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Key Events
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The Blizzard of 1996
The blizzard of 1996 is significant as it caused over 100 casualties and caused massive destruction to particular areas. Some of the locations with the most devastation were New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. On a lighter note, my parents got married a few days before the blizzard and happened to be the very last plane to take off from J.F.K. airport. They're honeymoon was spent in Aruba whilst checking on family members back home. -
The Impeahcment of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, the forty-second president of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice. He was accused of sexual harassment, which led to a lawsuit prompting his impeachment. This is significant as he was the second U.S. president and currently one of three successfully impeached. This proves the rarity of the position Bill Clinton found himself in on December 19, 1998. -
9/11 terrorist attack
On September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial planes. Two into the twin towers of NYC, one into the Pentagon of Washington, VA and one into a field in Pennsylvania due to the passengers' efforts. The fourth plane was intended to hit the white house and likely would have if those on board did not intervene. This was a huge blow to the American people's confidence in their nation and its security after the Cold War. (Kruse and Zelizer, 241). -
No Child Left Behind Act 2001
On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law. As an aspiring teacher, I felt the need to include this. The act aimed to improve public schooling by holding schools more accountable. New government-mandated achievement levels had to be met, or else government funding would be withdrawn. Test scores were to be submitted, and students' grades were looked at in subcategories of race and disabilities(Kruse and Zelizer 148). -
Same sex marraige becomes legal in Massachusetts
Massachusetts became the very first state to legalize same sex marriage. Religious conservatives severely opposed this decision and made a point to prevent other states from following. They created a campaign for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a partnership strictly between a man and a woman. Bush supported this idea and attempted to pass FMA, the Federal Marriage Amendment (Kruse and Zelizer, 173). -
The release of Twitter
Twitter, created by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, and Biz Stone, was a huge step towards the social media-heavy population we are today. I found this important to include as my generation is heavily focused on these apps and public image. Twitter has become a breeding ground for hate and cancel culture regarding public figures. Celebrities ranging from President Trump to Katy Perry have been very vocal on this app. It's overall very prominent in our society. -
Introduction of the iPhone
The iPhone is arguably the most prominent device today there for its impossible to not include it when looking at the year 2007. It was introduced at MacWorld by Steve Jobs. The models today are far more advanced, but the iphone was a huge innovation for its time. It was a single device possessing an online web, a camera, and contacting abilities. The iPhone has continued to progress with our nation with new models every year. -
The Inaguration of President Barack Obama
President Obama, the 44th president of the United States, was the first African American to hold the position. This is significant in itself, but I found it rather relevant after discussing the 1960s and the fight for Civil rights in class. He created many reforms that achieved great success. Some supporting a prosperous economy, affordable health care, and easing threats from Iran. These are important contributions to the United States, making his presidency worth mentioning. -
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29th, 2012. I wanted to include this for personal reasons and for the fact that it was a devastating hurricane for regions of the United States. This hurricane is significant to me as I vividly remember my sixth birthday. My golden birthday, November 6, 2012, was celebrated at my kitchen counter with a few neighbors and flashlights. Our backyard was destroyed and evidently so was the power. My parents still found a way to make my birthday special for me. -
Boston Marathon Bombing
The annual Boston Marathon suffered a terrorist attack from two brothers with two homemade bombs. There were three casualties, and hundreds were injured, many losing limbs. Although 9/11 was a larger scale attack, the marathon was also damaging to the nation. Americans who loved to run were left damaged or amputated legs. Lifes were changed forever. People are quick to blame the nation or governemnt which is damaging to Americans' faith in their country making the attack even more significant.