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Centennial Olympic Park bombing
Centennial Olympic Park bombing at Summer Olympics in Atlanta kills 1 and injures 111. Eric Robert Rudolph is charged with four terrorist bombings spanning an 18-month period, furthermore increasing awareness of terroristic attacks within the U.S. President Bill Clinton denounced the explosion as an "evil act of terror" and vowed to do everything possible to track down/punish those responsible. This act of terrorism had a moving impact on America as a string of terroristic events followed. -
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Lewinski Scandal
President Clinton is accused of having sexual relations with a White House intern, Monica Lewinski. He was impeached and charged with Obstruction of Justice and perjury by the Senate for lying under oath. This influenced the 2000 Presidential Campaign for his VP, Al Gore, and also led to a sense of public skepticism towards U.S government officials. -
Columbine High School Shooting
High School students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, murdered a total of 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School.They injured 21 additional students, with three other people being injured while attempting to escape the school. They then committed suicide. The event has come to be known as the deadliest mass murder to be committed in American schools, and raised awareness of security in schools. -
9/11 Bombing
Suicide bombers under the direction of Osama Bin Laden hijacked two airplanes and ran through the World Trade Center in New York City. The event led to over a thousand deaths, as well as millions of dollars in damage. A nationwide tragedy, the 9/11 bombing brought more attention to the war on terrorism in the United States. -
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Hurricane Katrina Devastates Coast
Hurricane Katrina was a catgegory 5 hurricane that caused massive destruction along the coast of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. New Orleans was hit the hardest as the levees could not keep the water from flooding the city. At least 1,833 people died in the hurricane and subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. Total property damage was estimated at $81 billion, and many americans were displaced as lives were destroyed. -
Saddam Hussein is executed
The execution of Saddam Hussein (Former president of Iraq) happened on December 30, 2006. He was sentenced to death and was hung after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by the Iraqui Special Tribunal for murdering 148 Iraqui Shi'Ites in 1982, in response to an assassination attempt against him. Signal of hope for those impacted by middle eastern terrorism. -
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Recession Begins
A period of shortcoming in the economy officially begins, named the Late 2000's recession. The U.S government owes China several trillion dollars, and is in debt caught with inflation and unemployment, due to several wars that left the US in bad shape. It affects the lives of every American, as most individuals struggles to make ends meet in the rough, weakened economy. (Minimum wage at 7.25/hr, living wage at 9.25/hr.) -
Northern Illinois University Shooting
Student Steven Kazmierczak shoots several others at Northern Illinois University, killing five and injuring 21 before committing suicide. The event led to an improved awareness in mental health services and interest grows substantially in the group Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. The influence on the community and nation did not go unrecognized, as the firearms controversy continued to grow. -
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Hurricane Ike Hits the Gulf Coast
Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast of Galveston September 1st and lasted through September 14th. The category 4 hurricane cost 195 fatalities, and was the costliest Hurricane ever to hit Cuba or Texas. As a survivor of Ike, people in my community lost power for weeks, were flooded into the neighborhood, and witnessed a sharp rise in crime as nearly half of businesses were robbed. It has been a time of grief to look back on and remember for many members of the coastal community and the country. -
Osama Bin Laden is killed
Osama bin Laden, leader of the Al Queda terrorist group (responsible for thousands of deaths internationally) is killed by SEALS under the Obama Administration. Support was received for the death by the EU, United Nations, and American public. It was a success towards the war on terrorism that represented a remarkable victory for the United States.