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Period: to
Important events from 1990 to 2010
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Nelson Mandela released
He had been in prison since 1962. He served 27 years. He was arrested, and convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state. His arrest and imprisonment eventually brought about the end of the South African political system known as apartheid. -
Iraq invades Kuwait
Kuwaitis defense was very overwhelmed by Iraq and retreated to the Saudi Arabia. Within hours Kuwait City was captured and the Iraqis had established a provincial government. Iraq gained control of 20% of the worlds oil reserves and coastline on the Persian Gulf. The same day the United States Security Council denounced their invasion and ordered Iraq to leave. On the 6th they imposed a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq. -
O.J. Simpson arrested
He was arrested for a double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson in Ronald Goldman. Both victims were repeatedly stabbed. The Simpsons and been divorced for two years at the time. The Simpsons 2 children were asleep in the apartment while their mom was being murdered. Evidence at the crime scene would lead police to suspect O.J. -
Bill Clinton's impeachment trial ends
Impeachment trial lasted five weeks. It came to an end when the Senate voted to acquit the president. One article accused Clinton of perjury in the other of obstruction of justice. 13 house managers who presented in case needed two thirds majority to convict the president. They failed to win even a bare majority. The Senate rejected the first charge of perjury. -
9/11 attacks
19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist groups al-Queda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane hit the Pentagon just outside of Washington DC. The fourth plane crashed in the field in Pennsylvania. Over 3000 people were killed. Including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. -
First legal same sex marriage
Marcia Kadish and Tanya McCloskey got married in Massachusetts and became the first legally married same-sex partners in the United States. The course of the day 77 other same-sex couples got married. -
Hurricane Katrina
It hit this city of New Orleans Louisiana. It was the largest and 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded in the United States. It was a category five hurricane with winds up to 175 mph. 1836 six people died; 1577 from Louisiana and 238 from Mississippi. 80% percent of New Orleans was underwater. The hurricane caused $81 billion in property damages. The total economic impact exceeded $150 billion, making it to the costliest hurricane in the United States history. -
Virginia Tech Massacre
23 year old Cho shot a female freshman and male resident assistant in the campus dormitory around 7:15 AM. Around 9:40 AM Cho came back with a millimeter handgun and tons of ammunition. He went into the classroom building, chain locked several main doors and went room to room shooting people. 30 people died in 17 were wounded. -
Obama elected
Oh when in California put him over-the-top, giving him 55 electoral votes. He is the first black president and the 44th president. Obama lead McCain nationally 51.7% to 47.1%. Four years ago from his election he was a newly minted did United States Senator elect after serving for eight years and the Illinois legislator. He got 365 electoral votes and 69,456,897 popular votes. The 2008 election was the first time to sitting senates ran against each other. -
Haiti Earthquake
Measured 7.0 magnitude on the Richter scale. 230,000 to 316,000 people died. 300,000 people were injured. 4992 schools were affected which was about 23% of schools. 8173 deaths due to Cholera. 122 Americans died. 96 United nation peacekeepers died also.
