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Fair Deal
Like FDR's New Deal policies, Truman would implement his plan for domestic policy reforms including national health insurance, public housing, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education. After Truman had won the re-election in 1948, he was able to convince Congress to pass some of his liberal reforms. The minimum wage would double and establish the Housing Act providing 800,000 houses for the poor. Congress would also approve extensions of Social Security benefits. -
Truman Doctrine
The British government would tell the US that they would no longer give economic or military assistance to Greece and Turkey. Truman would believe that these two nations are threatened by communism. Truman would make is case in front of Congress. The Truman Doctrine would be a declaration of the Cold War. His address would show the parameters of US Cold war foreign policy. It would state the Soviet Union was center of all communist. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Berlin Airlift
After World War II, Germany would be split into a Soviet, American, British, and French occupied zone. The Russians who would want Berlin (the Germany capital) all to themselves so they closed all highways, railways, and canals. They believed it would make impossible for the people of Berlin to get food or other supplies. Instead of backing out of West Berlin, the US and their allies supplied the west side from the air called the Berlin Airlift. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan would be named after the Secretary of State George C. Marshall who would devise the plan. The Soviet Union would want no part in because they saw it as an intervention of international affairs of other states. The Marshall Plan would also be called the European Recovery Program as the plane would help Europe in economic recovery. The US would send over $13 billion to Europe and would meet it's objective of restoring European confidence in their economy. -
G.I. Bill
The GI Bill was created to help the veterans of World War II. The bill would establish hospitals, make low interest mortgages available, and granted stipends covering tuition and expenses for veterans who wanted to attend college. Almost 9 million veterans would receive close to $4 billion from the bill. The GI Bill would be announced by FDR trying to help veteran s of World War II. He would prepare his plan before veterans before the war ended. -
Period: to
1950s
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Ike Turner
As a child Turner would play a style of blues called boogie woogie on the piano which he learned from Pinetop Perkins. During the 1940's Turner would start a group called the Kings of Rhythm. The group would later go to Memphis to record at Sun Studios ran by Sam Philips. At Sun Studios they would record their song "Rocket 88". The band stayed in Memphis as their lead singer left; they recorded sessions with legends like Elmore James and Buddy Guy. -
Korean War
The North Koreans had around 75,000 soldiers that would cross the the boundary between the North and South. The invasion would also be the first military action of the Cold War. American troops would eventually enter the war to aid South Korea. This war would be against international communism. The Americans also feared that a bigger war would come against Russian and China leading to World War III. The people of Republic of China, North Korea, and South agree agree to an armistice ending war. -
2nd Red Scare
The Second Red Scare was a case of fear that would derive from the on growing power of communist countries. Much of the communist countries' powers would come after the Second World War, the Soviet Union in particular. Many people in the US would fear that the Soviet Union and it's allies were planning to spread communism forcefully around the globe. The Second Red Scare would be influenced by the international events that occurred due to communism. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v Board of Education case was one of the most significant Supreme Court cases in which the justices ruled that racial segregation of children in public school was unconstitutional. Brown v Board would be another step closer to Civil Rights. General Orval Faubus would not allow black students to attend high school in Little Rock. President Eisenhower would intervene and deploy federal troops so the nine students would be able to enter Central High School under armed guards. -
Elvis
Elvis Presley would be the first real rock and roll star and also the most important cultural forces in history. Presley's accomplishments are incomparable to. Presley seems to still hold the largest number of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications of any artist in history. He would be regarded as vulgar, incompetent, and a bad influence, his music would influence others music. Four decades after his passing, he is still regarded as The King. -
Bill Haley and the Comets
Bill Haley and the Comets were an American rock and roll band that would continue even before Bill Haley's death. Bill would previously be a country music performer. After he performed Rocket 88 in a country style he changed his style of music to rock and roll. Haley would remain the star of the band although other members would become famous. Haley's first hit would be "Rock Around the Clock" that released in 1954. The song would appeal to white American teenage kids. -
Period: to
Civil Rights
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Beat Generation
