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Period: to
20 Eventful Years
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Oklahoma City Bombing
Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder rental truck outside of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building filled with explosives that killed 168 people, including 19 children. 850 people were injured and 300 of the surrounding buildings were affected. McVeigh was ex-military, anti government, and chose to get "revenge" on the federal government for Ruby Ridge and Waco. This remains significant as it was the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in US history and shows what anti-government sentiment can become. -
Clinton Scandal
Bill Clinton had an affair with the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr was already investigating Clinton's financial affairs when he added on his sexual affairs. When Clinton was questioned about Lewinsky, he lied under oath. This caused his impeachment which is significant as this was the 2nd impeachment of a US president. This was all over the media and helped improve newer stations. People questioned a president's limit to power and accountability. -
2000 Election
The candidates of the 2000 election were Al Gore v. George Bush. This election was so significant as it was one of the closest elections in US history. Gore beat Bush by about 540,000 in the popular vote. But, the winner could not be said for weeks as both candidates were under 270 electoral votes. Florida would decide who would win. Gore called for a recount that challenged Bush's lead, and the Supreme Court intervened. They halted the recounts and made Bush president. (Kruse Zelizer 240-41). -
9/11
The 9/11 attacks were four terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden where four airplanes were hijacked. Two planes flew into the Twin Towers, one plane hit the Pentagon, and one plane was headed for the Capitol but the passengers fought back. About 3,000 people were killed. This was so significant because it triggered the the ongoing War on Terror and impacted American foreign and domestic policies (improved security). It is the deadliest foreign attack America has experienced. -
Invasion of Iraq
Bush warned the American people of the "axis of evil," North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. Iraq was the main focus as he believed that there was a growing terrorist population and an increase in weapons of mass destruction. This invasion resulted in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. The Bush administration used the foreign policy of preemptive strikes to justify the war. There were protests against the war in Iraq which showed the biggest anti-war sentiment seen in awhile. (Kruse Zelizer, 260-66). -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast of the US, especially affecting New Orleans. Since New Orleans is below sea level, there were large parts of it underwater. It was so significant as this hurricane was the most expensive natural disaster and one of the deadliest hurricanes in US history. About 2,000 people died. Bush was heavily criticized as he did not visit and was on vacation. This damaged his presidency and his approval ratings. (Kruse Zelizer 280-83). -
Great Recession
The Great Recession was an economic crisis from 2007 to 2009. It was so significant as it was the longest economic decline since the Great Depression. Homes became so expensive, and so many people were buying homes they could not afford. The housing bubble erupted which made house prices fall and all of the people who bought those expensive houses now owned houses worth less than what they paid for. As a result, there was mass unemployment, banks failed, and the stock market declined. -
Obama's Inauguration
Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States. He won against John McCain, the Republican candidate. After the Great Recession, the US needed hope and optimism which Obama promised with his slogan "Yes We Can." He had overwhelming support to the point where 1.8 million attended the inauguration which surpassed the 1.2 million record held by Lyndon Johnson. His inauguration was so significant as he was the first African American president, had massive support, and promised for change. -
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was caused by an explosion on the Deep Horizon oil rig which was located in the Gulf of Mexico. There was a sudden surge of natural gas where this gas travelled up to the platform and ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17 of them. The rig sunk which caused the oil to be drained into the Gulf of Mexico. This was very significant as it was the largest oil spill in the ocean in history and caused lasting effects on the environment, the marine life, and humans. -
Sandy Hook Shooting
The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a mass shooting in Newtown, CT. Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children and 6 adults before committing suicide. This is significant as it was one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. It reignited the debate about the 2nd Amendment and is a symbol for the fight for gun reforms. The shooting also led to schools implementing better safety measures and protocols. Legislation on restrictive gun laws still failed on a federal level. -
Boston Marathon Bombing
The Boston Marathon Bombing was a terrorist attack by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. They detonated two bombs near the finish line of the marathon killing three spectators and injuring about 260 people. This is significant as the Boston Marathon has been around for a long time and it was the biggest terrorist attack since 9/11. After a huge manhunt, police finally found the two brothers and engaged in a shootout. It's believed that their motivation came from extremist Islamic beliefs.