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Significant Events From 1990-2010
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Siege at Waco
The Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh, engaged in a deadly gunfight with Bureau of ATF agents, which ended in a barricade orchestrated by cult members in their compound outside Waco, Texas. On April 19, the FBI invaded it, using tear gas to push them out. Koresh prompted the burning of the building and the many deaths that resulted. This was bad publicity for Clinton's administration as it worsened the fears about how powerful the federal government really was. (Kruse and Zelizer, 207-208). -
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Authorization Act of 1994
This was a response to the rapid growth of prisons in the US, particularly because of how simple it became to convict those charged with drug crimes. This $30 million program implemented harsher guidelines to sentence felons and increased spending for prisons. This act was important because it included mandates that regulated the system and held offenders accountable for their crimes, including the three strikes, you're out idea; mass incarceration was a direct result (Kruse and Zelizer, 236). -
Children's Health Insurance Program
The Children's Health Insurance Program provided states with funds to give children health insurance. Although it wasn't a national program, the amount of the country it covered was historic. This program was significant because it was something that acted as reform while reintroducing Democrats into White House politics following many unsuccessful campaigns by the party. However, "the progressive policy agenda" was no longer as visible, which prompted much support (Kruse and Zelizer, 222). -
2000 Presidential Election
The 2000 Election was an interesting race between Albert Gore and George Bush; it was so close that it ended in a deadlock. Florida seemed undecided as the results appeared to change overnight and the tiny margin prompted a recount of the votes. In the Bush v. Gore case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the recount was to end. Bush had officially won Florida, which allowed him majority in the Electoral College, and he walked away as the President of the United States. (American YAWP, Chapter 30) -
White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative
This initiative, one of Bush's first executive orders, imposed a new program in the executive branch that set priorities, coordinated campaigns, and oversaw federal faith-based programs, but there was little government oversight. This was important because it demonstrated the disconnect between Bush and members of the federal government as they thought there was little leadership; Republicans in the House supported more conservative ideas embraced by the Religious Right (Kruse and Zelizer, 247). -
September 11th Attacks
On September 11, 2001, terrorist organization al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, hijacked four airplanes, which flew directly into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in NYC, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. Out of this came the Bush Doctrine, which reserves the right for the US to wage war on terrorist organizations and their counterparts that are a threat to the US. 9/11 also prompted "the longest war in American history" in Afghanistan. (American YAWP, Chapter 30) -
President Bush Signs No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was an education initiative, bounding the federal government to funding public education. To show federal involvement in education, this act implemented tough standards in subjects including math and English. To keep receiving federal funds, every public school in the US was required to meet or exceed these levels of achievement. Any schools that failed to meet these expectations had their students transferred to more accomplishing schools (Kruse and Zelizer, 248). -
Department of Homeland Security
The DHS organized government operations concerning the war on terror and encouraged US citizens to be prepared for the worst. A color coding system was developed to inform citizens of daily threat levels, but proved to be unsuccessful. The creation of the DHS was significant as it prompted unnecessary panic in the nation while people stocked their homes with materials. Sales at hardware stores increased greatly and new businesses opened, causing great financial success (Kruse and Zelizer, 260). -
Lawrence V. Texas Decision
The Lawrence v. Texas decision legalized sodomy, meaning that gay couples gained sexual rights. This case was extremely significant because it caused a lot of controversy between parties and prompted lots of backlash. Some more conservative individuals believed that the court was forcing values that they did not agree with upon them. They were scared that same-sex marriage would become legalized soon after; it did become legalized in 2004 in the state of Massachusetts. (Kruse and Zelizer, 273). -
Hurricane Katrina
Named one of the deadliest and "most expensive natural disasters in American history", Hurricane Katrina ravaged Texas to Florida, hitting New Orleans especially hard. The New Orleans Superdome, which acted as a relief center, felt like a jail to residents and failed miserably. Though warned about the magnitude of the storm, government leaders failed to prepare effectively, which contributed to the loss of safety. The absence of the federal government was memorable (Kruse and Zelizer, 280-81).