The 2000s
Jacky Dickman
Presidents and Key Leaders
Bill Clinton, the first President of this time period, served from 1993 to 2001. He reduced the poverty rate and he reduced the military's size. Clinton also passed NAFTA exchange goods. The second President of this time period was George W. Bush. He served from 2001 to 2009. He was the leader on the attack of Saddam Hussein. He also put in place an emergency plan for AIDS relief. The last President of this time period was Barrack Obama. He began serving in 2009 and is still serving in 2013. He created Obamacare, retracted troops from duty, and passed the Stimulus.
Key leaders during this time period included Tony Blair and Jean Chretien. Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He supported the US in the war in Afghanistan along with the reduction of greenhouse gases. Jean Chretien was the Prime Minister of Canada. Jean supported the US in the war against Afghanistan and sent troops when the war began. He didn't see a link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks, so he didn't support the war.
Key Laws
Several laws were passed in the 2000s to help improve and continue to modify our nation. One of these laws was The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This law helped expand student testing, revamp their accountability systems, and guaranteed that every teacher was qualified for their position. Another important law passed in the 2000s was the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008. This helped prevent employers from being discriminatory based on the employees genetic information. Also, the Prenatally and Postnatal Diagnosed conditions Awareness Act of 2008 provided information to adults who's prenatal or postnatal child is diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. Another key law, passed by Barrack Obama, was the Affordable Care Act of 2010. This is also known as "Obamacare." It prohibited pre-existing condition exclusions, eliminated annual and lifetime caps, and prohibited discrimination based on health status and disability.
Supreme Court Decisions
Supreme Court decisions during the 2000s helped shape the government of our country. One that occurred during this time period happened on November 28, 2000. It stated that highway checkpoints used for the use of illegal drug searches was a violation of the fourth amendment. Another, occurring on December 12, 2000, stated that hand counting ballots was seen as a violation of constitutional equal protection and due process guarantees. Another was Kennedy vs. Louisiana in 2008. This stated that in the instance of rape, the death sentence can not be ordered if the victim did not die, or death wasn't intended. Lastly, another Supreme Court decision included the Gonzales vs. Raich case in 2005. It made it legal for Congress to ban Marijuana, even if used for medical purposes.
Wars and Defense Decisions
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack occurred on the World Trade Center. This created the Department of Homeland Security and helped to tighten the security of our nation. This event led us into The War on Terror.
"Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward and freedom will be defended." --President Bush, September 11, 2001
School shootings boosted during the 2000s, unfortunately. Several occurred, including those in Lake Worth Florida, Santee California, Red Lake Minnesota, Cazenovia Wisconsin, Madison Alabama, and so many more. These shootings brought the topic of gun control into question, and it questioned the security of public school systems and what is considered a safe place.
The war that took place in the 2000s was the Iraq and Afghanistan war. Afghanistan started on October 7, 2001, and was an effort to control the Taliban. Troops are retracting from this war because of Obama. The Iraq war started on March 20, 2003, and started by a cross over Iraqi border led by US Marines. This war is due to oil, and to help better the lives of Iraqi civilians.
"When an army unit returns from service in Iraq or Afghanistan, it barely gets a breather before it begins training for its next deployment." -- Hillary Clinton
The Iraq and Afghanistan War
The 9/11 Terrorist Attack
School Shootings
Technology
Technology was a very important part of those living in the 2000s, and that would explain why it changed so much during this decade. The cell phone became an essential in several peoples lives, and the digital camera improved significantly. Things like the laptop, headphones, tablets, tvs, video games, cars and iPods grew significantly. Because of the technology in this time period, communication is much easier and less time-consuming.
Cell Phones
Helped people communicate.
Digital Cameras
Allowed for you to print as many pictures as you wanted and let you save them.
i Pods
Held music and videos in a handheld, portable device.
Cost of Living
Item prices in the 2000s are very similar to their prices now. For example, a gallon of milk ranged from $2.75 to $3.47. A gallon of gas would cost from $1.44 to $3.73, while a loaf of bread ranged from $1.01 to $1.41.
The average wage during the 2000s was $39,423 at the beginning of the time period, and was at $51,888 at the end. Surprisingly, people made less in this decade that they did in the decade before it. There was zero net job creation. Some of the most common jobs were computer software engineers, desktop publishers, and computer support specialists.
Entertainment
The 2000s music was mainly hip-hop. This was influenced by artists such as Eminem, the Black Eyed Peas, and Jay-Z. Boy bands such as the Backstreet Boys and the Jonas Brothers also became popular. Adult contemporary music was formed from singers like Daughtry, Colbie Calliat, and Alicia Keys. Top songs during the 2000s included "Since You Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson and "Hey Ya" by Outkast. Some of the most popular movies included the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Dark Knight, and Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind.
Video Games played an important role in several teenage and older peoples lives. Some of the popular games included the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3.
Sports
Sports were a big part of many peoples lives during the 2000s. Some of the most popular sports included basketball, baseball, football, and volleyball. Many great athletes during this time period are continuing to leave their legacy today. One of the greatest athletes of this day was Michael Jordan. He played for the NBA in the Chicago Bulls. Other great athletes were Serena Williams a tennis player, Shawn White a snowboarder, Usain Bolt a track star, and Jimmie Johnson a racecar driver. Great teams during this time period included the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Yankees, the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots, and North Carolina college basketball team.
Lifestyle
During the 2000s, teenagers were engulfed in technology. This generation is known as The Technology Generation. Life for these teenagers revolved around friends, family, social media, technology, school, music, sports, and other extra curricular activities.
Girls fashion during the 2000s consisted of less conservative clothing. This meant shorter shorts and skin-tight shirts. T-shirts and jeans were also trending. For men, jeans and t-shirts were a must. Athletic based clothing also became popular.
Famous People
Several famous people made an impact on society during the 2000s. Several people dressed like these famous people or began to act like them. One of these famous individuals is Oprah Winfrey. She was a famous entrepreneur who went through tough times herself. She helps people in need whenever she can. For example, she helped a lot with victims of hurricane Katrina. Another famous actor is Ellen DeGeneres. She is a famous talk show host, gay activist, and animal rights supporter. Another is Taylor Swift, a famous singer; Michael Jackson was also known as the "King of Pop." He was a singer and song writer who had a huge effect on society. Lastly, another famous individual was bill Gates. He was an entrepreneur who created the worlds' largest software, Microsoft, and became one of the wealthiest men alive.