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Ronald Reagan is Inagurated
Ronal Reagan is inaugurated on January 1st, 1981, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter in a landslide election of 489-89. Carter's presidency had not gone well with the so-called "stagflation" and "misery index." Additionally, Carter's inability to free the 52 American hostages in Iran made Carter look weak. Reagan's inauguration marked a shift in the American government as liberals were ousted and a "new right" arrived in power. -
Operation Urgent Fury
President Reagan switches paths from Carter's focus on human rights to a hard anti-communist line. When communists took over the government on the island of Grenada in the Caribbean, U.S. Marines invaded and overthrew the new communist government. The invasion of Grenada reflected Reagan's anti-communist, anti-Soviet mindset that would be instrumental in ending the cold war. -
Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty of 1987
On December 8th, 1987, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev both sign the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty. The treaty reduced the nuclear arsenal of both countries and was historic after decades of hostility and tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. It also foreshadowed the thawing of the Cold War and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. -
The Soviet Union Collapses
The Soviet Union collapses on December 26, 1991. After having been in existence for 69 years, the communist country finally collapsed under the weight of the flaws of the system it was governed by. Surrounding countries were freed from the Soviet influence and a new commonwealth of independent states was born. -
Bill Clinton is Inagurated
On January 20th, 1993, Bill Clinton is inaugurated as the new president, defeating incumbent George H. W. Bush. Clinton represented a lot of change in the nation, particularly since he was pro-abortion and supported homosexuals. Nevertheless, his claims of moderate liberalism combined with Bush's recession swayed enough voters to place him in office. -
Bush is Elected President
In the infamous 2000 election between Bush and Gore, the vote was so close that it went to the Supreme Court. The controversy dealt with the vote in Flordia where the vote was so close that Gore called for a recount. However, Bush protested and the problem went before the Supreme Court where it was decided that the recount would be stopped, allowing Bush to become president. -
9/11/2001
On September 11th, 2001, terrorists hijacked planes from several airlines and flew them into the two World Trade Centers, and the Pentagon. Thousands died when the Twin Towers collapsed, trapping hundreds of firefighters inside. A fourth plane was also hijacked, but passengers, finding out about the other three plans, tried to take back control. The plane crashed in a field, killing everyone on board. The day has since been remembered as 9/11 and marked the beginning of a "war on terror." -
Operation Enduring Freedom
In an attempt to find and bring to justice those responsible for the attacks on 9/11, Bush launches Operation Enduring Freedom. The operation includes airstrikes and ground forces as troops invaded Afghanistan. Bin Ladin, the mastermind of the attacks, evaded capture for many years as the war dragged on. The situation in the Middle-East (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq) quickly deteriorated as the American occupation of Afghanistan continued.