The Ten Biggest Stories of the 2010’s

These were the biggest events to have happened in the 2010s, a decade that had no shortage of manor news events.

2016 Presidential Election (2016)

The 2016 election is notable because several unprecedented things happened. It may have been the biggest upset of all time (and at least since 1948). It marked the first time a woman received a major party’s nomination. It was also the high water mark for American Socialism, with Bernie Sanders receiving over 13 million votes and even an Electoral vote from a faithless elector. It was the largest disparity between the electoral vote and popular vote ever.

Passage of Affordable Care Act (2010)

Presidents as far back as Theodore Roosevelt have pushed for health care reform. FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Clinton all attempted to make some sort of national health care system. Since 1912, every attempt failed. In March 2010 the losing streak finally ended. Obama had to pass a conservative bill that strengthened the private system, expanded Medicaid, and put new consumer minded regulations on health care plans. It greatly expanded coverage and weathered 2 Supreme Court cases, 5 elections where it was the central issue and a major repeal attempt.

Assassination of Osama Bin Laden (2011)

Since 9/11 the architect of the largest, most iconic terror attack in world history remained a free man. Then in April of 2011, Osama Bin Laden was killed in a secret raid in Pakistan. The event came a day after the White House Correspondence Dinner and happened in a way that was directly talked about in a 2008 general election debate.

Japanese Tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster (2011)

The initial tragedy of the 2011 Japanese tsunami was made far worse by the absolutely disastrous response to the Fukushima nuclear site. The nuclear disaster left an entire town uninhabitable, and left massive amounts of atomic material in the ocean. The government of Japan was also less than forthcoming about how they were dealing with the nuclear mess, leading to what will be seen as a 21st century Chernobyl.

Legalization of Gay Marriage (2015)

The 1996 passage of the Defense of Marriage Act made same sex marriage illegal federally. In 2004, George W. Bush used constitution amendments in swing states to secure his re-election. In 2008 all major candidates in both parties opposed same sex marriage and…