The Beat Generation was a literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The people of this generation would be referred to as "Beats" or "Beatniks." Central elements of Beat culture was the rejection of standard narrative values, rejection of materialism, explicit portrayals of the human condition, usage of psychedelic drugs, and sexual intercourse. -
Dr. Jonas Salk
Dr. Jonas Salk would announce on a national radio show that he successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes crippling disease of polio. Polio was an epidemic that killed more than 3,000 people with 58,000 new cases. Dr. Salk was celebrated as the great-benefactor of his time. Clinical trials using Salk's vaccine and a placebo was used on two million American schoolchildren. It would be announced that the vaccine was effective and safe. -
Rosa Parks
In 1955, Rosa Parks would refuse to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus. By refusing to give up her seat she would help to start the civil rights movement in the US. The leaders of the local black community organized a bus boycott beginning on the day Parks was convicted. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would lead the boycott and would last a year. The boycott would end when the US Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
While Emmett Till was visiting his cousins in Money, Mississippi, he would allegedly be flirting with a white woman. Roy Bryant, the woman's husband returned from a business trip and heard what Emmett Till had done. Bryant and his brother-in-law Milam went to Till's great uncle's house. They would abduct Emmett Till and beat him in a toolhouse that Milam had owned. Bryant and Milam took him to the a river where he was shot and tied with barb wire to a cotton gin. -
Little Richard
As a child, Richard was kicked out of the house at age 13 and later lost his dad. His childhood would be shaped by the church where his grandfather and uncle were preachers. He would sing for the church and learn to play the piano. Richard would be taken in by a white family who owned a club where Richard would begin to perform. His first major break was a performance at an Atlanta radio station that came with a record contract. He would make "Tutti-Frutti" which was Billboard hit. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was introduced in Eisenhower's presidency and started the civil rights legislative programs. He never gave public support of the civil rights movement and believed that you could not force someone to change their beliefs. The act's purpose was to ensure that all African Americans could exercise their right to vote. The House of Representatives passed the initial version of what soon became the Civil Rights Act of 1957. -
NASA
The establishment of NASA was a sign that the United States was committed to wining the space race against the Soviets. The Soviet Union surprised the world and America by launching the first satellite into orbit around the earth called Sputnik. The National Defense Education Act would be passed to provide federal funds for improving the teaching of science and mathematics in American schools. Congress would eventually pass legislation to establish NASA as the head of the US space program. -
Albert Sabin
Right after receiving his medical degree, Sabin immediately began research on the nature and cause of polio. The disease had reached epidemic level affected people all around the world. Sabin had conducted research into numerous viruses and diseases, including pneumonia, cancer, encephalitis, and numerous other illnesses. His approach to the virus would be through the digestive tract. Some people were antibodies to polio so he researched for weaker strains. -
New Frontier
The New Frontier was used by the Democratic president John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech. The New Frontier would be a slogan to inspire America to support him. It would develop into a name for his administration's programs. During the Kennedy Administration, unemployment benefits were expanded, aid provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, fund were made for the construction of a national highway. He would also challenge to adventure into outer space. -
Politics: Nixon and Kennedy
In 1960, Nixon launched his first campaign for President of the United States. There was little opposition in the Republicans and his Democratic opponent was John F. Kennedy. Nixon would also lose the race for Governor of California to Pat Brown. In the late 1960's Nixon would run again for presidency and would be elected. Kennedy would win the presidential election in 1960. His campaigning skills were significantly better than Nixon. He would implement his New Frontier plan. -
Period: to
1960's
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Peace Corps
The Peace Corps was a volunteer program run by the US government. The main goal of the Peace Corps included providing technical assistance, helping people outside the US to understand American culture, and helping Americans understand other countries cultures. The program was established by the Executive Order 10924 which would be issued by President JFK. The Peace Corps was also a new agency within the Department of State. JFK signed a permanent Peace Corps in 1961 promoting world peace. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
After the US seized the power in the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Fidel Castro would align himself with the Soviet Union. Cuba would also grew reliant on the Soviets for military and economic aid. A U-2 spy plane would be pass over Cuba when it photographed missiles being assembled for installation. The Kennedy administration would launch and attack which failed called the Bay of Pigs. President Kennedy would call for a blockade of Cuba which the Soviets would attempt to breach. -
Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez was a Mexican-American who was a prominent union leader and labor organizer. With his experiences from being a migrant worker, Chavez would found the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. Chavez's organization would join with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee in a strike and later the two merged to become the United Farm Workers. This would be a major turning point in Chavez's life. Chavez devoted himself to the problems of the poorest workers in America. -
Anti-War Movement
North Vietnam would attack two US destroyers and President Lyndon B. Johnson would order a retaliatory bombing of military targets in North Vietnam. By the time the US bombings of North Vietnam became normal, people started to question the government. The Anti-War movement began on college campuses as members of the Students for a Democratic Society began to organize teach-ins to express their opposition. Many young people rejected authority and embraced the drug culture. -
Lee Harvey Oswald
President John F. Kennedy would be riding in downtown Dallas in an open-car motorcade when he is shot in the head. Lee Harvey Oswald was be seen on sixth floor of his work building carrying a rifle. Oswald would be spotted leaving the scene of the shooting and later confronted by police officer JD Tippit in which Oswald killed him. Oswald was later apprehended at the Texas Theater. While being taken to the county jail, Oswald would be murdered by Jack Ruby. -
Jack Ruby
Lee Harvey Oswald would be the shooter in Dallas where President Kennedy was riding in an open roof car and killed. A policeman questioned him but Oswald would kill him and thirty minutes later he would be arrested. As Oswald is brought to the basement of the Dallas police headquarter with he is shot by Jack Ruby who would come out of the crowd that was there to see Oswald's departure. Ruby was immediately detained and said his rage came from Kennedy's murder. -
Warren Commission
After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Lyndon Johnson would establish a commission to investigate Kennedy's death. Chief Justice Earl Warren would conclude that the alleged gunman was Lee Harvey Oswald after a year long investigation. It would be concluded that Oswald acted alone in assassinating Kennedy and there was no conspiracy, either domestic or international involvement. Follow up investigations have supported and questioned the Warren Commission's report. -
Birmingham Bombing
The Birmingham church bombing would take place in 1963 when a bomb exploded before Sunday mass at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Thousands of angry black protesters gathered at the scene of the bombing. Governor Wallace sent police and state troopers to break up the protest but that would lead to violence across the city. The bombing would help build increased support to end segregation and eventually lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
During Earl Warren's third term as governor, President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Warren to be chief justice of the US Supreme Court. Warren was quick to win the legislative approval and became the court's leading judge. Warren was also considered to be a judicial activist. Eisenhower would later make a remark stating that Earl Warren's appointment was the biggest mistake he had ever made. Warren helped end school segregation. Warren also ran the investigation of JFK's assassination. -
Great Society
The Great Society would be run by President Lyndon B. Johnson in which the society had ambitions of policy initiatives, legislation, and programs. The main goal was ending poverty, reducing crime, abolishing inequality and improving the environment. Lyndon B. Johnson had talked about his plans for the Great Society in a speech at the University of Michigan. With his re-election, Johnson would set his plan for the Great Society in motion and it was the largest social reform plan. -
Barry Goldwater
In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson was opposed by the Republican Arizona senator, Barry Goldwater, who attacked the federal income tax, the Social Security system, the Tennessee Valley Authority, civil rights legislation, the nuclear test-ban treaty, and the Great Society. Barry Goldwater would also be against Lyndon B Johnson becoming president. Also opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Barry Goldwater would also lose to Lyndon B Johnson with the largest margin in history. -
LSD
LSD would be made popular in the 1960s by people like psychologist Timothy Leary who would encourage American student. The counterculture of dug abuse would be created along with the spread of the drug from America to the United Kingdom. Although the counterculture used it to get away from problems, the military saw it as a chemical weapon. The usage of LSD would be officially banned in the United States in 1967. Usage of LSD would decline but rise again during the 1990s. -
Selma March
The Selma March was a series of civil rights protest the would occur in Alabama that had racist policies. In an attempt to register black voters in the South, protesters marched 54-miles from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery. The marchers would be met with deadly violence from local authorities and white groups. The protesters, under the protection of federalized National Guard troops, achieved their goal. This march would raise awareness of the difficulties black voters faced. -
Watts Riots
