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Smith Act
Formally known as the Alien Registration Act of 1940 and was authored by Representative Howard W. Smith of Virginia. The United States federal law made it a criminal offense to advocate the violent overthrow of the government or to organize or be a member of any group or society devoted to such advocacy. It also required non-citizen adult residents to register with the government. Approximately 215 people were indicted under the legislation, including alleged communists, anarchists, and fascist. -
G.I. Bill
This is also known as the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944, and it was a law that provided supports and benefits for World War II veterans returning to homes. The act was developed by the American Legion, who helped push it through Congress with the goal of to provide immediate rewards for all World War II veterans. There are many benefits such as dedicated payments of tuition and living expenses to attend high school or college, low-cost mortgages, and others. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Trinity Test
The United States government authorized a top-secret program of nuclear testing and development, called the "Manhattan Project." The goal was to create the world's first atomic bomb and it successfully created it. Nicknamed the "Trinity," the nuclear weapon and the US tested it in the Jornada del Muerto desert, or more specifically the USAAF Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range. The Las Alamos scientists achieved the goal when the bomb exploded on the site. -
Fair Deal
A set of aspiring proposals that United States President Harry S. Truman announced during his State of the Union address. The Fair Deal recommended that all Americans have health insurance, that the minimum wage should be increased, and that all Americans be guaranteed equal rights by law. Truman's plans were not popular with the Congress, so they rejected most of the ideas. However, some plans were passed such as increasing the minimum wage for workers of the middle class. -
Domino Theory
The theory was born during the Cold War era, which held that if one country fell under the communist influence or control, its neighboring countries would soon follow, each falling like a perfectly aligned row of dominos. The United States government used the domino theory to justify its involvement in the Vietnam War and its support for a non-communist dictator in South Vietnam. The U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower described the theory in his speech during this time. -
Beat Generation
American social and literary movement originating from authors whose works influenced the American politics and culture post-World War II. Students in universities were beginning to question the rampant materialism of their society and the Beat Generation was the product of this questioning. They fashioned a literature that was more bold, straightforward, and expressive than anything that had come before. The influence of their work continues to spread after the movement has died down. -
Period: to
1950s
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Korean War
A war was between North Korea and South Korea. It began when 75,000 soldiers from North Korea crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea and clashed along the border. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. The United States came to aid South Korea, and China and Soviet Union supported and assisted North Korea. The war would come to an end with an estimated of five-million deaths of soldiers and civilians. The Korean peninsula is still divided today. -
Bill Haley and The Comets
An American Rock n' Roll band that was founded in 1952. In 1954, the band group recorded the Rock n' Roll "anthem" called "Rock Around the Clock." This song would remain and stay at Number One for eight weeks and sold an estimated of twenty-five million copies worldwide. The impact the song had on the industry influenced other artists to follow their steps. That resulted in the up and coming of Rock n' Roll genre. Some might referred to Haley as the "Father of Rock n' Roll." -
Period: to
Civil Rights
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Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case in which the justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. The court stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," due to that it was ruled a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. This case is considered the cornerstones of the civil rights movement. -
Dr. Jonas Salk
An American physician and medical researcher who developed the first safe and effective vaccine for polio. He joined the group at University of Michigan School of Public Health that was developing a vaccine against the flu. He later became head of the Virus Research Lab at the University of Pittsburg where he began his research on Polio. He introduced the Polio vaccine in 1955 and it was immediately put to use for the people. After, Salk established the Salk Institute for Biological studies. -
Little Richard
His real name is Richard Wayne Penniman, and he helped to define the early Rock n' Roll era with his driving flamboyant sound. Little Richard got his first contract with the RCA in 1951, but the company failed to start his career since they didn't let him use his real sound. However, in 1955, Richard hooked up with Specialty Records producer and recorded "Tutti-Frutti" that would become an instant no.17 on the Billboard chart. He would became a big influencer in this music genre. -
Albert Sabin
A Polish American medical researcher is best known as the developer of the oral live virus polio vaccine. He dedicated his entire professional career to the elimination of human suffering through his groundbreaking medical advances. Dr. Sabin started and finished his work at Children's Hospital Research Foundation in Cincinnati.This is where he studied the poliovirus and later developed the oral live polio vaccine. His vaccine played a major role in eradicating the disease. -
Polio Vaccine
There are two vaccines to prevent poliomyelitis. One vaccine is by injection that uses inactivated poliovirus and another one that is given by mouth and uses weakened poliovirus. The first vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk in 1955. Following that, Albert Sabin developed the oral polio vaccine and came into use later on. Both of the vaccines eliminated most polio from the world and they are very safe to use. These vaccines saved the humans during the 1950s. -
