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"Conservative Opportunity Society" Established
Newt Gingrich hoped to create a new vision for the conservative wing of the Republican Party where an aggressive style of conservative politics was fought for. Members of the COS had three goals. Tear down the Democrats, promote a new agenda for Republicans, and control the Republican Party. But, the Democrats and Republics stood in their way. This was important because it changed the picture of politics, influencing Congressmen, and established important policies. ("Kruse and Zelizer, 212"). -
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US History Timeline Assignment
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Election of 1992
Bill Clinton entered his presidency in January of 1993, becoming the 42nd president of the United States. He spent much of his time in office focusing on economic populism, promising to change the government to benefit ordinary Americans who "work hard and play by the rules." He was unique in his works and moved away from the traditional liberal policies of his party. Clinton held fame in the Democratic Leadership Council and had large Democratic numbers in Congress. ("Kruse and Zelizer, 204"). -
Oklahoma City Bombing
The Oklahoma City Bombing was the largest terrorist attack on United States soil until 9/11. At 9:02 am on April 19, a homemade bomb exploded destroying the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building. At fault for this attack were Timothy McVeigh and his friend Terry Nichols who were both convicted. McVeigh hid the bomb in a rented truck, parked the truck in front of the building, ignited the fuse, and fled the scene. The explosion killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured over 500 people. -
Columbine High School Massacre
The Columbine Massacre was a school shooting that took place at Columbine High School in Denver, Colorado. At the time, it was referred to as the worst school shooting in United States history. Shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, fired shots outside the school and then moved to the Library where they killed 13 people and injured more than 20 before they turned the guns on themselves. The Massacre led to a national debate on gun control and school safety and created the Assault Weapons Ban. -
Election of 2000
The Election of 2000 was between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Initially, Gore was declared the winner, but this was taken back because the vote was declared too close. So, voting went all the way to the Supreme Court where the Supreme Court ruled that some votes should be disqualified because they were unclear. The winner of the election was now in the hands of single state Florida where a recount was ordered. Ultimately, the election is thrown to Bush in a 5-4 decision and Bush won by 537 votes. -
9/11 Terrorist Attack
On 9/11, 19 members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group, led by Osama Bin Laden, hijacked four passenger planes heading towards NYC. One plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, another into the South Tower, and another into the Pentagon. In less than 2 hours, 3,000 Americans had died. Bush addressed the nation following the attack and thanked those who helped on Ground Zero. The attacks stunned Americans and changed the landscape of the US for forever. Especially Security wise. -
Columbia Space Disaster
The Columbia was a space shuttle that exploded on its way back to Earth following a 16-day space mission. During take off, a piece of foam detached striking the left wing of the shuttle, damaging the thermal protection system. As the shuttle hovered over Texas, it disintegrated dropping debris over land. All seven crew members died. The explosion emphasized the dangers and threats of space travel. (https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/05/world/nasa-space-shuttle-columbia-what-happened-scn/index.html). -
Department of Homeland Security Established
The Department of Homeland Security was established after 9/11 to protect the country against acts of terrorism, prepare for future attacks, natural disasters, or emergencies. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge became the first director of the Office of Homeland Security in the White House. The creation of the Department was a symbol of Bush's strategy for homeland security. Ultimately, the intention was to create a more secure America. (https://www.dhs.gov/creation-department-homeland-security). -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast. Nearly 2,000 people were killed and about 90,000 square miles of the United States were affected. The Hurricane came with high winds, caused extreme flooding, destroyed homes leaving many homeless, and left many without food and water. Problems arose because many claimed that Bush and the federal government were slow to meet the needs of those affected and didn't seem prepared for the disaster with a plan. -
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi wasn't just the 52nd Speaker of the House of Representatives. She was the first women to be elected to serve as Speaker of the House. She was often recognized for her efforts to fight for the people. Working to lower the costs of health care, raise the pay of workers' through a strong economy, and get rid of corruption in Washington. Her success was highlighted by the many accomplishments she made. (https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/nancy-pelosi)