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The Internet Goes Mainstream
As more and more Americans gained access to the internet in their homes, it soon revolutionized day to day life, altering how people socialized, used media, and obtained information. Businesses soon responded, and schools began to use online materials. Politically, it became a new battleground for political battles over content regulation, spying, and cyber rights. This shift was the beginning of a sweeping technological and cultural transformation.
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Oklahoma City Bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was the deadliest domestic terrorism incident in United States history and resulted in 168 fatalities, 19 being children. It was orchestrated by Timothy McVeigh as retribution for federal operations like Waco and Ruby Ridge. The country was outraged, national interest turned toward the new anti-government militias, and tighter security and reform of fighting domestic threats ensued. (Kruse and Zelizer, 153) -
Clinton Impeachment
President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to the Monica Lewinsky affair, the second U.S. president to be impeached. Although acquitted by the Senate and allowed to continue in office, the hearings further polarized politics and helped establish a new era of partisan warfare.
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Y2K Scare
As 2000 arrived, widespread fear escalated that the Y2K bug would cause computer systems to fail due to their utilization of two-digit dates, which would erroneously interpret "00" as 1900 instead of 2000. This risk caused huge worldwide IT upgrade costs and government intervention to prevent an epochal catastrophe. The Y2K scare indicated the growing dependence on digital infrastructure and raised concerns about vulnerabilities in an increasingly globalized world. -
Bush v. Gore Decision
The 2000 presidential election was the most contentious in U.S. history, with a contested vote count in Florida. The Supreme Court ultimately decided the matter in Bush v. Gore, which halted a manual recount, essentially awarding George W. Bush the presidency. The decision exposed fundamental flaws in the electoral system and fueled growing public distrust of political institutions. (Kruse and Zelizer, 181) -
9/11 Attacks
Four planes were hijacked by terrorists who carried out an assault on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and the assault killed nearly 3,000 people. The assault redirected American domestic policy and foreign policy and initiated the "War on Terror." There have been military assaults by the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq afterward targeting terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda. Domestically, it brought about sweeping changes in security protocols. (Kruse and Zelizer, 192) -
No Children Left Behind Act
The NCLB Act augmented federal involvement in public schools, requiring standardized testing to evaluate school performance. It was intended to fill achievement gaps narrowing curricula and overemphasizing test scores. Critics argued that it disproportionately burdened under-resourced schools and led to "teaching to the test." Despite its intent, the law fueled controversy around educational equity and federal government intrusion into local educational systems.(Kruse and Zelizer, 203) -
Iraq War Begins
The U.S. invaded Iraq on the premise that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found, and the war was criticized by the Bush administration as well as the regional instability that persisted for decades to come. The war also strained U.S. relations with a number of allies and caused global mass protests. Iraq descended into civil war over the years to come, and the emergence of ISIS further destabilized the Middle East. (Kruse and Zelizer, 198) -
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Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and exposed deep racial and economic divisions. The delayed federal response generated widespread criticism and represented a nadir in public trust in government. The disaster also demonstrated failures in state and local disaster planning and response. In Katrina's aftermath, debates churned anew over issues like poverty, race, and government's role in responding to disasters.
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Same Sex Marriage Legalized
The Obergefell v. Hodges decision from the Supreme Court secured marriage equality nationwide, a major civil rights victory for LGBTQ+ Americans and a testament to the rapid shifts in public opinion. It was the product of decades of fighting and legal battles from LGBTQ+ rights movements. The decision was welcomed as a milestone for equality, but it also generated backlash in certain states. (New York Times, June 26, 2015)