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Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995, a truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring about 600, including children. Timothy McVeigh, a Gulf War veteran, planted the bomb with help from Terry Nichols. Linked with white Nationalist groups, they sought revenge for Ruby Ridge and Waco. The bombing was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism at the time, highlighting the growing threat of anti-government extremism in the US. (Kruse Zelizer, 220-221) -
President Bill Clinton Impeached
In early 1998, it was revealed that President Bill Clinton had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. He was impeached in December 1998 by the House, not for the affair itself but for lying under oath and obstructing justice about his relationship. The Senate held a trial but did not remove him from office. As only the second U.S. presidential impeachment, it raised major questions about presidential conduct, accountability, political ethics. (Kruse and Zelizer, 226-227) -
Bush v. Gore Supreme Court Ruling
The 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush came down to Florida, with neither reaching the needed 270 electoral votes. Bush led by a thin 500 vote margin, prompting the Gore campaign to request a recount. On December 12, 2000, the Supreme Court stopped the recount in a 5-4 decision, awarding the presidency to Bush, despite Gore winning the popular vote. The controversial ruling reshaped public views on elections, voting rights and the Supreme Court's power. (Kruse and Zelizer, 240-242) -
Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes in the US. Two hit the Twin Towers in New York City, one hit the Pentagon in Washington DC, and one into a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back. About 3,000 people died. 9/11 remains the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil, leading to years of military conflict in the Middle East and increased islamophobia. The tragedy also united Americans and showed the world the nation's resilience. (Kruse and Zelizer, 249–251) -
Hurricane Katrina
In August 2005, Category 5 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans when levees broke and caused massive flooding. With $108 billion in damages and 1,833 deaths, it remains one of the worst hurricanes in US history. Emergency response was slow on helping citizens, most of which were poor and Black. Images from New Orleans exposed the flaws in disaster response and highlighted social inequalities, shaping future emergency management policies. (Kruse and Zelizer, 280-281)