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Less Person-to-Person Interactions due to Improved Internet
The technology behind social media is tested and publicized for the first time. This created a basis for all social media platforms today and the overall improvement to the Internet allowed people to avoid interaction by doing tasks for themselves online. -
Resurgence of Religion in the United States
2/3 of Americans Belonged to a Church. This was the highest percentage in all major industrial nations of the West, showing a renewed interest in religion and a rise of conservatism in the United States. -
Start of the Persian Gulf War
Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, launched an attack on oil-rich Kuwait and the tiny country called on the United Nations for help. Soon after, the UN proposed a resolution, which Hussein rejected creating a war involving many countries in the UN, especially the United States because the country was reliant on oil from the Middle East and could not afford another oil crisis. -
Soviet Union Dissolves
Gorbachev allows Soviet puppet regimes to gain independence peacefully. The country slowly moves away from Communism and toward a more capitalistic economy. -
Increase in Pop Violence
According to a broad survey, by the age of 18 the average TV viewer had witnessed 40,000 murders on television. It was becoming difficult for many people to differentiate between cultural fantasies and everyday life. This caused an increase in violence in the country. -
Operation Desert Storm
UN troops under United States command during the Persian Gulf War take back Kuwait and destroy Iraqi military supplies and weapons. Saddam Hussein remained in power in Iraq. -
Federal Deficit reaches $290 billion
President George H. W. Bush was forced to go back on his promise of no new taxes and raise the top income taxes from 28% to 31% as well as increase taxes on luxuries. This ruined Bush's chances at reelection. -
Cracking down on Crime
For the first time states on average spend more on prisons than on higher education. This shows an increase in convicted criminals and harsher punishments. -
Barack Obama Begins his Political Career
Barack Obama campaigned for and won an Illinois State legislative position. This began his career in U.S. politics leading to his presidency in 2008. -
AIDs Epidemic Intensifies in America
The AIDs epidemic in america claimed 40,000 lives by this point, spreading a fear of the disease throughout the country. This also increased homophobia because the first five men that were diagnosed and died of AIDs were gay men. This forced people to begin to confront sexuality and have a better understanding of the complexity of human nature.
