Americans Name the Top Historic Events of Their Lifetimes
If you had to look back and name the 10 historic events that had the biggest influence on the country during your lifetime, what would you say? That was the question posed in a recent Pew Research Center survey, conducted in association with A+E Networks’ HISTORY.
The survey, conducted June 16 to July 4, 2016, asked everyone from Millennials to members of the Greatest Generation to list the events that most profoundly affected America. Looking at history through the prism of their vastly different lifespans produced a range of responses. There also are differences in views across racial and ethnic groups, with the election of Barack Obama and the civil rights movement featuring particularly prominently in the lives of black Americans.
Berlin Wall Falls/End Cold War
Obama Election/Presidency
Osama Bin Laden Killed
Oklahoma City Bombing
Iraq/Afghanistan Wars
JFK Assassination
MLK Jr. Assassination
Orlando/Pulse Shooting
Columbine Shooting
The Tech Revolution*
Sandy Hook Shooting
Challenger Explosion
Hurricane Katrina
Korean War
Boston Marathon
Great Recession
Moon Landing
World War II
Gulf War
Vietnam
Sept. 11
76%
40%
All
Americans
22%
17%
20%
21%
17%
10%
13%
10%
Generation:
59
44
41
29
37
Silent/
Greatest
27
28
18
14
Silent/Greatest generation born before 1945
70
41
45
35
38
26
16
Baby
Boomers
15
11
Baby Boomers were born 1946 to 1964
79
9
40
18
20
21
15
14
9
9
10
Gen X
Generation Xers born 1965 to 1980
86
17
7
7
47
24
18
10
11
10
Millennials
7
Millennials born after 1980
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2016
* Tech Revolution: includes responses that mention “computers,” “internet,” “cell phone,” “smartphone,” or “social media.” While there is no defined date for this ongoing trend, it is represented here by 1975, the advent of the personal computer.
** Gay marriage: While the fight for gay marriage spans decades, it is represented here by 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled gay marriage was lawful throughout the country.
Note: Respondents could choose multiple answers, figures do not add to 100.
Source: Survey conducted June 16-July 15, 2016.
The Most-Cited Events
Ranked by percentage of overall responses. Due to ties, 11 events appear on this list.
1 Sept. 11
Americans unanimously agree that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were a hugely influential historical event. Indeed, three-quarters (76%) of U.S. adults list the event as one of the 10 most important of their lifetimes. It’s also the only event on the top 10 list to be mentioned by a majority of participants across all demographic groups. While Sept. 11 is the most frequently named event in all generations, Millennials and Gen Xers are particularly likely to name the terrorist attack, at 86% and 79%, respectively.
Obama election/presidency
The election and presidency of Barack Obama, the country’s first black president, is the second most common response, cited by 40% of Americans overall. Along with Sept. 11, it is also the most-cited historical event (62%) among blacks, who are much more likely than whites (36%) to name Obama’s presidency as historically important. Millennials also are particularly likely to name the Obama election and presidency – 47% do so, more than any other generation.
The tech revolution
About one-in-five (22%) participants list some aspect of technological advance as one of the most influential events of their lives. This includes changes ushered in by the internet and social media, cellphones (and smartphones) and innovations in computer and digital technology.
The tech revolution is especially likely to be named by older generations, for whom these products are particularly notable. About a quarter (26%) of Baby Boomers name the tech revolution in the top 10, along with 27% of those in the Silent Generation. Millennials (18%) and those in Generation X (20%) are somewhat less likely to name the tech revolution, likely because they are more accustomed to these tech advances.
JFK assassination
President John F. Kennedy’s assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, is named by 21% of Americans. Notably, it is named by 45% of Baby Boomers and 41% of the Silent and Greatest generations.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1954-1975), noted by 20% of Americans, was another event that particularly resonated with older generations. Fully 41% of Baby Boomers and 37% of those in the Silent and Greatest generations list the war in their top 10. It did not make the top 10 list for those in Generation X, a significant portion of whom were children during the war years.
Moon landing
The barrier-breaking Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 ranks highest among Baby Boomers (35%), followed by 29% of those in the Silent and Greatest generations. The momentous event does not register significantly with those in Generation X, most of whom were not alive when Neil Armstrong took “one small step” onto the moon’s surface.
Iraq/Afghanistan wars
Mentions of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were analyzed together; overall 17% of Americans rank them in their top 10. The wars are named most frequently by the youngest generations, topped by about one-quarter (24%) of Millennials. They rank lower on the list for both Baby Boomers (11%) and those in the Silent and Greatest generations (14%).
Berlin Wall falls/end of Cold War
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and 1990s is cited by 13% of Americans, although Gen Xers (21%) cite it more frequently. It fails to register in the top 10 with Millennials, despite the fact that some in this generation were born as early as 1980. Among those in the Silent and Greatest generations, it is supplanted in the top 10 by other events, including World War II and the Korean War.
Gay marriage
The policy debate surrounding gay marriage gathered momentum in the last decade, culminating with the Supreme Court’s decision last year to legalize same-sex unions. This topic had a strong impact on Millennials, with 19% choosing it as one of the top 10 events in their lifetimes. That’s about twice the share of those in Generation X (10%) – the only other age group to name gay marriage issues in its top 10. Overall, gay marriage topics were mentioned by 11% of Americans.
Orlando/Pulse shooting
This survey was conducted from June 16 to July 4, 2016, just days after the deadly shooting inside Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. Perhaps in part as a result of the event’s immediacy, as well as its prominence as the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, one-in-ten respondents named this as one of their top 10 events. This includes 17% of all Millennials and 9% of Gen Xers.
Gulf War
The Gulf War wraps up the list of top events, with 10% of Americans naming the conflict. It owes its spot on the list in large part to the share of Generation Xers (15%) who named it as one of the most significant events in their lifetimes. In fact, Generation X is the only generation to name the Gulf War as one of its top 10 lifetime events.
For more information, see the full report.