Racial tension would reach a breaking point in Watts neighborhood when a policeman stops black motorist for suspected drunken driving. Spectators nearby gathered to watch the arrest and became angry by another incident of racially motivated abuse by police. A riot soon broke out with residents of Watts. The rioters ranged over a 50-square-mile area. They would loot stores, torch buildings, and beat whites. The Watts Riot was the worse urban riot in 20 years. -
Black Panther Party
The Black Panthers was a political organization founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale to challenge police brutality against the African American community. The Black Panthers would take the violence approach and armed citizen patrols of Oakland and other US cities. the FBI would declare the Black Panthers to be a communist organization and enemy of the US government. The Black Panthers died down as internal tensions, deadly shootouts and FBI counterintelligence weakened them. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnam would coordinate a series of attack on more than 100 cities in South Vietnam called the Tet Offensive. This offensive was an attempt to encourage the US to reduce its involvement in the Vietnam war and create a rebellion among the South Vietnam population. The offensive would be shown on the news and shock the American public leading to the erosion of the support for the war. The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of American withdrawal. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 would take off from Kennedy Space Center with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins aboard. Neil Armstrong would be the commander of the mission. The next couple days after take off, Apollo 11 would enter lunar orbit and the lunar module Eagle with Armstrong and Aldrin in it separated from the command module where Collins was. Eagle would land and Armstrong would radio the famous message, "The Eagle has landed." Armstrong would be the first man to step foot on the moon. -
Stonewall Riot
In New York City, police would raid the Stonewall Inn, which was a gay club. This raid would spark a riot with bar patrons and neighborhood residents. The Stonewall Riots made way for the gay rights movement in the US and around the world. They would grow tired of the constant police riot and social discrimination hung around the outside of the bar.The protests that involved thousands of people continued in the area for five more days. Stonewall Inn would become a national monument. -
Period: to
1970's
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Watergate
Republican President Richard Nixon would run for reelection and would have a strong presidential campaign which seemed essential at the time. Nixon's tactics would have turned out to be illegal espionage. The Watergate scandal would be a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Nixon would try to cover-up the White House involvement which lead to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment. -
Title IX
Title IX prohibits federally funded educational institutions from discriminating against students or employees based on sex. As a result of Title IX, all schools that receives any federal money from the elementary to university level must provide fair and equal treatment, including athletics. Before Title IX, the NCAA would not offer any athletic scholarships for women and help no championships for women's teams. Since the enactment of Title IX, the number of girl athletes has increased. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment would first be proposed by the National Woman’s political party. The amendment was to provide legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. Since the Equal Rights Amendment is not protected by the US Constitution, all states have passed considerable legislation protecting the legal rights of women. The amendment would be passed by the US Senate and sent to the states for ratification in 1972. -
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act is one of the many environmental laws passed in the 1970s. The Endangered Species Act was designed to protect critically endangered species from extinction as a result of economic growth. The act would be signed into law by President Richard Nixon. The Supreme Court believed that passing the ESA was to protect species going extinct whatever the cost. The Act was administered b y two federal agencies, the FWS and the NMFS. -
War Powers Resolution Act
The War Powers Resolution Act is a congressional resolution made to limit the US president's ability to initiate or escalate military actions. With other restrictions, the law requires the presidents notification of Congress after deploying armed forces and limits how long units can remain engaged without congressional approval. The act would be an attempt to avoid another lengthy conflict and many presidents have failed to comply with the act. -
OPEC
In 1973, the Arab-dominated Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries announces a decision to cut oil exports to the US and other nations that have provided military aid to Israel. Exports would be reduced by 5 percent every month until Israel evacuated the territories in the Arab-Israeli war. A full embargo would be imposed against the US and many other countries who relied on oil which caused a serious energy crisis in the US and other nations. -
Roe v Wade
Roe v. Wade was a Supreme Court decision that would establish a woman's legal right to an abortion. The Court would rule that a woman's right to choose an abortion was protected by the privacy rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment in the US Constitution. Many have fought over the decision to criminalize abortion but opinion polls says that Americans prefer that women should be able to have abortions, free of government interference. -