Space Race
A new competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. Space became another area for these two rivals, as each side sought to prove the superiority of its technology, its military firepower, and its political-economic system. The Soviet Union sent the first human into space, beating the United States, however, the US sent the Apollo 11 and landed the first humans on the moon. The Space Race left a legacy of Earth communication and weather satellites and evolved the technology world. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
Emmett Till is a 14-year-old African American from Chicago, who was brutally murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman. The white woman claimed that she was offended by him, so her husband and brother went over to his home and forced him into their car. They made Emmett carry a 75-pound cotton-gin fan to the bank of the Tallahatchie River and ordered him to take off his clothes. They beat him nearly to death, gouged his eye, shot him in the head and threw his body into the river. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
A civil rights protest during which African-Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama to protest segregation seating. The movement was sparked by Rosa Parks who four days earlier was arrested and fined for refusing to yield her bus seat to a white man. The boycott would last a year, and it is regarded as the first large-scale United States demonstration against segregation. The Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system. -
Elvis
He was an American singer and regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons during the 20th century. Many people referred to him as the "King of Rock n' Roll." Despite being a musician, Elvis was also an actor appearing in many movie theaters across the nation. He rose to fame in the mid-1950s after scoring his first no. One hit. After that, Elvis was everywhere from radios to silver screens. From that point on, he became one of the biggest names in Rock n' Roll. -
Little Rock 9
The group of nine African-American students who enrolled at formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This was a test of Brown v. Education but on the first day, Governor Orval Faubus called Arkansas National Guard to block the black students from entering the school. Later that month, President D. Eisenhower sent in troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into the school. The group soon became famous and gained national attention. -
Ike Turner
An American singer, songwriter, and producer whose is also known for as one of the pioneers in the Rock n' Roll music industry. Most of his famous work was with his wife, Tina Turner. These two recorded many hit R&B songs. With the knowledge of R&B music, Ike Turner would do crossover into Rock n' Roll with his wife. That combo revolutionized the music industry and Turner and his wife would be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Also, he won two Grammy Awards throughout his career. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
An elaborate system of mountain and jungle paths and trails used by North Vietnam to infiltrate troops and supplies into South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during the Vietnam War. The operation began in 1959 after North Vietnamese leaders decided to use revolutionary warfare to reunify South and North Vietnam. According to the United States National Security Agency, the trail system was "one of the great achievements of military engineering of the 20th century." -
Counter Culture
A subculture opposes the mainstream society or social norms by having different values and standards. It spread throughout the United States at the beginning of the 1960s. As the nation during this time progressed, widespread of social tensions developed concerning issues. These issues affected the young people's view and made them rethink the American lifestyle. New cultural forms like the rise of the hippie and other alternatives lifestyles emerged into the American culture. -
New Frontier
The Democratic slogan to inspire the people of America to support John F. Kennedy. It would later develop into economic and social programs under President John F. Kennedy. The concept of this is Kennedy's commitment to renewal and change in the United States. He wants to use the "New Frontier" to evoke a new and rosy future. He claims that it was a set of challenges for the country to overcome. It is also a set of promises and legislative agenda to get the country moving again. -
Period: to
1960s
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Peace Corps
An organization that is consists of volunteers and run by the United States government. The program's mission is to assist foreigners outside the United States to understand the American culture. It also helps Americans to understand the cultures of other countries. Their work is related to the social and economic development within the nation. The Peace Corps was established by Executive Order 10924 and was issued by President John F. Kennedy. -
Bay of Pigs
A military invasion by the Central Intelligence Agency into Cuba to push Castro from power. The CIA ordered one thousand four hundred American-trained Cubans to invade the country. However, the invasion failed because they were greatly outnumbered by Castro's troops. The fight lasted less than twenty-four hours, and the CIA's troops surrendered. One of the purposes of this invasion is to show that Americans are serious about winning the Cold War if he defeated the leader of Cuba. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
Chief Justice Earl Warren transformed the judicial system during a tumultuous time for American politics. His liberal decisions to outlawed segregation in public schools and changed many American laws such as the rights of the accused and public school-sponsored prayers. As the chief, he made the Supreme Court a power center on a more even basis with Congress and the Presidency. His contribution to racial equality and civil liberties stands as testament to his role as a leader. -
Birmingham March
One of the most influential movements led by Martin Luther King Jr. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference organized the campaign to bring attention efforts of African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama. It would be the beginning of a series of lunch counter sit-ins, marches on City Hall and boycotts on downtown merchants to protest segregation law in the city. These acts would eventually lead to the municipal government to change the city's discrimination laws. -
