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Energy Crisis
A consequence of the oil embargo enforced by the OAPEC, fuel shortages and high prices effectively ended the false assurance that Americans had an endless supply of oil. This proved as a sign of a failing economy in the U.S., and later the late 70's energy crisis would become a weakness of president Jimmy Carter. -
1976 Election
Jimmy Carter wins the election against Gerald R. Ford, whose major weakness was his previous pardon to Richard Nixon. -
Love Canal Crisis
A proposed canal between the upper and lower Niagra Rivers would generate substantial power for William T. Love's "dream city". The failed dug canal was used as a toxic waste dump. After the industrial chemical landfill was covered and sold, about 100 homes were constructed on the site in the late 1950's. In 1978, EPA stated that such chemical waste landfills stood like "ticking time bombs". Soon after, Love Canal exploded, causing a chain of burns, miscarriages, birth defects, and even cancer. -
Soviets Invade Afghanistan
After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, there was a clear threat to democracy. President Carter's response towards the Afghanistan threat was to boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, and was, for good reason, seen as an extremely inadequate and weak effort. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
52 Americans were held hostage in the American Embassy in Iran during the Iranian Revolution. Eagle Claw, a failed rescue attempt, resulted in the loss of two aircraft and eight servicemen. As President Carter was unable to negotiate the release of the hostages, they remained captives for 444 days. Shortly after he was sworn in, Ronald Reagan was able to negotiate the release of the hostages. -
1980 Election
Jimmy Carter ran against Ronald Reagan. Carter was rerunning and had weaknesses caused by the Love Canal disaster, Iran Hostage Crisis, and failed Cold War efforts from his previous presidential term, which cost him the loss against Reagan. -
Reaganomics
Reagan's economic policies, nicknamed Reaganomics, included the trickle-down theory and large tax cuts. Inflation consequently slowed while unemployment and deficit spending decreased. However, the national debt ultimately increased. -
1984 Election
Ronald Reagan is re-elected to his second presidential term. -
Gorbachev Collaboration
After Stalin was removed from a position of power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev replaced him. The two leaders worked together to bring democracy and social reforms to Russia at Geneva Summit, alleviating the Cold War's intensity and distrust. -
War on Drugs
As the amount of crime and illegal drug trafficking increased in the 1970's and 1980's, Ronald Reagan made significant efforts towards Nixon's War on Drugs, which intensified the aim to decrease illegal drug use. Reagan budgeted 1.7 billion USD towards the cause in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. -
Iran-Contra Affair
A secret U.S. arms deal, the Iran-Contra affair successfully traded missiles and other arms to free hostage Americans in Lebanon, but at the expense of decreased funds from the arms deal in Nicaragua. The sketchy scandal threatened President Reagan's popularity. -
Challenger Disaster
NASA's space shuttle Challenger exploded mid-air just 73 seconds after its launch. All seven crew members aboard lost their lives. The nation mourned the loss, while the media extensively covered the disaster, which was being aired by news stations across the U.S. when it exploded. -
1988 Election
Ronald Reagan, the previous two-term president in the 1980's, could no longer run for president, but his vice president could and did. George H.W. Bush ran against democrat Michael Dukakis, and won. -
Operation Desert Storm
President George H.W. Bush launched Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait from Iraq's military forces. Cease-fire was announced in early 1991-- the U.S. had successfully liberated Kuwait. However, at this point, Saddam Hussein still remained in control of Iraq. -
1992 Election
A recession in the U.S.'s economy forced President Bush to raise Reagan's decreased taxes, which brought down his popularity rating to an alarming 49% in 1992. Bill Clinton effectively won against Bush and another candidate, Ross Perot, ending the 12 year republican reign. -
Whitewater Scandal
The U.S. Senate tried to impeach Bill Clinton after the Whitewater Scandal was uncovered and publicized by the media. The scandal involved real estate and a failed investment in a land development called Whitewater. In the end, the Senate failed to impeach him as they fell short of the two thirds majority requirement. The Clintons were never charged with a crime. -
NAFTA created
The North American Free Trade Alliance was formed between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. This would effectively strengthen the North American economy as a whole. -
Clinton Fails to Take Action in Rwanda
President Clinton failed to take action in Rwanda in the summer of 1994. As up to 1,000,000 Rwandans were being killed in a genocide by their own country, many countries globally watched without doing anything, including the U.S. during Clinton's presidency. -
Federal Government Surplus, Economic Success
After Bill Clinton's election, the federal government announced that there was a surplus in its budget, for the first time in 30 years. Unemployment was low, the stock market soared, and fewer Americans relied on public aid. The strong economy had balanced the national budget. -
2000 Election
Previous President Bill Clinton's Vice President, Al Gore, ran against republican George W. Bush. Gore won the popular vote, but after Florida's recount, Bush ended up ultimately winning the election. Supreme Court ended recounts by December, with Bush as President. -
9/11
Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorists from the terrorist group Al-Qaeda flew fueled commercial planes into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., outside of Philadelphia, and the World Trade Center in New York City. Leader Osama bin Laden had planned the attacks, which ultimately killed 2,996 people and caused 6,000+ injuries. As a result of the disaster, the nation unified and anti-terrorism measures were increased by the Bush administration. -
Carter Wins the Nobel Peace Prize
President Jimmy Carter, who emphasized human rights, mediated peace talks between Israel and Egypt, and was a key figure in Habitat for Humanity, was nominated & won the Nobel Peace Prize of 2002. -
Iraq Invasion
U.S. and British forces invaded Iraq as the countries feared Saddam Hussein possessed WMD's, weapons of mass destruction, although none were found. The alliance's motive changed to the liberation of Iraq, and Saddam was found, tried, and executed in 2006. -
2008 Election
George Bush's Vice President Dick Cheney ended up not running for office, which left democrat Barack Obama against Republican John McCain. Obama won, becoming the first black president in U.S. history. -
Mission to Kill Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, the terrorist behind the devasting 9/11 attacks, was still alive. President Obama approved a U.S. special forces mission to find and kill him. After targeting the compound he was believed to be hiding in, they raided it & successfully ended the life of the monster behind America's greatest tragedy.
