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Period: to
1990 to 2010
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East and West Germany reunite after World War II
East and West Germany reunited on October 3, 1990, after the collapse of the East German government. The two states cam together under a federal system with a democratic government. This reunification meant that the two sides would recognized as one state for the first time since World War II. This was approved by the U.S., France, the Soviet Union, and England as long as Germany remained a member of NATO, making it relevant to U.S. history. "Salem Press, 1381." -
"The Iceman" is found in European Alps
Ötzi the Iceman was discovered in 1991 by tourists hiking in the Ötztal Alps near the border between Austria and Italy. The Iceman is a natural mummy of a man who lived around 3,300 BCE. Ötzi's discovery provided insights into the life and culture of ancient Europeans, and with many Americans being of European descent, this discovery becomes valuable to American scientists. "Sheposh, 1." -
President Clinton Appoints Janet Reno as the 1st Female Attorney General
In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Janet Reno as the first female Attorney General of the United States. The former State Attorney of Florida served in this position from March 1993 to January 2001. She has been praised for her work in promoting civil rights, addressing environmental issues, and fighting violent crime in her career. Janet Reno's appointment as Attorney General marked a milestone for women in American politics and law enforcement. "Kruse and Zelizer, 207." -
The Oklahoma City Bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing occurred on April 19, 1995, when a truck filled with explosives went off in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, resulting in a massive explosion. The attack was planned and carried out by anti-government conspiracy theorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, and resulted in the deaths of 168 people and injured 842 others. "Diana, 1." -
The U.S.S. Cole is attacked by al-Qaeda
The U.S.S. Cole bombing occurred on October 12, 2000, in Aden, Yemen. The U.S.S. Cole was refueling at the port when two Al-Qaeda suicide bombers carried out the attack, which resulted in the deaths seventeen U.S. sailors and the injury thirty-nine others. The bombing marked a significant escalation in Al-Qaeda's campaign against the U.S., and while several of the men involved in the plotting of the attack were tried in Yemen, some escaped and others were released. "National Review, 8." -
9/11 Attacks on the Twin Towers
On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda planned and carried out a terrorist attack on the U.S. by hijacking four airplanes to attack four buildings. Two planes were sent to the Twin Towers in New York City, one was sent to the Pentagon, and the final plane was sent to the White House. The two planes headed for the Twin Towers succeeded in their attacks, as did the plane headed for the Pentagon. This attack devastated the nation, and lead to the U.S. declaring the War on Terror. "Kruse and Zelizer, 249." -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a category 4 storm that hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in late August of 2005, leaving millions of Americans displaced and over 1,800 dead. The storm flooded and destroyed communities along the Gulf Coast, with New Orleans, Louisiana being hit especially hard. The hurricane left costly damages, and the government is heavily criticized for their response time and efforts to help victims and restore the primarily African American communities during this time. "Mazzeno, 1." -
Apple releases the 1st iPhone
The first iPhone, released in 2007, became quickly popular and became a culturally significant piece of American history. This technology was released by the company Apple, and was introduced by Steve Jobs. The iPhone changed the way people communicate, access information, and entertain themselves in America, with the new found "app store" growing and bringing innovations to daily life, games, music, social media, and more. "Uria, 1." -
The Great Recession of 2007/2008
The Great Recession of 2007/2008 was a severe economic depression characterized by millions of Americans losing their homes, savings, and jobs. The recession is also characterized by sky rocketing oil prices. The housing market crash was a major contributing factor to this recession, and the unemployment rate peaked at ten percent the following year; this national crisis left lasting impacts on Americans' lives and the economic state of the country. "Monadjemi, 14" -
Mass Shooting at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute
On April 16, 2007, a student named Cho Seung-Hui carried out a mass shooting at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, killing 32 people and injuring 25 others including students and faculty. Cho Seung-Hui was a student at the university who had been recommended mental health treatment, but never received it. The shooting prompted new standards for campus security, and new laws in Virginia requiring mental health background checks for gun purchases. "Fallahi, 1."