March on Washington
A massive protest march that consisted of 250,000 people who gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the rally was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African-Americans. At the march, standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. would deliver his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. In that speech, he described the struggles of African Americans and called for an end in racism. -
Jack Ruby
A Dallas nightclub owner who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the killer of John F. Kennedy. On the day of Oswald transferring from city jail to country jail, Ruby stepped out of the crowd and shot the Oswald on live television. He then was convicted of murder by a Dallas Jury and was sentenced to death. But later, Ruby's conviction was later appealed, and he was granted a new trial. However, while awaiting for a new trial, he died of lung cancer. -
Assassination of JFK
President John F. Kenney was murdered while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. His wife and Texas Governor John Connally were also in the car during this murder and he too was shot. The shooter was the former U.S. Marine Lee Harvey Oswald and the Warren Commission concluded that he acted alone in this assassination. This is the fourth assassination of an American president in the history of the United States. -
Barry Goldwater
An American politician who served five-term as the United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican candidate for president in the 1964 election. However, he would lose the presidential election to Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson in a landslide. Still, he is given credit for sparking the resurgence of the American conservative political movement during this time. After this loss, Goldwater ran for the Senate again and won, serving from 1969 until his retirement in 1987. -
Great Society
An ambitious series of policy initiatives, legislation, and programs led by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Its primary goals are to end poverty, reduce crime, and abolish inequality and improve the environment. President Johnson first mentioned the term 'Great Society' during a speech at Ohio University, then laid out the program in greater details at the University of Michigan. He set this in motion in the following year and it became the largest social reform plan in modern history. -
Freedom Summer
The project is also known as the Mississippi Summer Project, and it is a voter registration drive sponsored by civil rights organizations including the CORE and SNCC. The purpose was to attempt to register as many African-American voters as possible in Mississippi. The Ku Klux Klan, police and state and local authorities carried out a series of violent attacks against the activists including beatings, false arrest, and the killing of at least three people. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The act ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The law is considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement. President John F. Kennedy proposed the legislation in 1963, but the Senate had opposed the law. However, when President Lyndon B. Johnson took over, he pushed the bill forward, which its final form was passed in the US Congress. He later signed it into law. -
Daisy Girl Ad
A controversial advertisement aired on television that would change American politics forever. It begins will a three-year-old little girl in a simple dress counted as she plucked daisy petals in a sun-dappled field. Her words were supplanted by a mission-control countdown followed by a massive nuclear blast in a classic mushroom shape. The advertisement was by President Lyndon B. Johnson's campaign and it is considered to be an important factor in his win over Barry Goldwater. -
Anti-War Movement
The anti-war movement that is a social movement that opposes the nation's decision to start or enter wars or armed conflicts. During this period of time, the people united in opposition to the Vietnam War. It attracted members from college campuses, middle-class suburbs, labor unions, and government institutions. The movement gained national prominence and reached its peak in 1968. They remained powerful throughout the Vietnam War and tried to end the conflict -
Black Panther Party
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the party for the purpose of patrolling African-American neighborhoods to protect the residents from acts of police brutality. Also, they started the organization after the assassination of Malcolm X and after police in San Francisco shot and killed an unarmed black teen. This party would eventually be developed into a Marxist group that called for the arming of all blacks, the exemption of blacks from the draft and the release of all blacks from jail. -
Death of MLK
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee by James Earl Ray. King was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital and was pronounced dead around 7:00 pm. His assassination led to an outpouring of anger among African-Americans, people were rioting in 100 cities across the nation, as well as a period of national mourning that helped speed the way for an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era. -
Apollo 11
Mission commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin flew the Apollo 11 to the moon and became the first two humans on the moon. The two Americans spent around two and a quarter hours together outside the spacecraft and collected materials to bring back to the Earth. The Apollo 11 was launched by a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. They spent 8 days in space and successfully completed the mission and beat the Soviet Union to be the first to walk on the moon. -
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPEC rose to international prominence during the 1970s, as the organization took control of their domestic petroleum industries and acquired a significant say in the pricing of crude oil on world markets. Its mission is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets, in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for investors. -
Period: to
1970s
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
