Timeline fact sheet
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 U.S. and Allies at war with Iraq Soviet Union breaks up after President Gorbachev's resignation Bush and Yeltsin proclaim formal end to cold war Bill Clinton elected president, Al Gore vice president; Democrats keep control of Congress Police officers acquitted in April on criminal charges in Rodney King beating are indicted on federal civil rights charges House of Representatives approves North American Free Trade Agreement Major earthquake jolts Los Angeles; 51 dead Baseball owners end season and cancel World Series Death toll 2,000 in Rwanda massacre Los Angeles jury finds O. J. Simpson not guilty of murder charges Pope John Paul II visits U.S. on whirlwind tour Million Man March draws hundreds of thousands of black men to capital President Clinton signs bill to raise minimum wage Clinton-Gore ticket wins national election; Republicans retain control of Congress U.S. jobless rate for May reported 4.8%, lowest since 1973 Princess Diana, 36, killed with two others in Paris car crash Mother Teresa dies at age of 87 Militant Taliban leaders seize Kabul More than 10,000 die in Central American hurricane, Mitch House impeaches President Clinton on two charges, perjury and obstruction of justice Two Colorado students go on shooting spree in Columbine High School, killing 15, including themselves U.S. soccer team tops China for women's World Cup World population reaches six billion milestone Tobacco companies admit to harm caused by cigarette smoking
2000 Cuban boy Elián González reunited with father after federal raid of Miami relatives' home U.S. presidential election closest in decades; Bush's slim lead in Florida leads to automatic recount in that state Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certifies Bush as winner by 537 votes
2001 Race riots in Cincinnati continue for several days following a shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer Bush signs new tax-cut law, cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years, the largest tax cut in 2 decades Terrorists attack United States. Hijackers ram jetliners into twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane crashes 80 mi outside of
Pittsburgh. Toll of dead is more than 3,000. Within days, Islamic militant Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorist network are identified as the parties behind the attacks 2002 President Bush's first State of Union address labels Iran, Iraq, and North Korea “an axis of evil” U.S. and Afghan troops launch Operation Anaconda against remaining al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan Police arrest two sniper suspects, John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo 2003 The United States and Britain launch war against Iraq Bush signs ten-year, $350-billion tax-cut package, the third-largest tax cut in U.S. history California governor Gray Davis ousted in recall vote; actor Arnold Schwarzenegger elected in his place 2004 Bush reelected president. Enormous tsunami devastates Asia; at least 225,000 killed 2005 Iraqi elections to select a 275-seat National Assembly take place despite threats of violence. A total of 8.5 million people voted, representing about 58% of those Iraqis eligible to vote Hurricane Katrina wreaks catastrophic damage on the Gulf Coast; more than 1,000 die and millions are left homeless. Americans are shaken not simply by the magnitude of the disaster but by how ill-prepared all levels of government were in its aftermath. Pennsylvania judge rules teaching of intelligent design in biology class is unconstitutional 2006 The U.S. population officially reaches 300 million On the final day of 2006, the number of U.S. soldiers killed since the start of the Iraq war reaches 3,000.