| 1988 | George H. W. Bush elected president. |
| 1989 | Communism collapses in Eastern Europe. |
| 1990 | Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| 1991 | Persian Gulf War. |
| 1992 | Bill Clinton elected president. |
| 1993 | Israel and PLO peace accords. North American Free Trade Agreement. |
| 1994 | United States sends troops to Haiti. World Trade Organization established. |
| 1995 | Bombing of federal building in Oklahoma City. |
| 1996 | Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. |
| 1998–2000 | United States bombs Iraq. |
| 1999 | Senate trial rejects impeachment of Clinton. |
| 2000 | George W. Bush elected president. |
| 2001 | Terrorists attack World Trade Center and Pentagon. U.S.-led coalition drives Taliban government out of Afghanistan. USA Patriot Act. $1.35 trillion tax cut. |
| 2002 | No Child Left Behind Act. |
| 2003 | United States attacks Iraq. |
| 2005 | Hurricane Katrina. |
| 2008 | Worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Barack Obama elected president. |
| 2009 | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. |
| 2010 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. United States ends combat operations in Iraq, increases troops in Afghanistan. |
| 2011 | Osama bin Laden killed. |