An administrative agency created to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and started after he signed the executive order. The headquarter locates in Washington, D.C. where the group mission is to work for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. -
Equal Rights Amendment
A proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. The law is intended to end the legal distinctions between men and women regarding a divorce, property, employment, and other matters. The bill was originally written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman. The amendment won the requisite two-thirds vote from the U.S. House of Representatives and it was approved by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states. -
Watergate
A major political scandal that occurred in the United States, following a break-in by five men at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The prowlers were connected to President Richard Nixon's reelection campaign, and they had been caught wiretapping phones and stealing documents. Nixon took aggressive steps to cover up the crime afterward, after his role in the conspiracy was revealed, Richard Nixon resigned. -
Title IX
It is part of the Education Amendments of 1972, as a federal civil rights law in the United States of America. This act prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. -
War Powers Resolution Act
A congressional resolution designed to check the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict abroad without the consent of the U.S. Congress.The law provides the President can only send military units into action abroad only if Congress declares war on a nation or if it is a national emergency created by attack upon the United States or its territories. The primary goal of this was to avoid unnecessary lengthy conflict such as the Vietnam war. -
Heritage Foundation
An American conservative public policy think tank located in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to formulate and promote public policies based on traditional values. During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, this foundation took the leading role n the conservative movement. The Heritage Foundation has continued to have a significant influence on the United States public policy making, and they are considered to be one of the most influential conservative research organizations in the country. -
Endangered Species Act
The nation's most effective law to protect at-risk species from extinction.The law allows individuals and organizations to petition to have a species listed as endangered or threatened. The law requires protection for critical habitat areas and the development and implementation of recovery plans for listed species. It also allows for flexibility in its implementation, requiring coordination among federal, state, tribal, and local officials on efforts to prevent extinction. -
Panama Canal
The United States and Panama signed two treaties, Torrijos-Carter Treaties, that guaranteed Panama would gain control of the Panama Canal after 1999, ending the control of the canal that the United States had exercised since 1903. Under the first treaty, U.S. retained the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its continued neutral service to ships of all nations. The second treaty gave Panama the full control of canal operations after 1999. -
The Moral Majority
An American political organization that was founded by Jerry Falwell, a religious and televangelist, to advance conservative social values.It played a key role in the mobilization of conservative Christians as a political force and particularly in Republican presidential victories. The party was formed in response to the social and cultural transformations that occurred in the United States during the time. They believed a number of developments threatened the country's traditional moral values -
Iran Hostage Crisis
A group of Iranian students, who supported the Iranian Revolution, stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran, taking more than sixty American hostages over 444 days. The immediate cause of this action was President Jimmy Carter's decision to allow Iran's deposed Shah to come to the United States for cancer treatment. Furthermore, the event was a dramatic way for the student revolutionaries to declare a break with Iran's past and an end to American interference in its affairs. -
VHS
A system that can record and playback moving images and sound. The VHS dominated sixty-percent of the North America market and emerged as the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period. It defeated Betamax to be the number one system and companies continued to produce better and newer VHS due to the consumer command. The system was one of the 1980s sources of entertainment or hobbies. Many people believed that VHS lasted longer than they had expected. -
Period: to
1980s
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Election of 1980
It was the 49th quadrennial presidential election. Republican nominee Ronald Reagan defeated Democrat Jimmy Carter due to the rise of conservatism. Some historians portray the election as the start of a new political system known as the "Reagan Era." Reagan was originally a Democrat but turned to the Republican Party and was elected to the first of two terms as governor of California. Reagan won the election in a landslide to became the next United States president. -
AIDS Crisis
The disease was first noticed after doctors examined young gay men. A group of cases among gay men in Southern California suggested that the cause of the immune deficiency was sexual and the syndrome was initially called gay-related immune deficiency. The name was later officially changed to AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome by the CDC. The treatment of AIDS is primarily a "drug cocktail" of protease inhibitors, and education programs help people avoid infection. -
Reaganomics
A popular term used to refer to the economic policies of Ronald Reagan which is a recipe to fix the nation's financial mess. The policies of Reagan's economic called for the growth of government spending, reduce the federal income tax and capital gains tax, reduce government regulation, and tighten the money supply in order to reduce inflation. Reagan proposed a phased thirty-percent tax cut for the first three years of his presidency. This is all to fix the debt that the U.S. is in. -
