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Clinton Admits to Affair
After months of turning down accusations of an affair with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, President Clinton finally admitted to a grand jury that he had in fact had an affair. Later that day, he addressed the nation about his inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky and took responsibility for the first time. This is important to mention because it became clear that he had been lying as he publicly denied any accusations against him. He lost both credibility and integrity in this process. -
Columbine High School Shooting
On this day, one of the most monumental school shootings occurred in America. That morning, two students entered school with guns and bombs. They opened fire on Columbine High School killing 13 and injuring 23 before killing themselves. Beforehand, they filmed videos regarding their plans. This event is especially prevalent today as school shootings continue to occur. It is imperative that we take action immediately or innocent people will continue to pay the price for unregulated gun laws. -
9/11
A shocking turn of events occurred during George W. Bush's presidency when two planes struck the twin towers and Pentagon in a terrorist attack. Much of America's confidence in their nation was torn apart. These events marked a turning point in America's national security agenda and life at home (Kruse Zelizer, 243). This is important to include because although this was a moment of vulnerability, it also displayed strength and unity. The entire country came together like never before. -
Hurricane Katrina
August, 2005 brought about the most costly natural disaster in American history. Destruction ranged from Texas to central Florida and led to about $108 billion in property damage. Furthermore, the storm killed 1,833 people. Even more shocking was the Bush Administration's failure to act in the face of such a disaster (Kruse Zelizer, 280-283). This event is important to mention because it sent Bush's approval ratings plummeting going from 45% before the storm to the low 30s after the storm. -
North Korea's First Nuclear Test
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced it had conducted its first nuclear test. This caused much concern in regards to international peace and security. This is important to mention on the timeline because of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that was supposed to prevent this from happening. It underlined the importance of the verification system on the CTBT Organization and its reliability in times of potentially dangerous situations. -
Danica Patrick Wins Indy Race
On this day, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win in IndyCar racing history. At 26 years old, Patrick competed in the Indy Japan 300 in Montegi, Japan. This event holds significance and deserves a place on the timeline because I feel events like these are frequently overlooked. Indy racing was always a male dominated sport therefore, for a woman to win it was quite a big deal. As a woman it is important to acknowledge every milestone of the women who came before us. -
Obama Is Inaugurated
On this date, President Barrack Obama was sworn into office. He spoke confidently in the face of adversity. He acknowledged the struggles at hand and promised a solution to the issues such as the economic crisis that was unfolding. This deserved inclusion on the timeline because he became the first African American president, a monumental moment for the black community. Along with this, he beat the previous inaugural crowd record with 1.8 million people there to witness the inauguration. -
Michael Jackson Dies
On June 25, 2009 pop star, Michael Jackson, tragically passed away due to an overdose. His physician, Conrad Murray, was arrested for involuntary manslaughter by administering the drugs to help Jackson fall asleep. Jackson had been famous since childhood but became a true household name as his career progressed. His death impacted fans around the world which merits a spot on this timeline. His music remains popular to this day which is a testament to just how popular he truly was. -
Defense of Marriage Act is Overturned
The Defense of Marriage Act was a piece of legislation stating that marriage was defined as between one woman and one man. In 2013, this act was overturned by the Supreme Court. The event merits a spot on the timeline because this opened the door for recognition of gay marriage at a federal level rather than state. This provided the benefits that married couples receive from the federal government such as social security benefits. It was a step in the right direction for the gay community. -
Obama Proclaims Women's Equality Day
To commemorate the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting woman the right to vote, President Obama proclaimed August 26th to be Women's Equality Day. This event is significant enough to include on the timeline because it demonstrated recognition towards the ongoing efforts in the fight for gender equality. It also recognized the Obama Administration's commitment to breaking down these gender barriers and making sure everyone is seen in equal lights despite gender.