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Oklahoma City Bombing
The attack by Timothy McVeigh was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history, killing 168 people. A topic that would return in years to come, it foreshadowed the growing danger of anti-government extremism.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 210) -
Welfare Reform Legislation
Clinton put an end to welfare as a government entitlement when he signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. The action was an important part of a conservative plan to win over moderate voters.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 218) -
Clinton's Second Term and the Rise of Partisan Media
As Clinton started his second term, conservative media figures like Rush Limbaugh became more well-known across the country. This made politics even more divided. This showed how political media are becoming more important in shaping public opinion.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 223) -
Clinton Impeachment Crisis
The House removed Bill Clinton from office because he lied about having an affair with Monica Lewinsky. Even though the Senate found him not guilty, the incident made politics worse and made the news more sensational.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 226–227) -
Columbine High School Shooting
The Columbine High School killing shocked the whole country and changed the way people talk about gun violence, school safety, and American youth culture.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 233) -
Bush v. Gore Supreme Court Decision
After the controversial presidential election was over, the Supreme Court released a rule that stopped the recount in Florida. This granted George W. Bush the presidency. The result made people doubt the fairness of the democratic process even more.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 238) -
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
A total of roughly three thousand people were killed as a result of coordinated assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The tragic event impacted both the internal and foreign policies of the United States, ultimately leading to the Patriot Act and the War on Terror.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 243–244) -
Authorization for War in Iraq
While Congress was passing the Iraq War Resolution, President Bush was given a lot of power to use force. The choice, which was based on fears after September 11, 2001, caused a heated argument based on false claims about weapons of mass destruction.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 248–249) -
Invasion of Iraq Begins
The United States of America attacked Iraq because Saddam Hussein had weapons that were capable of killing a lot of people. No such weapons were found, which led to broad condemnation and had long-lasting effects on the foreign policy of the United States government.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 250) -
Bush Wins Re-election Amid Cultural Divides
During the campaign, people talked a lot about terrorism, morality, and marriage between people of the same gender. In the end, George W. Bush beat John Kerry. There are more and more political and cultural differences in the United States that became clear during the election.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 254–255) -
Hurricane Katrina Devastates New Orleans
Important racial and economic differences came to light because of the storm and how slowly the government responded. Thousands of people were left on the streets of New Orleans after the accident, and it showed that every level of government had problems.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 257) -
Democrats Win Back Congress
Many people were disappointed with the Iraq War and George W. Bush's government, which helped the Democratic Party make big gains in the midterm elections. The change showed that the public was pushing back and that political divisions were growing.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 266) -
The Surge in Iraq
As the level of violence in Iraq continued to rise, President Bush issued an order for a "surge" of 30,000 extra troops to be deployed there. In the beginning, the policy was successful in reducing violence, but it also intensified arguments on the effectiveness of the war and its long-term consequences.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 271) -
Barack Obama Elected President
The election of Barack Obama as the first Black president in the history of the United States sparked optimism and indicated the possibility of a change in the way people relate to one another. His administration, on the other hand, was also responsible for a large amount of political reaction.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 276–277) -
Barack Obama Takes Office Amid Economic Crisis
When Obama was sworn in, there was a lot of hope for change after the 2008 financial crash. But his government had to deal with problems right away, like putting the stimulus package into action to fight the worst recession since the Great Depression.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 277) -
Affordable Care Act Signed into Law
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) had the intention of providing health insurance to millions of people in the United States. In addition to being a significant legislative success for Democrats, it also sparked a passionate protest and deepened the ideological divides that already existed.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 284–285) -
Killing of Osama bin Laden
U.S. Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, nearly a decade after the 9/11 attacks. While the mission was a major victory for the Obama administration, it did not end broader concerns about terrorism and U.S. foreign policy.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 287) -
Obama Re-elected Amid Growing Division
Barack Obama won re-election against Mitt Romney, but the campaign revealed a deeply divided nation along racial, economic, and ideological lines, with polarization defining both media and politics.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 288) -
Government Shutdown Over Obamacare
After Republicans in Congress tried to cut funding for the Affordable Care Act, the federal government shut down for 16 days. The standoff showed how deeply divided people are on political issues and how powerful the Tea Party is becoming.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 289) -
Ferguson Protests and National Focus on Policing
After Michael Brown was killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri, there were large-scale riots. The event started a national talk about police brutality, racism in the system, and justice, which helped the Black Lives Matter movement grow.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 291) -
Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
The Supreme Court said in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is protected by the Constitution. The ruling was a major victory for LGBTQ+ rights and showed how quickly public opinion is changing.
(Kruse and Zelizer, 296)