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. President Ronald Reagan nominated O'Connor as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court to replace the retiring Potter Stewart. She is known for her dispassionate and meticulously researched opinions. The Senate voted 99 to 0 for her to serve on the Supreme Court. She developed a solid reputation for being firm, but just. She was considered to be a moderate conservative. -
Music Television
An American cable and satellite television channel owned by Viacom Media Networks. The company located in New York City and it initially aired music videos as guided by television personalities known as "video jockeys." In the beginning, the primary audience for the company was young adults. The style of MTV had a significant impact on the culture back then with its hand-held cameras and quick-cut editing. The channel revived many music artists and influenced many others. -
Rap Music
A music genre that inner-city African Americans developed in the United States at block parties. It consists of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. The rap music has been described as an outlet and a voice for the disenfranchised youth of marginalized backgrounds and low-income areas, as the hip-hop culture reflected the social, economic and political realities of their lives. This time is known as the golden age of Hip-Hop. -
Reagan Doctrine
A plan orchestrated and implemented by the United States under Reagan administration as an attempt to end the Cold War by overwhelming the global influence of the Soviet Union. The doctrine made the United States provided overt and covert aid to anti-communist guerrillas and resistance movements in an effort to push back the Soviet Union. It served as the foundation for the Reagan administration's support of "freedom fighter" around the globe. -
Iran Contra Affair
A political scandal in the United States that occurred during the second term of the Reagan Administration. The affair was a secret United States government arms deal that freed some American hostages held in Lebanon but also funded armed conflict in Central America. Under the Boland Amendment, further funding of the Contras by the government had been prohibited by Congress. The controversial dealmaking and the ensuing political scandal threatened to bring down the presidency of Ronald Reagan. -
Challenger Explosion
The NASA tenth flight of Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart seventy-three seconds into the flight. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven crew members onboard. The failure was caused by the fact that O-ring seals used in the joint were not designed to handle the unusually cold conditions that existed at this launch. The tragedy and its aftermath received media coverage and prompted NASA to temporarily suspend all shuttle missions. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The official purpose of this Berlin Wall was to keep Western "fascists" from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state, but it primarily served the objective of stemming mass defections from East to West. However, on November 9, 1989, the head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the GDR could cross the border whenever they pleased. On that day, people swarmed the wall, some brought hammers and picks to break down the wall. -
Lionel Sosa
The founder of Sosa and Associates agency which is the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the United States. He entered political advertising by supporting John Tower, and with his support, Tower won Thirty-seven-percent of the Hispanic vote. His success led him to become active in presidential politics, serving as an adviser to the Republicans campaigns, including those of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Sosa was named one of the twenty five most influential Hispanics in America. -
Period: to
1990s
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Persian Gulf War
The United States joined the war when Saudi Arabia and Egypt called them for help after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ordered an invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait. Operation Desert Storm was an air offensive that began the war. After 42 days of non-stop fighting and shooting by the allied coalition in the air and on the ground, President Bush declared a cease-fire and forced Iraqi groups to surrender or flee the scene. -
Affordable Cell Phones
The 1990s was a significant time in the development of telephone technology. The introduction of portable cell phones made with digital technology led to the rise of popularity of owning a cell phone. Companies like Nokia began to market their products to the general public. They developed smaller cell phones and phones became essential to everyday living. Mobile phone technology made a huge development during this time. This was a beginning of a significant change in the telephone industry. -
Rodney King Incident
An African American taxi driver who was brutally beaten by several police officers after they pulled him over. A nearby civilian, George Holliday, filmed the whole situation and he sent it to a local news station KTLA. News media covered the incident around the world, and those police officers were tried on charges of use of excessive force. The event led to the Los Angeles riots, sparked by outrage among African Americans over the verdicts and longstanding social issues. -
Election of 1992
The 52nd quadrennial presidential election between Democratic Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas, Republican President George H. W. Bush and independent business Ross Perot of Texas. Bill Clinton would defeat the other two candidates. Clinton won a plurality in the popular vote but a majority of the electoral vote, breaking a streak of three straight Republican victories. He swept the Northeastern United States, making the start of Democratic dominance in the region in presidential elections. -
Black Entertainment Television
An American cable television network and multimedia group providing news, entertainment, and other programming developed primarily for African American watchers. The channel flourished in the 1990s with several news programs including Our Voices and Lead Story. The founder, Robert L. Johnson, launched the media company as a public corporation and it is located in Washington, D.C. The channel was later sold to Viacom Inc. for three-billion dollars. -
World Trade Center Attack
