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21st Century

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2012

Politics21st CenturyNorth America

Elizabeth Warren Elected to the U.S. Senate

Elizabeth Warren was elected to the United States Senate from Massachusetts on November 6, 2012, and began her term in January 2013. She became the first woman elected to represent Massachusetts in the Senate. Before entering elective office, Warren taught law and wrote extensively about bankruptcy and consumer finance. Her public career later included work associated with the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, followed by Senate service focused on a range of domestic and economic policy matters.

Event DetailGov Influence
2013

Other21st CenturyEurope

Cardinal Bergoglio Elected Pope Francis

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation on February 28, 2013, marked the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years and triggered a conclave to select his successor amid calls for renewal in the Catholic Church. Cardinals from around the world gathered in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City for voting that began on March 12. On March 13, after five ballots, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and a Jesuit, received the required two-thirds majority. He chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, becoming the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pope in over a millennium. Bergoglio appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica that evening...

Event Detail
2015

Civil Rights21st CenturyEurope

Ireland Approves Same-Sex Marriage by Popular Referendum

Ireland had undergone significant social liberalization in the decades leading to 2015, with growing public support for LGBTQ+ rights following earlier reforms like the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1993. A constitutional convention recommended allowing same-sex marriage, prompting the government to hold a referendum on amending the constitution. On May 22, 2015, voters approved the Thirty-fourth Amendment by 62% to 38% on a 61% turnout, making Ireland the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote. The result reflected broad cross-party and grassroots campaigning by groups like Yes Equality. The amendment took effect later that year, enabling the first same-sex marriages in November.

Event Detail
2015

Civil Rights21st CenturyNorth America

Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide

By 2015, same-sex marriage was already legal in many U.S. states following years of state-level litigation and shifting public opinion. Cases from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee reached the Supreme Court after conflicting lower court rulings on marriage equality. On June 26, 2015, the Court issued its 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriages. Justice Anthony Kennedy's majority opinion framed marriage as a fundamental right tied to liberty and equality. The ruling immediately extended marriage rights to all 50 states and territories.

Event DetailAmerica 250 Atlas
2015

Other21st CenturyEurope

Coordinated ISIS Attacks Strike Paris, Killing 130

In the wake of earlier ISIS activities in Europe and the Middle East, a cell of operatives planned simultaneous strikes in the French capital. On the evening of November 13, 2015, suicide bombings occurred near the Stade de France during a soccer match attended by President François Hollande. Gunmen then attacked cafes, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall, taking hostages in a prolonged siege. French security forces responded with raids that ended the Bataclan standoff. The attacks killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more, marking the deadliest terrorist incident in France since World War II.

Event Detail
2018

Politics21st CenturySub-Saharan Africa

South African President Jacob Zuma Resigns

Post-apartheid South Africa faced persistent challenges with corruption, inequality, and governance under the African National Congress. Jacob Zuma, president since 2009, had been embroiled in scandals including allegations of state capture by private interests and personal corruption charges. On February 14, 2018, amid mounting pressure from his own party and public protests, Zuma resigned after a late-night meeting with ANC leaders. He was succeeded by Cyril Ramaphosa, who had defeated Zuma's preferred candidate in party elections. The resignation followed a no-confidence motion threat and highlighted internal ANC fractures over accountability.

Event Detail
2019

Disaster21st CenturyEurope

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral Severely Damaged by Fire

During ongoing restoration work on the iconic 12th-century Gothic cathedral in central Paris, a fire broke out in the attic on the evening of April 15. The blaze rapidly spread through the wooden roof structure, causing the 19th-century spire designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to collapse and destroying most of the lead-covered roof. Firefighters battled the flames for hours, preventing total destruction of the stone vaulting and the two main towers while rescuing precious artifacts including the Crown of Thorns. The cause was later attributed to an electrical short circuit or construction accident. French President Emmanuel Macron immediately pledged a major rebuilding effort, drawing worldwide donations and support.

Event DetailDisaster Kit Pro
2022

Politics21st CenturyNorth America

Hakeem Jeffries Elected House Democratic Leader

House Democrats elected Representative Hakeem Jeffries as Democratic Leader on November 30, 2022, for the incoming 118th Congress. The caucus selected him after the 2022 elections, and the new Congress began in January 2023. Jeffries, who had represented a Brooklyn district in the House since 2013, succeeded Nancy Pelosi as the leader of the House Democratic Caucus. His selection made him the first Black lawmaker to lead a political party caucus in either chamber of Congress.

Event DetailGov Influence
2025

Politics21st CenturyNorth America

Donald Trump Sworn In as 47th President

Donald J. Trump took the presidential oath of office on January 20, 2025, beginning his service as the 47th president of the United States. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administered the oath during an inauguration ceremony held inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Trump had previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, so the 2025 inauguration began a second, nonconsecutive presidential term. The ceremony followed the constitutional transfer of executive authority at noon on Inauguration Day.

Event DetailGov Influence