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A military battle between Iraq and a coalition of 35 nations, ordered by the United States, that lasted from August 1990 to February 1991. The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq was the cause of the conflict. Following a land attack, the coalition conducted a large air campaign that drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait and weakened their military capabilities. The confrontation led to continued conflicts and UN sanctions against Iraq, as well as major environmental harm and fatalities. -
Due to deteriorating economic conditions, political corruption, and demands for democratic reforms, the Soviet Union was finally abolished in 1991. The perestroika reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev and the uprisings in Eastern Europe were primarily to blame for the collapse. The Soviet Union was declared to be dissolved by the Belavezha Accords and the Soviet republics declared their independence. The demise of the Soviet Union had a significant effect on world politics. -
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union engaged in a war in Afghanistan and suffered as a result of the arms race. Domestic dissatisfaction grew while the economy remained sluggish. When the Soviet Union broke up into republics in 1991, the Iron Curtain was lifted, ending the war. This is significant because Soviet Imperialism was abolished and the protracted struggle eventually came to a conclusion.(americanhistory.si.edu) -
An estimated 800,000 people died in a mass killing of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus over the course of 100 days. Extreme brutality and horrors, such as rape and torture, define the violence. The lack of international action was condemned, and the massacre left a lasting impression on the nation and the surrounding area. Through international tribunals, efforts have been undertaken to bring the guilty parties to justice. -
A truck bomb detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols, were inspired by anti-government attitudes carried out the attack. The explosion left 168 people dead, including 19 kids, and hundreds more hurt. The building and its surroundings were damaged as a result of the explosion. The bombing was among the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in US history, prompted tighter security at government facilities all around the nation. -
President Clinton was impeached as a result of a court case involving claims of sexual harassment. It was brought up that Clinton had an illicit relationship with Lewinsky, and it was looked into as to whether she had lied in her evidence. The Judiciary Committee was the venue for the House's four-article impeachment trial. The House decided that Clinton had tampered with the administration of justice and lied to the grand jury. (guides.loc.gov) -
This was the bloodiest school shooting. There were 15 fatalities in Littleton, Colorado. Seniors Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris opened fire on the school, killing 12 students, one teacher, and themselves while also hurting 21 other people. Less than 30 minutes, everything took place. They both entered carrying suitcases containing propane explosives. This incident was significant because it terrified students everywhere and prompted the deployment of improved security. (bowdoin.edu) -
In the 2000 election, personality prevailed over policy. All states were determined except for Florida, making it one of the closest elections in history. Bush received 246 votes, while Gore received 267. The court issued its crucial ruling on December 12th, and the conservative majority ruled to halt recounts. Florida received its electoral votes, which helped Bush win. This brought home the importance of voting and the Supreme Court's role in deciding on close elections. -
The main law for K-12 general education in the United States. In Fault Lines by Kevin M. Kruse, " The law solidified the federal commitment to funding public education, representing a tweak reversal to decades of conservatives calls for dismantling of the Department of Education." (Kruse, 248) This act kept schools accountable for how kids learned and achieved. This law increased the federal role in holding schools responsible for academic progress of all students. -
Al-Qaeda-linked hijackers attacked the Pentagon in Virginia and the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. In Fault Lines by Kevin M. Kruse, "...the elaborate plan still killed roughly 3,000." (Kruse, 250) The attacks sparked a global war on terror, altered national security strategy, and had a big impact on American society and culture. -
An Airbus A300 aircraft in Queens, New York, crashed into a residential neighborhood, killing all 260 aboard and five people on the ground. The first officer's excessive use of the rudder controls, led to the vertical stabilizer failing, was determined to be the cause of the crash by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. The disaster sparked revisions in pilot education and Airbus A300 design changes. -
Mark Zuckerberg and co-founders Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes launched a social networking website. It was developed for Harvard students before spreading to other colleges and the broader public. By 2012, there were more than one billion active users. Facebook, one of the most popular social media sites in the world, has significantly changed how people communicate and exchange information online. -
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it was unlawful to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples. This allowed same-sex marriages in Massachusetts, the first US state and sixth country overall, to become lawful. Even though the Goodridge decision sparked debate, the judges maintained that marriage alone could ensure equality. Governor Mitt Romney ordered municipal clerks to issue marriage licenses after 180 days. (historycambridge.org) -
Hurricane Katrina made landfall with winds of up to 175 mph. In New Orleans, Louisiana, and the surrounding areas, the storm surge brought significant flooding that flooded 80% of the city. Over 1,800 people lost their lives and over 1 million people fled their homes as a result of the levees and floodwalls failing. The storm was the most expensive hurricane in US history, with projected damage of $161 billion. -
A global economic recession that got its start with the US housing market crash. In addition to extensive bank failures, government interventions, and a number of bailouts to restore the financial system, the crisis resulted in a global recession. The crisis had a long-lasting effect on the world economy and prompted massive regulatory changes intended to stop a catastrophe of this nature from occurring again. -
Barack Obama became the first African American to hold a public position in 2008. This was a significant historical turning point. He defeated John McCain to become the 44th president of the United States. Despite the financial crisis, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and terrorism, Obama took steps to strengthen the economy and restore America's standing in the world. He was reelected in 2012 and became the fourth president to win the Nobel Peace Prize. (whitehouse.gov)