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Oklahoma City Bombing
168 people were killed when a truck bomb destroyed the Alfred Murrah Fbi building in Oklahoma City in April 1995. It was discovered that Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who are associated with white supremacist organizations, were responsible for the assault, was initially believed to be the work of foreign terrorists. The emergence of anti government in the U.S was brought to light by this bombing. (Kruse and Zelizer, 221-222.) -
Clinton Impeachment
An important turning point in American history was the impeachment of Clinton. Due to his denial of a relationship outside of marriage, he was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. Reflecting the divide in politics and rising social conservatism of the time, the Republican-led Congress sought impeachment. Clinton continued to hold office in spite of this, demonstrating the difficulties of political responsibility in a divided government. (Kruse and Zelizer, 201-203.) -
2000 Presidential Election Controversy
The 2000 presidential election controversy highlighted the shift in American politics. George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" aimed to soften the edges of Reagan-era policies, focusing on domestic issues like education and poverty. However, his administration faced criticism for rejecting the Kyoto Protocol and rolling back environmental regulations. The election itself marked a contentious moment with debates over policy direction and the role of government. (Kruse and Zelizer, 243-245.) -
September 11 Attacks
Four aircraft were taken over by 19 al-Qaeda hijackers, who then crashed two of them into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one into Pennsylvania. About 3,000 individuals lost their life. The U.S. governance felt pressure to take on an emergency attitude after the attacks shocked americans and destroyed the country's feeling of security. Showing national leadership was helped by President Bush's visit to Ground Zero (Kruse and Zelizer, 249–253.) -
War in Iraq Begins
The "Shock and Awe" campaign, which featured airstrikes on Iraqi targets, was started by the coalition led by the U.S during the Iraq War. Sanitized points of view of the conflict were provided by embedded reporters as part of strict controls over media coverage. At first, the war went smoothly, overthrowing the government of Saddam Hussein. As a sign of victory, President Bush organized an outstanding photo within the USS Abraham Lincoln. Kruse and Zelizer, 266-267.(Kruse and Zelizer, 266-267.) -
Hurricane Katrina
The Gulf Coast was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, mainly New Orleans, in which the barriers failed and caused extensive flooding. Massive criticism of the Bush administration and FEMA's inaction resulted from the federal, state, and local responses being behind and useless despite early warnings. (Zelizer and Kruse, 281–283.) -
Financial Crisis
A U.S. housing situation, mortgage defaults, and predatory lending practices all contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, also referred to as the global financial crisis. The problem was made worse by financial firms' excessive risk-taking and a lack of regulatory monitoring. The crisis peaked in September 2008 with the failure of Lehman Brothers, which sparked a stock market meltdown and international banking unrest. ("2008 financial crisis." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia). -
Affordable Care Act
This legislation took effect in 2010 with the goal of providing millions of Americans with health insurance coverage. It banned the denial of coverage for pre existing conditions, state exchanges for reasonably priced policies, and required insurance for the majority of individuals. Some attacked its expenses and government involvement, while supporters pointed out its benefits for Medicare and those without insurance. ("HR 3590: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." Health Reform Votes). -
Occupy Wall Street
In New York City, there was a protest movement called Occupy Wall Street that opposed economic inequality and financial fraud. After the 2008 financial crisis, it exposed the wealth inequality and the general discontent with financial institutions. After inspiring protests around the globe, organizers turned to social media to garner support. The movement sparked discussions about economic justice and influenced after activism. ("Occupy Wall Street." Britannica). -
Same-Sex Marriage
One of the most important civil rights milestones in America was reached in 2015 when same-sex marriage became legal. The Defense of Marriage Act, which provided states with the ability to restrict same-sex relationships and defined marriage as heterosexual. Although DOMA symbolized conservative views of the time, its symbolized advancement towards equality. This landmark event centered on changing public opinion and the success of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. (Kruse and Zelizer, 218–219).