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John Lennon Assassination
One of the members of the Beatles, John Lennon, was assassinated by Mark David Chapman in New York City, New York. He was shot in the back four times by Chapman. This cost the country and the world grief as someone in their favorite band was murdered. -
First Woman in Supreme Court
Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to be appointed in the U.S. Supreme Court. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and retired in 2006. With O'Connor being appointed into the Supreme Court, the Governement in general was having more females interact. -
Assassination Attempt on President Reagan
On March 30, 1981 President Ronald Reagan was wounded by a gun shot fired by John Hinckley Jr. Reagan was shot in the lower chest and lower arm and suffered from a punctured lung and internal bleeding. Hickley stated that he got the idea from the movie "Taxi Driver." This is important to U.S. History because it shows how people are influenced by forms of technology to commit such dangerous crimes. -
Highest Unemployment Rate
It was the highest unemplyment rate since 1940 at 10.4%. Estimating, that would be about 11 million people in the United States who are unemployed. It is important to history because it shows how jobs come and go just like major events in history. -
Thriller
Michael Jackson released his hit song Thriller to the public. This song was up in the running for many awards like the Grammys and an American Music Award. This was one of his most popular songs before his untimely death in 2009. The King of Pop was also known for Jackson 5 and other songs, but Thriller still remains to be one of the most popular. -
First Woman in Space
Sally Ride was recorded in American History to be the first woman in space. She flew in the space shuttle Challenger. She was known to make two shuttle flights. Later in history she became a champion for science education and a role model more many American Women. -
The Night Stalker
Richard Ramirez, also known as The Night Stalker, was known for commiting the crimes of being a serial killer, rapist and burglar. Most of his crimes occured in the Los Angeles area. His choice of weapons include: handguns, knives, machete, tire iron, and a hammer. He was also known as Satanist. He murdered 13 people, 5 attempted murders, 11 cases of sexual assaults, and burglared 14 people. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is officially recognized as a federal holiday like President's Day. Most people don't recognize this as a holiday. But this day is a reminder of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did to change our country. -
DNA First Used to Convict Criminals
DNA made its first appearance as a way to convict suspects of criminal acts. DNA is anything of a person, saliva, bite marks, fingerprints, etc. Its first case was against Tommie Lee Andrews for raping a woman during a burglary. With the help of DNA evidence, he was setenced for 22 years. DNA evidence is one of the easiest ways to convict a suspect of a crime. Television Shows like NCIS and Law and Order use DNA evidence all the time. -
World Wide Web Invented
World Wide Web is also known as the internet. Today students use this invention to do homework. This invention is important to history because everybody can look up the news and complete almost everything like this project. -
Operation Desert Storm
Also known as the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm was the build up of troops to fight against Saudi Arabia. This is important to history because the U.S. teamed up with a lot of other countries to fight against Iraq.
Interesting Fact: The rapper, Shaggy, was in the Marines for this battle. -
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew is known in history as the highest damage cost in the United States. It was rated a Category 5. The winds were recorded at a high of 175 miles per hour. This is important to history because of the high damage cost in Florida. -
Great Flood in Mississippi
The Great Flood of the Mississippi River resulted in 32 deaths and in the states of IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, and WI. This is important to the United States, because it cost the midwest 15-20 billion dollars. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Don't Ask, Don't Tell is law signed by President Bill Clinton. This law prohibits openly gay or bisexual people from serving in the military. This is important to U.S. History because it effects who's in the military by their sexual orientation not what their purpose is for. -
O.J. Simpson Trial
Once professional football player, O.J. Simpson was tried for killing his wife and waiter. The jury went from November to January. This was the most publicized criminal case in all of U.S. History -
TWA Flight 800
This flight exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean by New York. Everyone on board (230 people) was killed. This was the third deadliest accident in American History. -
Harry Potter Released
Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Row-ling) is first released and is the start of the Harry Potter Fandom. This is important to history because I love Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling (Row-ling). Harry Potter is a world wide phenomenon and important to adults and children of all ages. -
Matthew Shepard
American student who went to the University of Wyoming and was beaten and tortured for being Gay. He was left to die in the hospital from several head injuries. He is known for being a symbol of those who are tortured because of their sexual orientaton in the United States. -
Lewinsky Scandal
In 1998, 22 year old Monica Lewinsky charged Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. It is believed that she is the reason why he was impeached. This scandal shows how the most "powerful" people still have a bad story in their past. -
Oklahoma Tornado
A tornado struck down in Oklahoma, it killed over 50 people It was known to cost the government 1 billion dollars to fix the aftermath. -
World Trade Center
This is a series of events where Islamic terriorst group, Al-Queda, attacks The Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field which was supposed to go to The White House. This is important to U.S. History because this is a terrorist attack that our country did not take lightly. Many people have grown a hatred to all Muslims because of this event. -
Flight 587
American Airlines Fliht 587 was supposed to take off in New York City and land in the Dominican Republic. However it crashed in Queens, a neighborhood in New York. 265 people were killed. In history, this is the deadliest incident that occurred in New York. -
Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security is an organization that was created after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. This Department protects America from terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters, which is all important to American History. -
Massachusetts
Massachusetts became the first state in America to allow same sex marriages. It became legal after the court case of Goodridge vs Department of Public Health. This is important to History because many people struggle to tell people that they are gay or lesbian, etc. Once they do that and choose to get married, it's even harder because only some states allow it. -
Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg, created a social media site called Facebook. It allows the user to post their status and other things to their friends. This is important to History because its capital is work 104 billion dollars. -
Huricane Katrina
Katrina destroyed many areas of the states of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. This cost the coastline 81 billion dollars and 1,836 lives. This is the most costly natural disaster that ever occurred in U.S. History. -
Twitter Launch
Twitter, another social media website has been created. Twitter allows the user to "follow" whomever they like such as famous people, friends, or family. Twitter allowed people to get even closer to those whom they admire. -
Northern Illinois University Shooting
Steven Kazmierczak killed five people, injured 21 and then shot himself. This occurred at Northern Illionois University and many high figures such as George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Dick Durbin all offered their condolences. -
Barack Obama
Barack Obama was elected into the White House as the 44th President of the United States. He is the first African American Male to ever be President. -
Michael Jackon Dies
King of Pop, the Great Michael Jackon has died. He died in his sleep from cardiac arrest induced b propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. His death results grief all around the country and lots of social media sites such as Twitter crashed.
