1980-2001

By Cbiggers4

  • Ronald Reagan

    Takes office as the 40th president of the United States.

  • Supply-side economics

    Introduced by Reagan, included a large tax cut for all Americans.

  • Thriller

    Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time.

  • Strategic Defense Initiative

    A space-based system that could shoot down incoming Soviet missiles.

  • Oprah

    Oprah Winfrey started her famous show.

  • Tax Reform Act of 1986

    A compromise between Democrats and Republicans on the corporate and marginal income tax rates.

  • Operation Rescue

    An organization abortion clinics and pro-choice politicians with confrontational - and sometimes violent - tactics.

  • George H. W. Bush

    Was elected president in the election of 1988.

  • Mikhail Gorbachev

    Resigned office declaring that the Soviet Union no longer existed.

  • 1992 Presidential Election

    Won by Bill Clinton when everyone thought that Bush would be unbeatable.

  • 1994 Presidential Election

    Won again by Bill Clinton becoming the first Democrat to win back to back since Franklin Roosevelt.

  • Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996

    This act decreased welfare benefits, restricted eligibility, and turned over many responsibilities to the states.

  • 2000 Presidential Election

    This election was extremely close, but ended up being won by George W. Bush.

  • Operation Enduring Freedom

    Began the longest war in American history and comprised of air and missile strikes to targets across Afghanistan.

  • September 11

    A massive terrorist attack occurred in which airline flights were taken over and crashed into the World Trade Center and other locations.

  • Baghdad

    Location of the first American bombs in the War on Terror

  • Saddam Hussein

    Leader of a dangerous regime in Iraq found and captured on this date by Americans.

  • 2004 Presidential Election

    Won again by George W. Bush right in the middle of the War on Terror.

  • 2008 Presidential Election

    Won by Barrack Obama, the first African American elected president.

  • Citizens United v. FEC

    Supreme Court ruled that no limits could be placed on political spending by corporations, unions, and nonprofits.

  • Osama Bin Laden

    Taliban leader killed by a raid from the Navy Seals.

  • 2012 Presidential Election

    Won again by Barrack Obama defeating Republican Mitt Romney.