1996 Politics, Culture, and Social compared to 1994, 1998 and 2008

In 1996 presidential elections took place and now in 2008 we are electing our next president. In 1994 there was a bombing on the World Trade Center and later in 2001. Clinton was accused of sexual harassment in 1994 and later Clinton has an affair in 1998.

1994 Politics: Four people were convicted in the World Trade Center bombing. Clinton is accused of sexual harassment. The US Supreme Court approves limit on abortion protests. Senate confirms Stephen G. Breyer for Supreme Court. U.S. sends forces to the Persian Golf. Thousands die in a Rwanda massacre.

Reference and more information: http://www.infoplease.com/year/1994.html

1996 Politics: November 5, 1996 was Election Day and Bill Clinton from Arkansas won, making Al Gore vice president. Bill Clinton’s opponent was Republican Bob Dole from Kansas, and his right arm was Jack Kemp. Bill Clinton won the electoral votes (379) and the popular votes (47,402,357). Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole trailed Bill Clinton by 22 points in the September Field Poll. The dwindling support for Dole is likewise evident even in Republican strongholds such as Orange County, Riverside and San Diego Counties. Clinton leads Dole in issues such as education and seems quite confident that the economic stability of California would reflect well on him. Competition for control of the congressional delegation, which is evenly split with 26-26 at pre-election time, is not as conclusive. Democrat Bill Clinton defeats Republican Bob Dole. By winning it made it Bill Clintons second term in office. Bill Clinton appoints Madeleine Albright as the first female as the United States Secretary of State. Clinton bands on late-term abortions.

Reference: California Journal, http://www.presidentelect.org/e1996.html.

1998 Politics: President is accused in White House sex scandal. US Supreme Court rules line-item veto unconstitutional. President outlines first balance budget in thirty years. Clinton denies allegations of affair with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. House impeaches President Clinton along party lines on two charges, perjury and obstruction of justice.

Reference: Information Please:1998

2008 Politics: The US presidential election of 2008 is still in progress. Republican John McCain (from Arizona) is running for president against Democrat Barack Obama (from Illinois). If McCain wins the presidential election the new Vice President will be Sarah Palin. However, if Obama wins the presidential election Joe Biden will be the new vice president. The 2008 election is particularly notable because it is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for president. Also it is the first time an African American is a presidential nominee for a major party and a woman nominee for vice president. Obama leads McCain among likely U.S. voters 48 percent to 45 percent in the national poll, which has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. Four percent of voters said they were still undecided.

Reference: Obama has 3-point national lead on McCain.

When comparing 1996 to 2008 one can see that short hair was popular in both years. Bangs tossed to the side are now even more accepted now than back in 1996. The slim silhouette is still fashionable as it once was in 1994 and 1996.


1994 Culture: Heroin Chic is a fashion term for pale, skinny models with dark sunken eyes and fine, blow-away hair. Models looked ill and they were really taking lots of drugs. Models in 1994 were no more bulimic, nicotine-soaked or coked-up than before. Designers simply had a new look - and needed a catchphrase for it. 1994 the year of the wonderbra. Prozac started as a treatment for depression and ended up a fashion accessory for the trendy end of Generation X.

Reference and more information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1994/fashion.shtml

1996 Culture: Woman in the year 1996 had very short boyishly close-cut hair. It helped be a sleek way to top off the season’s slim silhouette. The body image was a long and lean look. Women also wore suits with button up shirts. Sometimes women would wear shirts as a dress or as a jacket. Chinese motifs and silhouettes are strong influence on designers. Many designers incorporate Chinese elements in their lines.

1998 Culture: Hairstyles include big bold streaks and colored mascara for your hair. Short hair is still common among women. Sheer fabrics, metallic, active wear, lace and crochet and denim were fashionable.

2008 Culture: Fashion takes an exotic turn with an explosion of tribal looks. Popular styles are delicate fabrics, short sleeves, wide leg and flared pants, scarves, and tuxedo jackets for men and women. The crop, the bob, the fringe are all working their way into the year's trends, while hair styles include soft and feminine and elegant side parts.


Reference: http://www.fashionising.com/industry/b--2008s-Fashion-Hair-Beauty-Trends-948.html

In 1996 and in 2008 the Olympics took place. Global warming becomes an even bigger issue in 2008.

1994 Social: Kurt Cobain kills himself when he was 27. Steven Spielberg wins his first Oscar for Schindler’s List. Tom Hanks wins his second Oscar in Forrest Gump. Whitney Houston won album and record of the year. The most popular song of the year was “A Whole New World” from the movie Aladdin. Dallas (30) and Buffalo (13) competed in the Super Bowl. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. There is a major league baseball players strike. O.J. Simpson is arrested for killing his wife and friend.

Reference and more information: http://www.infoplease.com/year/1994.html

1996 Social: Dr. Ian Wilmut cloned the world's first sheep from adult cells. The lamb was named Dolly in 1996. Global warming climbs to a record high. Janet Jackson becomes has paid musician in history when she signs an $80 million dollar deal. An Oscar and an Academy award goes to the movie Braveheart for best picture, which stared Mel Gibson. Album of the year was Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette. Dallas played Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl (27-17). It was the year of the Olympics, which took place in Atlanata. Tamagotchis, electronic pets, become the trendy toy.

Reference and more information: http://www.answers.com/topic/1996#art1996. 2008. Infoplease. 23 Sep. 2008 .

1998 Social: Denver(31) and Green Bay(24) compete in the Super Bowl. The movie Titanic wins eleven Academy Awards. Titanic becomes the highest-grossing film of all time, ranking in more than $580 million domestically. The TV show Seinfeld ends. Frank Sinatra dies of a heart attack. The year of the Furby and Beanie Babies are the new craze.

Reference: Information Please and Answers.com

2008 Social: The summer Olympics were held in Beijing from August 8 to August 24. A total of 10,500 athletes competed in 302 events in 28 sports. Miley Cyrus is a Disney star, who won popularity among young girls and has her own line of clothing. Popular movies in 2008: Dark Knight, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Wall E, Iron Man, and 10,000 BC are some of the many popular movies of 2008.

Reference and more information:
http://www.infoplease.com/world/events/2008/jan.html
http://www.infoplease.com/world/events/2008/