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Oaklahoma City Bombing
Timothy McVeigh was an anti-government activist and bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building using a veinal full of homemade bombs. This domestic terrorist attack led to 168 people dead, 19 of whom were children, and 850 were left injured. After being caught in his car, McVeigh was arrested and tried in court, where he was convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection. This remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. (U.S. History Class Notes) -
Disney's Animal Kingdom
The fourth addition to the Disney World Parks was a major development in theme parks. This became the largest Disney park, taking up 500 acres. This park was a big deal because the park showed a unique way to teach the importance of animal welfare. The park is home to hundreds of animals, including many that are rescued. This park is used not only for entertainment, but educational purposes. People can learn about animals and their habitats and how they can help endangered species.(WDW Magazine) -
The Impeachment of Bill Clinton
During Clinton's presidency, he was in a scandal involving Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. Clinton and Lewinsky's sex life was made public, and Clinton was later impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998. Later, the Senate failed to convict him, so he was brought to civil contempt court, where he was fined $90,000. This was a major story during the time and remains one of the four times a president was impeached (Trump was impeached twice).(Kruse and Zelizer, 206-208) -
9/11
Nineteen terrorists who were associated with an Islamic extremist group carried out an attack on the U.S. through commercial airlines. They hijacked four planes heading to the two twin towers at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the White House. Three of the four planes crashed into their targets, with the fourth plane never reaching the White House and being brought down by the passengers. 2,977 people were killed, the largest attack on the U.S. (9/11 Memorial and Museum) -
Using Social Media in the 2004 Election
Social media was still new during Bush's presidency, but he started using it during his 2004 campaign. Using platforms like Meetup.com, Bush was able to bring supporters together to campaign. Social media allowed people to see what was going on and get information easily through an app. This was especially useful for younger voters as it appealed to them better. Social media is such a big part of people's lives now and continues to serve us in many ways. (Kruse and Zelizer, 276) -
Bob Iger Appointed Disney's CEO
Bob Iger has done a lot for the Disney Company during his time as CEO. He is well-liked by the public and open to challenges. His constant motivation for perfection has propelled the Disney Company to greatness. He's most well-known for the many acquisitions made by the Company, including Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. This expanded the Disney Company greatly and provided new opportunities for them. Iger has played such an important role in the Company and its growth. (Business Insider) -
Michael Jackson's Death
Michael Jackson is one of the most iconic pop performers of all time, often referred to as the King of Pop. His album "Thriller" remains the best-selling album of all time. While Jackson's life wasn't perfect, his influence on the music scene was prominent. His untimely death sparked an outpouring of grief from fans everywhere. He died in California from an overdose of prescription painkillers, and his doctor, Conrad Murray, was later convicted of manslaughter. (EBSCO) -
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy was one of the worst hurricanes to hit America, affecting 24 states. Superstorm Sandy goes down as the fifth-costliest US storm with an estimated $88.5 billion in damage. Sandy was responsible for at least 147 deaths in total, with 72 deaths directly from the United States. Millions of citizens lost power, and the New York Stock Exchange was closed for 2 consecutive days for the first time because of weather since 1888. (CNN Weather) -
Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting
December 14, 2012, is a day no parent in America could ever forget. The shooting in Connecticut elementary school, Sandy Hook, devastated the nation when 26 people were killed using an AR-15. Among those killed were 20 children (mostly in 1st grade) and 6 adults. This is one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. This shooting brought awareness to gun violence and school shootings, and the need to limit people's access to guns. (Britannica) -
Marriage Equality
The fight for equality for the LGBTQ community has been going on since the 1980s during the AIDs crisis, but they had a major breakthrough in 2015 with marriage equality. The Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case resulted in a 5-4 decision to allow marriage equality to become a law. All 50 states now recognise same sex marriage under the law. While the law is in place, there is always discrimination against the ruling. (Human Rights Campaign)