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1990s ‑ Stories

The 1990s is often remembered as a decade of relative peace and prosperity: The Soviet Union fell, ending the decades-long Cold War, and the rise of the Internet ushered in a radical new era of communication, business and entertainment. However, the decade was not without violence and tragedy, including the Bosnian genocide, the Rodney King beating and subsequent L.A. Riots, and the bombing of the World Trade Center. The Columbine High School shooting marked a solemn chapter in gun violence, and the devastatingly deadly Oklahoma City bombing by a domestic terrorist followed lethal standoffs between federal agents and armed civilians at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and Waco, Texas.

Flowers left outside the home of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy on N. Moore St. in New York City.

The Plane Crash That Killed JFK Jr.

In 1999, the son of the famous president died, along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette‑Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette, when the plane JFK Jr. was piloting crashed into the ocean.

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Beanie Babies

How the Beanie Baby Craze Came to a Crashing End

In the 1990s, hysteria over Ty Inc’s $5 plush toys fed a wave of theft, fraud and market manipulation. Values soared—then plummeted.

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M1A1 Abrams tank

How Tanks Played a Critical Role in the Persian Gulf War

Tanks— particularly the M1A1 Abrams—proved critical for U.S.‑led coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War.

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What Drove Heaven's Gate Followers to Mass Suicide?

What Drove Heaven’s Gate Followers to Mass Suicide?

In 1997, 39 members of a religious sect were found dead by suicide inside a San Diego mansion. Why did they do it?

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What Countries Made Up the Soviet Union?

What Countries Were Part of the Soviet Union?

At its height, the USSR comprised of more than a dozen republics stretching across Europe and Asia. After the collapse, each forged a different path.

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Manhattan mit World Trade Center / New York(GERMANY OUT) New York (Stadt). New York, USA: Skyline von Manhattan mit den Türmen des World Trade Centers. WTC, Twin Towers.

7 Facts About the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing

The attack by a group of Islamic fundamentalists announced the growing threat of terrorism on US soil.

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Flames from burning jet fuel on the waters off of Long Island from the TWA Flight 800 Boeing 747-100 aircraft that exploded on July 17, 1996 near East Moriches, New York.

What Happened to TWA Flight 800?

Speculation fueled theories that a terrorist act had caused the crash that killed the 230 on board, but an investigation later concluded it was a tragic mechanical error.

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When the ‘Capitol Crawl’ Dramatized the Need for Americans with Disabilities Act

The 1990 protest demonstrated the barriers that inaccessible buildings create for people with disabilities.

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Biosphere II

When Biosphere 2 Became a Grand Experiment in Self‑Isolation

In the 1990s, eight adventurers spent two years separated from the rest of the world inside a futuristic greenhouse meant to mimic a spaceship—on Earth.

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The Euro: How a Common Currency Helped Europe Achieve Peace

Born in the ashes of World War II, the currency used by 19 European countries went into effect on January 1, 1999.

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How a Petty Snub Led to Clinton’s Government Shutdown—and the Lewinsky Affair

Newt Gingrich was offended that Clinton hadn’t talked to him on Air Force One.

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Newt Gingrich

The 1994 Midterms: When Newt Gingrich Helped Republicans Win Big

A strategy to give congressional campaigns a unified, national message under the “Contract With America” led to a Republican sweep.

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