5 Most Significant Historic Events of Americans' Lifetimes

9/11 overwhelmingly tops the list
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 15, 2016 2:12 PM CST
Updated Dec 16, 2016 1:00 AM CST
These Are the 5 Most Significant Historic Events of Americans' Lifetimes
In this Sept. 11, 2001, file photo, smoke billows from one of the towers of the World Trade Center and flames as debris explodes from the second tower in New York.    (AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong, File)

The Pew Research Center recently asked 2,025 US adults to name the 10 most significant historic events of their lifetimes and found that "nothing else has come close to being as important or as memorable" to Americans as the September 11 terrorist attacks, which ranked No. 1 on the survey, with 76% of respondents including it on their lists. The rest of the top 5:

  1. The election of President Barack Obama. This came in at No. 2 overall, with 40% of respondents including it on their lists. But for black Americans, this event shared the top spot with 9/11.

  1. The tech revolution. This category is where Pew lumped any and all mentions of the internet, computers, cellphones, smartphones, and social media. It was included on the lists of 22% of respondents.
  2. The assassination of John F. Kennedy. This was included on 21% of respondents' lists, and was particularly important to Baby Boomers.
  3. The Vietnam War. This was included on 20% of respondents' lists, and was particularly important to Baby Boomers.
Click for the full top 10, plus how different generations ranked events differently. (More history stories.)

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