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9/11 attacks
Foreign Affairs: Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon kill nearly 3,000 people and trigger global anti-terror initiatives. -
Operation Enduring freedom
Wars: U.S. launches Operation Enduring Freedom, invading Afghanistan to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power. -
Obama
-Presidents: Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States. -Domestic Social Issue: The country is in the midst of the Great Recession with major job losses and housing foreclosures. -Personal Experience: My family’s income was affected; we canceled trips and relied on budgeting apps to track spending. -
Apple
Technology: Apple releases the first-generation iPad, sparking a revolution in mobile computing. -
Death of Bin Laden
Foreign Affairs: U.S. Navy SEALs kill Osama bin Laden in a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Personal Experience: I watched President Obama’s speech live with my parents—it was my first memory of a global political event. -
Gay Marriage
Domestic Social Issue: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Obergefell v. Hodges, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Other: Hashtags like #LoveWins and #BlackLivesMatter dominate social media. Personal Experience: My neighbors at the time were able to get married. -
Trump wins election
Presidents: Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election. -
Peace deal
Wars: U.S. and Taliban sign a peace deal in Doha, Qatar, setting the stage for withdrawal from Afghanistan. -
COVID-19
Domestic Social Issue: The U.S. declares a national emergency due to COVID-19; schools begin closing. Personal Experience: My school shut down; I began virtual classes and stayed home for months. -
Storm of the capitol
Other: Supporters of Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Personal Experience: I watched live coverage and discussed it with classmates—it felt like history unfolding. -
Russia vs. Ukraine
Foreign Affairs: Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a major European conflict. Personal Experience: I remember thinking this was going to start another world war. -
Other
Domestic Cultural Issue: The U.S. sees a surge in public debate about AI tools, misinformation, and ethical tech regulation. Other: Natural disasters linked to climate change (e.g., Hurricane Beryl) bring renewed urgency to environmental policies.