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Oklahoma City Bombing
The deadliest incident of domestic terrorism in American history at the time. Carried out byTimothy McVeigh. Bombing of a federal facility in Oklahoma City, which left 168 people dead. It exposed the growing internal threat of anti-government extremism. (Source: Kruse and Zelizer, 221.) -
Google founded
An important turning point in the development of the internet was the founding of Google. Its revolutionary search engine set the foundation for the modern information age by drastically changing how people access informationand engage with the digital world. Google being created truly changed the world as we know it (Kruse and Zelizer, 256) -
President Clinton's impeachment
President Bill Clinton is impeached by the House because of his lies regarding his affair with Monica Lewinsky. This is a symbol of increasing political polarization and the excessive use of aggressive political investigations. (Source: Kruse and Zelizer, 224.) -
9/11 Attacks
The deadliest terrorist attack in America to ever occur killed nearly 3,000 people. A terrorist group hijacked commercial airplanes and flew them into buildings, including the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The event led to many changes in U.S. foreign and domestic policy, including the War on Terror and the USA PATRIOT Act. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane that hit many places in and around America. This disaster caused widespread flooding, significant damage, and numerous fatalities. The federal government's slow and weak response to Hurricane Katrina revealed deep racial and economic inequalities, particularly in New Orleans. The crisis damaged President Bush’s credibility. (Source: Kruse and Zelizer, 270.) -
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The Great Recession
The drasticdrop in economic activity that began in 2007 was known as the Great Recession. Large quantities of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and derivatives saw a significant drop in value when the U.S. housing market turned from rise to bust, signaling the start of the recession. This recession is the most severe economic recession in America since the Great Depression. (The Investopedia Team, “Great Recession: What It Was and What Caused It”) -
Election of president Obama
In 2008 Barack Obama was elected president. This is an extreamly important moment in history, as he became the first African American president. Many hoped this moment would help in a "post-racial" era. Instead, it exposed new racial and ideological tensions. (Source: Kruse and Zelizer, 280.) -
"Obamacare" created
The Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare,” aimed to expand health insurance coverage. It turned into a political hot spot in America, signifying deep partisan differences about the role of the government. (Source: Kruse and Zelizer, 286.) -
Death of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden was the man found responsible for the terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001. He was the leader of the terrorist group al-Qaida, who carried out the attack. Almost a decade later, United States Navy SEALs found and killed him. Finally killing bin Laden was the climax of a 15-year manhunt for the U.S. government. ("Fall of a Tyrant the Death of Osama Bin Laden") -
Obergefell v. Hodges Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
Many people started to sue the government for recognition of their same-sex marriages, which were legal in the states where they were married but illegal in other states. In this case, the Court held that states must allow and recognize same-sex marriages under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. This is a landmark decision in LGBTQ+ civil rights and a reflection of shifting societal values. (Obergefell v. Hodges (2015))