1. Historical Events in the past 12 Years…
(Your Lifetime!!!)

2. 2000
Republicans file federal suit to block manual recount of Florida presidential election ballots sought by Democrats (Nov. 11, 2000).
Supreme Court seals Bush victory by 5–4; rules there can be no further recounting (Dec. 12, 2000).
Hillary Clinton is elected to the United States Senate, becoming the first First Lady of the United States to win public office (2000)

3. 2001
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. (Sept. 11, 2001)
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 (Sept. 11, 2001)
The first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, is released, grossing US $975.8 million, becoming the second highest grossing film around the world of all time. (Nov. 16, 2001)

4. 2002
US President George W. Bush signs the Homeland Security Act into law, establishing the Department of Homeland Security in the largest US government reorganization since the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947 (the Senate passed the bill 90-9 on November 19) (Nov. 25, 2002)

5. 2003
In 2003, the Space Shuttle Colombia crumbled and killed all 7 astronauts
Martha Stewart and her broker are indicted for using privileged investment information and then obstructing a federal investigation. Stewart also resigned as chairperson and chief executive officer of Martha Stewart Living. (June 4, 2003)

6. 2004
The strongest earthquake in 40 years originates from the Indian Oceanoff the west coast of Sumatra island in Indonesia, measuring 9.3 onthe Richter Scale and creating a deadly tsunami. (Dec. 26, 2004)
The Boston Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series championship for the first time since (Oct. 27, 2004)

7. 2005 Facebook launched a high school version in September.
House Passes Bill to Expand Stem Cell Research (May 24, 2005)
Musicians Urge World to Unite to End Poverty in Africa (July 2, 2005)
NASA Spacecraft Crashes into Comet (July 4, 2005)

8. 2006
NASA’s Stardust mission successfully ends, the first to return dust from a comet. (Jan. 12, 2006)
North Korea claims to have its first ever nuclear test. (Oct. 9, 2006)

9. 2007
The housing bubble finally burst, big time. Defaults on subprime mortgages.
Potter-mania crested with the July 21 debut of the seventh, final, and most satisfying book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

10. 2008 Housing market crashes.
Polar Bear Designated as Threatened (May 14)
Summer Olympic Games place in Beijing, China.
First African American elected as United States President

11. 2009
A California woman gave birth to eight babies in California; they are only the second set of octuplets ever to be born alive in America. (Jan. 27,2009)
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Peanut Butter (Jan. 20, 2009)

12. 2010
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Arizona for Immigration Law (July 6, 2010)
Phil Mickelson Wins Masters Golf Tournament (Apr. 11, 2010)
Poverty Rates Hit 15-Year High (Sept. 16, 2010)

13. 2011 Packers Beat Steelers in Super Bowl XLV (Feb. 6, 2011)
Three Billion Watch Prince William Marry Kate Middleton (April 29, 2011)
Osama bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALS (May 2, 2011)

14. 2012 Facebook to file for stock offering. (Feb. 2012)
Death of Whitney Houston. (Feb. 12, 2012)
Lowest unemployment rate since recession of 2008.