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End of AIDS Crisis
AIDS, standing for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a chronic condition spread through sexual contact which damages the immune system so that the body is less able to fight diseases. In the 1980s, the United States underwent an AIDS Crisis which resulted in around 100,000 deaths during it. After many battles and years, they discovered cures which helped end the deadly crisis. "More effective antiretroviral drug treatments were discovered in the mid-1990's" (Khan Academy, John Recchiuti). -
Economic Recession
In 1990, the U.S. entered an economic recession which resulted in extremely high unemployment rates. In the excerpt "Fault Lines" it says, "Upper income brackets boomed as those on the lower end of the ladder struggled to stay in place" (Scandalized, 234). The poor had shrunk even further due to around 1.5 million job losses. This affected the economy greatly because most people were not getting the money they need to survive, and the U.S. was not making any profits needed for great purposes. -
Period: to
1990-2010
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PRISM Program
In 2007, the PRISM Program was created which essentially went against citizens privacy on the internet and social media. It was created to find information of potential terrorists and prevent attacks from happening in the future. "The federal government was working with key companies among them and strengthening its ability to pry into Americans' daily lives" (Fault Lines, Mass Destruction, 287). This program resulted in a decrease of security and protection of private information. -
Oklahoma City Bombing
In 1995, there was a terrorist attack in Oklahoma City killing 168 people and left many others injured. According to an article, "Inside the vehicle was a powerful bomb made out of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals" (FBI, Oklahoma Bombing). This terrorist attack led to the rise in white hatred since the terrorists themselves were white men, and also led to the rise of the U.S. being more attentive of foreign or domestic terrorist attacks. -
Welfare Reform Act
The 1996 welfare reforms were intended to promote work and personal responsibility. This program assisted families in need, helped reduce non-marital births and keep 2-parent families. As a result of this act, the U.S. gained more funding for childcare and single mothers in need of money. They ended up putting a limit on welfare and stopped aiding families after 2 years which dramatically declined the benefits people were receiving. -
Children's Health Insurance Program
The 1977 CHIP was a program designed to help aid children. In the excerpt "Fault Lines" it says, "offered states matching funds to provide health insurance to children" (Scandalized, 222). It provided funds to families with children who had too much income for medicaid, but at the same time didn't have enough to afford private coverage. Around 10 million children did not have health insurance due to ineligibility for medicaid, but after CHIP, this number was successfully split in half. -
9/11
On September 11th, 2001, the worst and deadliest terrorist attack in history took place in the United States. A group of terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them straight into the World Trade Center located in New York City. This attack killed about 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000. This event led to the war on Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq. Following this attack, the federal government developed more advanced security frameworks to protect our country from further attacks. -
War on Iraq
The Iraq War began with the invasion on Iraq by the United States that overthrew Saddam Hussien. The U.S. had intentions of disarming Iraq because they believed they had weapons of mass destruction which was a threat to the country. This war continued for 7 years and resulted in more than 4,000 U.S. deaths and around 10,000 Iraq deaths. In 2011, the U.S. withdrew it's military forces from Iraq essentially ending the war. -
Re-election of President Bush
In the 2004 election, George W. Bush won and was re-elected. He won by a 50.7% popular vote more than the republican candidate. Many people voted for him again because of his efforts after 9/11 as he enabled Congress to create the United States Department of Homeland Security and he then declared war on terrorism. He also established major tax cuts and community aid which greatly helped the citizens of the U.S. His re-election led to many accomplishments and assistance to countless people. -
Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, a deadly and extremely destructive category-5 hurricane hit the Gulf Coast. According to the excerpt "Fault Lines" it says, "It was one of the deadliest hurricanes in American history as well, with 1,833 deaths attributed to the storm and the subsequent floods" (Mass Destruction, 280). This storm also led to around $108 billion in property damage. After the storm passed, Congress distributed $62 billion in aid to help assist feeding and giving shelter to those who lost their homes.