Pop Culture in the 1990s

Vocabulary flashcards for key events and figures in 1990s pop culture.

McDonald's in Moscow (1990)

The opening of this fast-food chain in Moscow on January 31, 1990, symbolized the Soviet Union's increased openness to Western culture during the Cold War era.

Nelson Mandela's Release (1990)

His release from prison on February 11, 1990, after 27 years, marked the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa.

German Reunification (1990)

The official reunification of East and West Germany on October 3, 1990, ending 45 years of division after WWII, symbolized the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

The Chunnel

An undersea railway tunnel linking the United Kingdom and France under the English Channel, allowing trains to travel at 100 mph.

Dr. Kevorkian

An Oakland County physician known for his public advocacy and assistance of physician-assisted suicide for ill people.

Rodney King Incident

A black man beaten by several L.A. officers during an arrest for speeding, highlighting issues of police brutality.

Sonic the Hedgehog

A video game developed by Sega for the Sega Genesis, featuring a hedgehog whose main goal is to defeat Dr. Robotnik.

Jeffrey Dahmer

American serial killer, sex offender, and cannibal who committed 17 murders between 1978 and 1991, with eight victims in 1991.

Fall of the USSR

The collapse of the Soviet Union, resulting from economic failure and reform attempts, marking the end of the Cold War.

Magic Johnson and HIV

His announcement on Nov. 7, 1991, that he had HIV raised awareness for the virus and safe sex practices.

Rodney King Riots (1992)

Riots sparked by the acquittal of officers involved in the Rodney King beating, exposing deep racial tensions and distrust in the justice system.

Amy Fisher (Long Island Lolita)

A 17-year-old who shot the wife of her 35-year-old married lover, resulting in a highly publicized trial and imprisonment.

Hurricane Andrew

A devastating Category 5 hurricane that hit South Florida on August 24, 1992, causing widespread destruction and billions in damages.

The Mall of America

Shopping mall that opened on August 11, 1992, with 330 stores and employing 10,000 people.

Bill Clinton Elected

Defeated George H.W. Bush; the 42nd president, who focused on economic growth.

James Bulger

A two-year-old boy murdered by two ten-year-old boys, sparking public outrage.

WTC Bombing

A terrorist attack in the underground levels of the World Trade Center's north tower, resulting in six deaths and 1,000 injuries.

Waco, Texas

A 51-day standoff and raid involving the Branch Davidians, which led to a raid due to suspicious activity involving stockpiling weapons.

Lorena Bobbitt

She severed her husband's penis with a kitchen knife while he was asleep, resulting in a media sensation.

Black Hawk Downed in Somalia

US troops pinned down by Somalian troops after mission leading to US pulling out of Somalia.

Long Island Railroad Massacre

A person opened fire on passengers aboard the Long Island Railroad, killing six and injuring nineteen.

Tonya Harding

Associated with attack against rival skater and was banned from US Figure Skating Association

Byron de la Beckwith

Initially acquitted, but later convicted of murdering Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist, after a new investigation.

Kurt Cobain

Lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Nirvana, whose struggles with heroin addiction culminated in suicide.

O.J. Simpson Trial

Highly publicized criminal trial where the NFL player was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Jeffrey Dahmer (Murdered)

Murdered in his cell by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver in the Columbia Correctional Institution.

Sarin Gas Attack in Tokyo

Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas during rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring over 5,000.

Selena Killed

Beloved pop culture icon celebrating her music was shot and killed by the president of her fan club.

Oklahoma City Bombing

The bombing was a domestic terrorist truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killing 168 people.

Million Man March

A political demonstration held in Washington, D.C. that promoted African American unity and family values

Yitzhak Rabin

Israeli statesman who was assassinated on November 4, 1995, at the end of a rally in support of the Oslo Accords in Tel Aviv.

Deep Blue

An IBM supercomputer that won the first game of chess against Garry Kasparov.

Ted Kaczynski (The Unabomber)

Arrested in Montana after his brother recognized his writing style in a manifesto he had sent to newspapers while bombing universities and airlines.

Dolly the Sheep

The first mammal to be cloned from a somatic cell.

Olympic Bombing

A pipe bomb exploded during a concert in the ‘96 Olympic Games killing 2 and injuring 111.

Tupac Shakur

Shot in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 7, 1996 with investigation remaining unsolved.

Madeline Albright

The first woman to hold the position as secretary of state under Bill Clinton.

Heaven’s Gate Cult

Mass suicides of 39 members; taught that they must kill themselves to evolve to a higher plane.

Gianni Versace

Italian fashion designer who founded Versace.

Microsoft saves Apple

Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple when the company was close to going out of business

Princess Diana

died in a car crash in Paris; she was being chased by paparazzi when the car she was in lost control in a tunnel

James Byrd, Jr.

Brutally murdered by three white supremacists who beat him and dragged from a truck.

Matthew Shepard

He was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on October 6, 1998.

Jesse Ventura

Shocked the world when he won the 1998 Minnesota governor race.

Dar Es Salaam and Nairobi

Truck bombs exploded at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killing more than 200 people and wounding more than 4,000.

Google

Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Stanford University.

John Glenn

The astronaut flew on the STS-95 Discovery shuttle flight, making him the oldest person to travel in space.

The Euro

Launched on 1 January 1999; only used for accounting purposes and electronic payments

The Matrix

Groundbreaking science fiction action film

columbine shooting

that occurred on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Colorado, where two students carried out a mass shooting, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. This tragic event sparked national debates on gun control and school safety.

Brandi Chastain

a professional soccer player who played for the US women's national team and is best known for her pivotal role in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, including her iconic winning penalty kick.

payne stewart

an American professional golfer known for his colorful attire and distinctive style, who won three major championships during his career.

y2k

A computer programming issue that arose at the turn of the millennium when systems represented years with only two digits, potentially leading to malfunctions on January 1, 2000.