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Oklahoma City Bombing
It was the 19th of April, 1995; there was a truck bombing that had exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. 168 individuals were killed with almost 500 more being injured. It was, up to that point, one of the most fatal domestic terrorism activities in the United States. The bombings were committed by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. The disaster caused shock waves throughout the United States, leading to a sweeping change in U.S. security policy. -
Clinton Signs DOMA
In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law, defining marriage federally as a union of one man and one woman. Fault Lines states "The most significant change of the decade came on the contested issue of same-sex marriage and DOMA." (Kruse and Zelizer, 218) The legislation allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages that were conducted in other states and withheld federal benefits from same-sex couples. -
Bush v. Gore
The 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was so close that it had to be eventually resolved by a disputed Florida vote count. The United States Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore stopped a hand count, on equal protection grounds, essentially awarding the office to Bush. -
9/11
On September 11, 2001, America was devastated with a horrific act of terrorism as members of al-Qaeda hijacked four civilian airliners. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third into the Pentagon just outside of Washington, DC, and the fourth, United Flight 93, collapsed in Pennsylvania as passengers overpowered the hijackers. A little over 3,000 people were killed. This was the deadliest terrorist assault in U.S. history.(Kruse and Zelizer,249) -
Invasion of Iraq
In 2003, the U.S. and her allies invaded Iraq on the allegation that the regime of Saddam Hussein actually possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) which were posing a threat to global peace and security. The idea was to eliminate Hussein from power and introduce democracy to the region. The war precipitated years of insurgency, violence, and instability in Iraq with long-term implications for U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East. (Kruse and Zelizer, 254) -
The Great Recession
The Great Recession was a severe worldwide economic recession that began in late 2007. It resulted from the collapse of the U.S. housing bubble and financial crisis driven by subprime lending and mortgage-backed securities. Big banks failed, unemployment soared, and millions lost their homes and savings. The U.S. government responded to bailouts and stimulus packages to stabilize the economy. It was the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. -
Election of Barack Obama
Barack Obama's election in 2008 was a historic moment in United States history because he was the first black president. His election marked significant progress in America's long struggle with race and equality. Obama's promise of hope, change, and unity resonated deeply with numerous Americans seeking a new direction following the hardships of the Bush administration, including the Iraq War and the Great Recession. -
Affordable Care Act was signed (ObamaCare)
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was signed into law by President Obama in 2010 to make health care more accessible and affordable. It broadened Medicaid, created health insurance marketplaces, and shielded those with pre-existing conditions. The legislation allowed young adults to stay on their parents' policies until age 26. Though controversial, it lowered the amount of uninsured Americans significantly and tried to reform the health care system. -
Killing of Osama bin Laden
On May 2, 2011, a covert operation against Pakistan by the Navy SEALs of the United States, ordered by President Barack Obama, killed Osama Bin Laden, the man behind the 9/11 attacks. Named Operation Neptune Spear, the attack on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad was launched. After a brief gunfight, Osama bin Laden was shot dead. His death became a watershed moment in the War against Terror. It closed the chapter on a ten year long manhunt for him and symbolized justice for the victims of 9/11. -
Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country by declaring it a constitutional right in Obergefell v. Hodges. The justices stated that it violated the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the 14th Amendment by prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying. This major ruling was a huge victory for LGBTQ rights, ensuring that same-sex couples could marry and have their marriages recognized in all 50 states-a massive step forward toward equality.