A terrorist attack when a truck bomb denoted below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The bombing killed six people and injured thousands of other people. The attack was planned by a group of terrorists including Ramzi Yousef, Mahmud Abouhalima, Mohammad Salameh, Nidal A. Ayyad, Abdul Rahman Yasin, and Ahmed Ajaj. The attack was meant to collapse both buildings of the World Trade Center, but it failed to carry out that plan. -
Oprah Winfrey
An African African woman who is a talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She is best known for her "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and she is called the "Queen of All Media." Winfrey is the first African American multi-billionaire in North America. She reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality during this time. Winfrey is often praised for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to other people. -
Welfare Reform
Welfare reforms are changes in the operation of a given welfare system, with the goals of reducing the number of individuals dependent on government assistance, keeping the welfare systems affordable, and assisting recipients to become self-sufficient. President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act that is considered a major welfare reform. Clinton kept his promise to "end welfare as we have come to know it." -
Defense of Marriage Act
A United States federal law that defined marriage for federal purposes as the union of one man and one woman. It allowed States to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of the other states. The act does not view same-sex couples to be spouses for purposes of federal laws, effectively barring them from receiving federal marriage benefits. This law was passed under President Bill Clinton's administration, but was later removed. -
Period: to
Contemporary
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Bush v Gore
A case which the Supreme Court of the United States reversed a Florida Supreme Court request for a selective manual recount of that state's U.S. presidential election ballot. The decision effectively awarded Florida's twenty-five votes in the electoral college to Republican candidate George W. Bush. The Supreme Court decision allowed previous vote certification to stand, therefore Florida's vote increased Bush electoral votes to 271. By that he beat Al Gore and won the election. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The act authorizes several federal education programs that are administered by the states and it is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The major focus of this law is to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. The act required states to develop assessments in basic skill and to receive federal school funding, states had to give these assessments to all students. -
9/11 Attacks
A series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States. Nineteen militants hijacked four planes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washinton, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the attacks. -
Patriot Act
An Act of Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush after the 9/11 terrorist attack. It allows investigators to use the tools that were already available to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking. Furthermore, the act facilitated information sharing and cooperation among government agencies so that they can better "connect the dots." It also updated the law to reflect new technologies and new threats and increased the penalties for those who commit terrorist crimes. -
2nd Iraq War
A protected armed conflict that began with the invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein. The war would continue for the next decade. An approximate of 151,000 to 600,000 or more Iraqis were killed in the first three or four years. The invasion occurred as part of a declared war against international terrorism and its sponsors under the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush after the 9/11 attack. -
Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Hurrican Katrina was a destructive and deadly hurricane that was formed over the Bahamas. It struck the Gulf Coast of the United States and became a category 3 rating. The storm did great damage, but its aftermath was catastrophic. Hurricane Katrina was one of the costliest natural disasters and one of five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. It damaged Florida and traveled all the way to Texas where it died down. -
The Great Recession
A time where general economic decline observed in world markets. The causes of the recession largely originated in the United States, particularly related to the real-estate market, though choices made by other nations contributed as well. It was related to the financial crisis and subprime mortgage crisis. It resulted in the scarcity of valuable assets in the market economy and the collapse of the financial sector in the world economy. The banks were then bailed out by the US government. -
Election of 2008
The presidential election between Illinois Senator Barack Obama and Arizona Senator John McCain. Obama would defeat McCain and became the first African-American president in the history of the United States. President Obama beat McCain with the highest voter turnout rate in four decades. The result was a significant victory for the Democratic Party on the national level, as they increased majorities in both houses of Congress and won the Presidency. -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
An act that was signed into law by President Barack Obama in response to the Great Recession. Its main objective was to save existing jobs and create new ones as soon as possible. The act spent $787 million spent to revive the economy in the United States to create jobs, promote investment and consumer spending. Other objectives were to provide temporary relief programs for those most affected by the recession and invest in infrastructure, education, health, and renewable energy. -
Affordable Care Act "Obama Care"
The act provides Americans with better health security by putting in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will expand coverage, hold insurance companies accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more choice, and enhance the quality of care for all Americans. People newly eligible for Medicaid will receive a benchmark benefit or benchmark-equivalent package that includes the minimum essential benefits in the Affordable Insurance Exchanges. This is also known as "Obamacare."
