1990s

Events and trends

The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. The 90s were marked with rapid progression of globalization and global capitalism following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

While optimism and hopes were high following the collapse of Communism, the backlash of the Cold War's effect was only beginning, precipitating the continuation of terrorism in Third World regions that were once the frontlines for American and Soviet foreign politics, particularly in Asia. However, during the 1990s many First World economies such as the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and South Korea experienced steady economic growth for nearly the entire decade. Even less affluent nations such as Malaysia saw tremendous improvements in economic prosperity and quality of life during the 1990s. With the Cold War over, "Roaring" 90's prosperity, and September 11 having no negative connotations applied to it, this decade is often held in high regard for people in many of these nations.

Many countries, institutions, companies, and organizations also viewed the 90s decade as "a prosperous time", meaning that almost all of them rebounded after many years of failure. Some examples include Apple Computer's revival of power after being at the edge of bankruptcy, breakthroughs in many fields of technology that includes the Internet, compact disc, virtual reality, etc., the discovery of oil and gas on many countries and Pope John Paul II's papacy reached its peak.

Regardless, the 1990s brought tragic conflicts as well, like the Serbian-Croatian conflict, the Rwandan genocide, the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia and the first Gulf War.

Technology

Vinyl records phase out in late 80s and early 90s.

The World Wide Web invented at CERN in 1990, opens first browser in 1991
The Pentium processor is developed by Intel.
Microsoft introduces Windows 95 to the market, which gained immediate popularity.
Explosive growth of the Internet, starting around 1992-1993; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology.

By 1994 the Net had 3 million users which exploded to 100 million by 2001.

Advancements with computer modems, ISDN, cable modems and DSL lead to faster connection to the Internet.
The development of web browsers such as Netscape and Internet Explorer makes surfing the World Wide Web easier and more user friendly.
The Java programming language is developed by Sun Microsystems
Businesses begin E-commerce websites; companies such as Amazon.com, eBay, AOL, and Yahoo! grew rapidly on the Internet.
Cell phones burst in popularity and decrease in size, becoming essential business items by end of decade
Pagers and PDAs become popular communication tools.
E-mail becomes popular; as a result Microsoft acquires the popular Hotmail.com.
Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K).
Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM PCs.
Development of free operating system Linux is started.
Compact discs, introduced in the 1980s, surpass cassette sales by 1992 and branch into DVD by end of decade.

Science

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Hubble Space Telescope

Detection of extrasolar planets orbiting stars other than the sun
Cloning (of Dolly the sheep) achieved
Human Genome Project begun
DNA identification of individuals finds wide application in criminal law
Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990; revolutionizes astronomy
Protease inhibitors introduced allowing HAART therapy against HIV; drastically reduces AIDS mortality
NASA's spacecraft Pathfinder lands on Mars and deploys a small roving vehicle, Sojourner, that analyzes the planet's geology and atmosphere
The Hale-Bopp comet swings past the sun at close to 100,000 miles per hour for the first time in 4,200 years.
Development of biodegradable products, replacing products made from styrofoam; advanced methods for recycling of waste products (such as paper, glass, aluminum) are developed.
Genetically engineered crops are developed for commercial use.

War, peace and politics

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Gulf War

Reunification of Germany on October 3 1990
End of apartheid in South Africa (1990) and election of ANC government of Nelson Mandela
Iraq invades Kuwait, 1990
Gulf War and United Nations embargo on Iraq in 1991
North Yemen and South Yemen merge to form Yemen (1991)
Break up of the Soviet Union in 1991 - the end of the Cold War, United States as sole world superpower. Also end of the short 20th Century.
The bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 by an explosive-filled van leads to awareness of international terrorism as a rising threat.
Political correctness becomes a fad in early 90s, declining to some extent in the 21st Century.
Eritrea gains independence from Ethiopia (1993)
European Union is declared in 1992
Military actions in Somalia in 1993 lead to questions of the United States' role as a policing officer of the world. (see also, Black Hawk Down).
Rwandan genocide kills one million people, in 1994
The birth of the "Second Republic" in Italy, with the Mani Pulite investigations of 1994
Peace process begins in Northern Ireland in 1995
Balkan war in former Yugoslavia in 1995
A decade of women presidents in the Republic of Ireland
The United Kingdom hands sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997
U.S. Congressman Newt Gingrich crafts his manifesto "Contract with America", leading his Republican Party to become the controlling majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. president Bill Clinton's sex scandal with Monica Lewinsky and his impeachment trial in 1998, which lasts the entire year
Anti-globalization protests
The Second Congo War start in 1998 in central Africa and includes 5 different cultures and 7 different nations. It goes on until 2002
In May 1999, Pakistan sends troops covertly to occupy strategic peaks in Kashmir. A month later the Kargil War with India results in a political fiasco for Nawaz Sharif, followed by a military withdrawal to the Line of Control. The incident leads to a military coup in October in which the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is ousted by Army Chief Pervez Musharraf.
Portugal hands sovereignty of Macau to the People's Republic of China on December 20, 1999

Economics

Development of GATT, the World Trade Organization and other global economic institutions
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which phases out trade barriers between the United States, Mexico and Canada is signed into law by U.S. President Bill Clinton
After 1992 the booming of the US stock market, in reference to which Alan Greenspan coined the memorable phrase "irrational exuberance", which eventually stretched into the dot-com boom / dot-com bubble
Financial crisis hits East and Southeast Asia in 1997 and 1998.