Panama Canal
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos sign a treaty agreeing to transfer control of the Panama Canal from the US to Panama. Many in Congress would oppose to giving up control of the Panama Canal but the canal had long irritated Panamanians and other Latin Americans. The US would have the right ton continue operating the canal until the last day of 1999. Another treaty was signed that gave permanent neutrality of the canal and gave the US right to military force. -
Camp David Accords
Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin would sign the Camp David Accords at the White House, making a permanent peace agreement between Egypt and Israel after three decades of fighting. The accords were negotiated after 12 days of talking at President Jimmy Carter's Camp David retreat. The final peace agreement would be signed and achieved peace in the Middle east. Israeli would evacuate from the Sinai immediately. Sadat and Begin receive Nobel Peace Prize. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
A group of Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran taking more than 60 Americans hostage. The cause of this occurrence would be President Carter's decision to allow Iran's deposed Shah a pro-Western autocrat to come to the US for cancer treatment. The reason by taking the hostages would be more than the Shah but a dramatic way for the student revolutionaries to declare a break from Iran's past and end American interference in its affairs. The hostages would be set free 444 day later. -
Jimmy Carter's Presidency
As the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter struggled to respond to challenges he faced, which would include a major energy crisis. He would also face high inflation and unemployment during his presidency. Carter would also reopen US relations with China in an attempt to broker peace but the Iran Hostage Crisis would ruin his attempt. Carter would hold a meeting with Anwar el-Sadat and Menachm Begin at Camp David resulting in the Camp David Accords. -
Election of 1980
Senator Edward Kennedy would strongly appose of the Democratic nomination President Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan would be nominated for the Republicans and John B. Anderson would run as an independent. Reagan would win a landslide victory over President Carter as he was unable to control inflation and the Iranian hostage crisis. This would be the first time Republicans gained control of Senate in 25 years. Reagan would win more popular votes and electoral college votes. Anderson won no electoral. -
Reaganomics
Reaganomics refers to the economic policies promoted by the US President Ronald Reagan. Also introduced during the Reagan administration. The four pillars of Reagan's economic policy were to reduce the growth of government spending, the federal income tax and capital gains tax, government regulation, and tighten the money supply. Reaganomics was Reagan's plan to fix the nation's economic mess in 1980. During Reagan's presidency, the national debt would be tripled. -
Period: to
1980's
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Space Shuttle Program
Kennedy Space Center would make a shift in focus to preparing and launching a new spacecraft that would further advance capabilities in orbit; the space shuttle. The Space Shuttle Program was the fourth human spaceflight program by NASA which achieved routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew. The space shuttle had two reusable solid rocket boosters, a disposable external fuel tank, and and orbiter. The shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft to have achieved orbiting and landing. -
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. O'Connor would be remembered for her strong guidance through court's decisions and serving a swing vote in many important cases. Sandra would build a strong reputation for herself as a judge and involved with Republican politics outside of the courtroom. Two year later, President Reagan would nominate her for associate justice of the US Supreme Court and the US Senate would approve. -
Discount Retailing
A discount store or shop is a retail shop which sells products at prices that are lower than the typical market price. Discount retailing would begin in the 1960s but flourish in the 1980s. Many popular stores inclue K-Mart, Home Depot, and Best Buy. Sam Walton would be a well known person in chain stores as he started Wal-Mart which would include a large variety of products at extremely low prices. Just-in-time inventory would be apart of chain stores requiring no inventory space. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative-or star wars-was a US strategic defensive system against nuclear attacks from the Soviet Union. The SDI would be proposed by President Ronald Reagan. Since most of the defensive system would be based in space, the system was named "Star Wars," after the movie. The SDI would defend the US from the Soviet ICMBs by intercepting the missile at different phases of its flight. The defense system would be space and earth based laser battle stations. -
Reagan Doctrine
Ronald Reagan would define some of his key concepts of his foreign policy in the State of Union address. The doctrine would be the foundation of the Reagan administration's support of "freedom fighters." The doctrine was a strategy to overwhelm the global influence of the Soviet Union to end the Cold War. The US provided aid to anti-communist guerrillas and resistance movements. The doctrine was designed to diminish Soviet influence over Africa, Asia, and Latin America. -
Robert Johnson
