.
O'Connor served on the U.S. Supreme Court for over two decades. On July 1, 2005, O'Connor announced that she would retire -
Huge Poison Gas Leak in Bhopal, India
During the night of December 2-3, 1984, a storage tank containing methyl isocyanate (MIC) at the Union Carbide pesticide plant leaked gas into the densely populated city of Bhopal, India. It was one of the worst industrial accidents in history. -
Challenger Space Shuttle Explodes
The American space shuttle, Challenger, has exploded killing all seven astronauts on board.
The five men and two women - including the first teacher in space - were just over a minute into their flight from Cape Canaveral in Florida when the Challenger blew up. -
Exxon Valdez creates oil slick disaster
An oil tanker has run aground on a reef off the Alaskan coast, releasing gallons of crude oil into the sea.
The Exxon Valdez got into trouble in Prince William Sound when it hit Bligh Reef, splitting its side open and releasing oil, with reports of an eight-mile (12.8km) slick. -
Massacre in Tiananmen Square
Several hundred civilians were shot dead by the Chinese army during a bloody military operation to crush a democratic protest in Peking's (Beijing) Tiananmen Square. -
Los Angeles riots
when a jury acquitted three white and one hispanic Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a high-speed pursuit. Thousands of people in the Los Angeles area rioted over the six days following the verdict. -
Bombing of World Trade Center
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336 lb (606 kg) urea nitrate–hydrogen gas enhanced device was intended to knock the North Tower (Tower One) into the South Tower (Tower Two), bringing both towers down and killing thousands of people. It failed to do so, but did kill six people and injured more than a thousand -
Rwanda Genocide
Beginning on April 6, 1994, Hutus began slaughtering the Tutsis in the African country of Rwanda. As the brutal killings continued, the world stood idly by and just watched the slaughter. Lasting 100 days, the Rwanda genocide left approximately 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu sympathizers dead. -
•Nelson Mandela Elected President of South Africa
On this day in 1994 newly elected President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress announced victory in the nation's first democratic all race elections, ending decades of white dominated rule. -
•O.J. Simpson Arrested for Double Murder
The O. J. Simpson murder case (officially called the People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson) was a criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California Superior Court from January 29 to October 3, 1995. Former American football star and actor O. J. Simpson was tried on two counts of murder following the June 1994 deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The case has been described as the most publicized criminal trial in American history -
Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh drove a truck containing a home-made bomb up to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. When the bomb exploded at 9:02 a.m., the building was decimated and 168 people were left dead. -
Princess of Wales dies in Car Accident
On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales died after being involved in a car accident. Diana had been riding in the Mercedes-Benz with her boyfriend (Dodi Al Fayed), bodyguard (Trevor Rees-Jones), and chauffer (Henri Paul) when the car crashed into a pillar of the tunnel under the Pont de l'Alma bridge in Paris while fleeing from paparazzi. -
President Clinton Impeached
President William Jefferson Clinton was impeached by the United States House of Representatives, becoming only the second President in U.S. History, and the only man popularly elected as President to have been so charged.
The House voted 228 to 206 to approve proposed Article I of Impeachment (Perjury before a Federal Grand Jury), and voted 221 to 212 to approve proposed Article III of Impeachment (Obstruction of Justice). Although the impeachment process succeeded at the level of the House o -
Bush VS Gore
On the night of the U.S. election (Nov. 7-8, 2000), news stations waffled over the outcome, calling the election for Gore, then too close to call, then for Bush. By the morning, many were shocked that the election was again considered too close to call. The election results hinged on a difference of just a few hundred votes in Florida (537 to be exact), which focused worldwide attention on the deficiencies of the voting system. A recount of the votes in Florida was ordered and begun.
Bush won -
US Rocked by Terrorist Attack
United States is in a state of shock after a day of attacks which have left thousands dead and New York's World Trade Center destroyed. The Pentagon was also severely damaged by one of the three civilian airliners which hijackers turned into flying bombs. A fourth plane crashed in a field near Pittsburgh. A state of emergency has been declared in Washington D.C. and the US has closed its airspace and its borders with Mexico and Canada. -
War Against Iraw Begins
American missiles have hit the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, signalling the start of the US-led campaign to topple Saddam Hussein.
President George Bush delivered a live television address shortly after the bombings began, vowing to "disarm Iraq and to free its people". The attack was ordered two hours after a final 48-hour deadline expired for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq. US sources say five key members of the Iraqi regime, including the Iraqi leader himself, were targeted in the first attacks. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina is pummelling New Orleans with howling gusts and blinding rain, after sweeping ashore over the southern Louisiana coast.
The storm has knocked out power and submerged part of the low-lying city in up to 6ft (2m) of rising water. Katrina has torn part of the roof of a stadium, where many sought refuge. Mississippi and Alabama are also being pounded by the violent storm, which weakened as it swept inland, but brought winds of 105mph (170km/h). -
Virgina Tech Shooting
Youbtube clip embedded -
US Elects its first African-American President
Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive. -
Attempted assassination of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
Attempted assassination of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and subsequent shooting in Casas Adobes, Arizona at a Safeway grocery store kills 6 and wounds 13, including Giffords