Culture

Douglas Coupland publishes the novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularizing the term Generation X as the name of the generation born in the late 1960s and early 1970s (then college-age)
Reality Television explodes on MTV with the popularity of The Real World (1992-); Along with Road Rules (1995-), Real World/Road Rules Challenge (1998), Real World marathons, Road Rules marathons, and Real World reunions, these shows remained popular throughout the 1990s.
Grunge music gains widespread mainstream acceptance in the early part of the decade; as a result alternative rock gains popularity, and the emergence of post-grunge begins.
1980s backlash occurs between 1991 and 1993, causing the decline of hair metal bands, a change in music production, and a shift in fashion.
Rap music gains widespread mainstream acceptance through out the decade, starting with the success of MC Hammer, Public Enemy and Vanilla Ice; ending with hip-hop inspired by Puff Daddy, Dr. Dre and Eminem.
Japanimation becomes popular in the United States with late 90s shows Pokemon, Dragonball Z, and Cowboy Bebop.
Music festivals such as Lollapalooza became popular; a fusing of genres from alternative rock, rap, punk rock and garage bands.
Black becomes a dominant color in fashion, along with several dark colors (see Goth, The Matrix, and Regis Philbin)
Trance, techno and electronica music becomes widely popular at rave parties in Europe/USA and in pop culture, particularly later in the decade
Dogme 95 becomes the leading European artistic film movement by the end of the decade
Video games become more advanced. The more influential game systems include the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sony Playstation, and the Sega Dreamcast, being one of the first to jumpstart the online gaming craze of the 2000s.
Extreme sports reached a new height in popularity, and by 1995, were given their own annual tournament on US cable network ESPN, the X-Games.
Professional wrestling became extremely popular. After scandals and near bankruptcy due to competition from World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation was repackaged more edgier and realistic. Superstars such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley, Steve Borden (Sting), Bill Goldberg, Raven, Sabu and others became household names. At the same time, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) led wrestling's entry into edgier angles.
Recreational sports such as rock climbing, mountain biking, sky diving, snowboarding, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, in-line skating, kayaking and rowing becomes hugely popular.
Cartoons aimed at an adult audience become popular. Among the most successful are The Simpsons (1989-), Ren & Stimpy (1991-1995), Beavis & Butt-head (1993-1997), South Park (1997-), King of the Hill (1997-), and Family Guy (1999-)
Television networks increase programs aimed at twenty- and thirty-somethings. Some of the popular are Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000), Melrose Place (1992-1999), Party of Five (1994-2000), Ally McBeal (1997-2002), Friends (1994-2004), and Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Notable television sitcoms aimed at the teen market include Boy Meets World, Full House, Family Matters, Family Guy, and Third Rock From The Sun among many others.
In America, country music becomes more mainstream with popular chart topping artist such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw.
While many 1990s aspects of pop culture faded in the 2000s the decade had a cultural presence well into the 2000s, examples including Post-Grunge music, The Simpsons, Friends, which lasted until 2004, and 1990s fashion which did not begin to subside until about 2003.
Anticipation of the year 2000 begins around 1989, creating an obsession with progress to the 21st Century and self-resolutions.

Fads and fashion

Other significant events

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Oklahoma City Bombing

The massive global human impact on the environment, which first garnered attention in the 60s, was widely acknowledged.
Divorce and scandal rocked the British Royal House of Windsor.
The assassination of Selena Quintanilla.
Sex and Violence in the media increase, especially in the late part of the decade. Cussing in music reaches peak in the late 90s.
Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers announced he has contracted HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and retires immediately from the NBA.
O.J. Simpson's trial, described in the media as the "trial of the century".
You go, girl! becomes a popular phrase in the media as feminism is more widely accepted and publicised in the media with The Spice Girls, the WNBA, women's boxing, Sex and the City and others showcasing modern femininity.
The Vieques controversy.
The Oklahoma City Bombing, the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 and serving as a precursor to the age of war and terrorism that would plague the United States in the 2000s.
The Waco massacre prompts a nationwide debate in the U.S. about the freedom of association right of the Michigan Militia, Montana Militia and other radical groups.
Crime levels in the U.S. peak in 1991, begin to fall afterwards to the lowest levels since the late 1960s at end of decade.
Princess Diana dies in a car accident in 1997. Debates of accident vs assassination rage.
Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who won the Nobel Peace Prize, dies at age 87.
21-year-old Golfer Tiger Woods wins the Masters Tournament by a record 12 strokes; becoming the youngest and first African-American to win the Masters.
John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette are killed when Kennedy's private plane crashes off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.
American cyclist Lance Armstrong wins his first Tour de France in 1999, less than two years after battling testicular cancer.