Robert Louis Johnson was an American entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist, and investor. Johnson would co-found BET (black entertainment television). Johnson also founded RLJ Companies which was a holding company that invest in may business sectors. Robert Johnson was also the first black American billionaire. He also had the first black-owned company on the New York Stock Exchange. Was the first African American owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. -
Iran Contra Affair
The Iran Contra Affair was a secret US government arms deal that freed some American hostages held in Lebanon. It also funded armed conflict in Central America. The affair may not have happened if it were not for the politics in the early 1980s. Reagan promised to assist anti-Communist insurgencies around the globe. Despite Reagan promising he would never negotiate with terrorists-in which he did- left the White House as a popular president. -
AIDS Crisis
AIDS would be diagnosed in the US in 1981 but didn't receive much attention. It would be be perceived as a gay mans disease and Falwell would say that its their punishment for being gay. AIDS is caused by the HIV virus and is spread through the exchange of blood or bodily fluids. AIDS would also end the era that was defined by penicillin and the pill which made sex safe. The first victims would be homosexual men but would eventually spread across the country. -
Black Entertainment Television
The Black Entertainment Television (BET) would be founded in the 1980s by African American Robert L. Johnson. BET is the most prominent television network targeting African American audiences. BET would air stand-up comedy, new, and current affairs programs. The channel would continue to flourish in the 1990s with new programs like Our Voices and Lead Story. The channel would later change focuses to entertainment programs airing rap videos and cancelling new programs. -
Persian Gulf War
In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait. Saudi Arabia and Egypt would be alarmed and called on the United States and other Western nations to intervene. Hussein defied United Nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait which began the Persian Gulf War. The war would begin with US led air offensive or the Operation Desert Storm. President Bush would declare cease-fire. A second Gulf War would start known as the Iraq War. -
Period: to
1990s
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Election of 1992
In the Presidential election, Democrat Bill Clinton defeated Republican President George Bush. Independent candidate Ross Perot would win almost 19 percent of the vote and would have the highest percentage of any third-party candidate in 80 years. Bill Clinton would easily win the electoral college but took only 43 percent of the popular vote. Clinton would defeat Jerry Brown and Paul Tsongas to take the Democratic nomination. Bush defeated Pat Buchanan to earn re-nomination for the Republicans. -
World Trade Center Attack
In 1993, terrorist would drive a rental van into a parking garage under the World Trade Center's twin tower and lit the fuses on a homemade bomb the van carried. Six people would die and more than 1,000 people were injured in the massive explosion. This terrorist attack would be one of the worst ever to occur in the US. Investigators would get a lead when they found the vehicle identification in the rubble for the van which lead to the terrorist's arrest. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy was the official United States policy on military service for gays, bisexuals, and lesbians. It would be instituted by the Clinton Administration. The policy would prohibit military personnel from discriminating against or harassing homosexual or bisexual service members. The act prohibited any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing their sexual orientation or from speaking about homosexual relations while serving in the US armed forces. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. President Clinton would have hoped for the agreement to encourage other nations to work toward a bigger world-trade pact. NAFTA is a a trade pact between Canada, the US, and Mexico which eliminated all tariffs and trade restrictions between these three nations. NAFTA would be heavily criticized in its early stages by Reform Party. This would be the first success as the Democratic President. -
Health Care Reform
The Clinton health care plan was a healthcare reform pack proposed by administration of President Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton had campaigned heavily on health care in the 1992 presidential election. Its goal was to provide universal health care for all Americans. Many conservatives, libertarians, and health insurance industries would oppose to the Clinton's plan. Hillary would be chosen by the Clinton Administration to sell the plan to American people but back fired and making her less popular. -
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a law that prohibited married same-sex couples from collecting federal benefits. The act would be overruled by the US Supreme Court in 2015. In 2013, the Supreme Court found the act unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment. President Clinton would be the one who signed DOMA into law. The act did not deny same-sex marriage but defined marriage to be between and man and woman only and denied federal benefits to married same-sex couples. -
Lewinsky Affair
In 1998, a political sex scandal would take place called the Monica Lewinsky scandal which would involve President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. The two began sexual relations in 1995 until 1997. Lewinsky would be moved to the Pentagon where she told her coworker Linda Tripp about the affair. Tripp would secretly tape the conversations she had with Monica. Clinton denied relations but he would admit having relations later. Clinton would later be impeached by The House of Representatives. -
