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1993: Bill Clinton Takes Office
In 1993, Democrat Bill Clinton defeats incumbent President George H.W. Bush and takes office with the promise of reforming the United States economy. It was said in "Fault Lines: A History of United States Since 1974," "when Bill Clinton took office in 1993...to focus on economic reform above all else" (Kruse and Zelizer, 204). This was an extremely important event because American politics had become extremely polarized with the issue of economic reform being the biggest issue. -
1997: The Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
In 1998, Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern, was recorded admitting to having had an affair with President Bill Clinton. According to People Magazine, Linda Tripp who worked in the Pentagon recorded a phone call in which Lewinsky was on where Lewinsky detailed the affair (Chamlee). Tripp talked about the recording with journalists where the scandal was leaked. -
1999: Columbine High School Shooting
In April 1999, a school shooting occurred where 2 students at Columbine High School killed 12 students and 1 teacher. This was a pivotal moment in US history because according to History.com "the Columbine shooting was, at the time, the worst high school shooting in U.S. history and prompted a national debate on gun control and school safety"(History.com editors). School shootings are, unfortunately, still a thing that happens today and there is still much debate on how to deal with this issue. -
2000: Y2K
Starting December 1st, 1999, there was widespread panic that the internet/computer system would crash because it could not handle the new millennium. It was said about Y2K, in an article by Time Magazine that "this could mean headaches ranging from wildly erroneous mortgage calculations to, some speculated, large-scale blackouts and infrastructure damage" (Uenuma). This is a significant event because it caused major panic in the United States and people thought life as we knew it would change. -
2001: September 11th or 9/11
On September 11th, 2001, the world was changed forever when two airplanes hit the towers of the World Trade Center. Many Americans felt a sense of fear after the horrific event. According to "Fault Lines," it was said, "September 11, 2001, revealed the nation's vulnerabilities and swept aside the confidence America had" (Kruse and Zelizer 243). This event was significant because it sparked President Bush's war on terror and it made Americans feel insecure about the security of the USA. -
2004: George W. Bush is Re-Elected by the Narrowest of Margins in over a Century
In 2004, President George W. Bush is re-elected to the presidency by the narrowest of margins in over a century. According to "Fault Lines," "Bush won re-election by the narrowest margin for an incumbent president in over a century's time" (Kruse and Zelizer 271). This election made President Bush extremely politically vulnerable and was significant because people were starting to have little confidence that Bush could deal with social issues such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. -
2005: Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans. Said to be the natural disaster with the most expensive damage, over 34,000 people needed to be rescued. According to History.com, "The Coast Guard rescued some 34,000 people in New Orleans alone" (History.com). This event was so significant because many criticized the government's response for how the government did not respond fast enough and this led to new guidelines being put in place to deal with natural disasters. -
2008: Barack Obama wins the 2008 Election
In 2008, Barack Obama wins the presidency with 365 electoral votes. Obama ran against Republican John McCain who was well-known in the US government as a Senator. According to 270towin.com, 9 states who voted Republican in the 2004 election flipped to the Democratic side (270towin.com). This was so significant because Obama was the first Black president, and he instituted many governmental policies such as Obamacare which are still prominent today. -
2009: Pop-Icon Michael Jackson Dies
In 2009, the "king of pop" Michael Jackson passes away due to a drug overdose. It has been said his death was a homicide at the hands of his personal Dr. Conrad Murray. Furthermore, Jackson's memorial was the largest public memorial since Elvis Presley. According to History.com, "On July 7, 2009, more than 20,000 fans attended a public memorial for Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles" (History.com). This is so significant because is shows the impact a singer has on American society. -
2010: Congress Passes the Affordable Care Act
In 2010, the revolutionary Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare" was passed in Congress. The act's main function was to "make affordable health insurance available to more people" (Healthcare.gov). This was so important because healthcare accessibility is a major point of contention in the United States. The fact that the Affordable Care Act was enacted showed much progress at the hands of the federal government for the advancement of accessible healthcare.