Technology
The World Wide Web would first successfully become popular in 1990. In 1995 Microsoft would introduce Windows 95 which would gain immediate popularity and makes Windows the standard operating system for most PCs. The Java programming language is developed in this time period. The availability of internet in the 1990s expanded online games. Along with online games many video game consoles began to receive online networking features. Cell phones becoming popular in the 90s. -
Election of 2000
The US presidential election of 2000 would be against Republican George W. Bush and Democratic Al Gore. George W. Bush would barely beat Al Gore. Al Gore easily defeating challenger Bill Bradley for Democratic nomination. Bush was a favorite for the Republicans despite going against John McCain and other candidates. Both parties would focus on domestic issues during their campaigns. The winner was unclear as Florida was undecided that night. Bush won electoral vote but not popular vote. -
Period: to
Contemporary
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9/11 Attacks
On September 9, 2001, four airplanes would be hijacked by 19 militants that were associated with al-Qaeda. The 19 militants would carry out a suicide attack against the US. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington DC and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Around 3,000 people would be killed in the terrorist attack. 9/11 would define the presidency of George W. Bush. -
PATRIOT Act
President George W. Bush would sign the Patriot Act which was an anti-terrorism law in response to the attack on September 11. The USA PATRIOT Act is an acronym for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism." The act increased intelligence agencies' ability to share information. Some Americans felt the bill actually did not go far enough to combat terrorism. Gave FBI increased access to personal information. -
War on Terror
The War on Terror was a international military campaign that was launched by the US government after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The "War on Terror" would refer to "war on terrorism." The first years of the war was successful with the arrest of hundreds of terrorist around the world and prevention of large-scale terrorist attacks on America. Some people would say that America's failures of counter terrorism would be more than its successes. Obama would announce the end of the war in 2013. -
2nd Iraq War
The 2nd Iraq War would consist of Iraqi conflict being led Saddam Hussein. The war would come up soon after the first Gulf War. Iraq would brake the peace terms by not letting UN weapons inspectors to be allowed in Iraq. The US would false link Saddam with Niger in buying uranium. Allied forces launched an attack beginning with the US dropping several bombs on a bunker complex. In 2011, Barack Obama would announce the withdrawal of troops to pull out by the end of 2011. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina would first strike the Gulf Coast of the US. When it reached land, it was at a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Levee breaches would lead to massive flooding and many people charged that the federal government was slow to help the people. 80% of New Orleans would flood. People in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama were relocated from homes. Nearly 2,000 people were killed. New Orleans began in poverty but was left even worse after Katrina. -
Election of 2008
The election of 2008 would be between the Democratic Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. Barack Obama would have go against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and Obama would win the Democratic nomination. Since there recent occurrences of financial crisis, the nation's focus would switch to economic issues. It would be a historical Democratic victory as Obama wins the election against John McCain. Obama would win both popular vote and electoral college. -
The Great Recession
The Great Recession was an economic crisis which would be one of the worst. The crisis would also lead to an increase in home mortgage foreclosures worldwide and caused millions of people to lose their life savings. Many lost jobs and homes too. Subprime mortgages would be the main cause of the Great Recession in the US and Europe. In 2007, the US stock market would reach its all-time high ass the industrial average exceeded 14,000. The Great Recession would end in 2009 for the US. -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Barack Obama. The act would be developed in response to the Great Recession. The primary objective of the stimulus package was to save existing jobs and create new ones as soon as possible. Other goals were to provide temporary relief programs. One of the early things President Obama did as a president. The Bill gave money to unemployed, cut taxes for workers, middle class, and students. -
Affordable Care Act (ACA) "Obamacare"
The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare was enacted by the US Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama. The term "Obamacare" would be used by opponents and later used by supporters. Everyone would be required to have insurance or pay a fine. Also, many liberals would be upset it's not a single-payer system like in Europe. In 2018, Republican Congress would overturn the individual mandate. The act would improvement of healthcare quality and lowering its cost and increase affordability.
