The American story By: Rondale Salter By: Rondale Salter.

The American The American story story

By: Rondale SalterBy: Rondale Salter

"Stocks tanked "Stocks tanked WednesdayWednesday

The first trading day of 2008, as oil The first trading day of 2008, as oil and gold prices at record highs and and gold prices at record highs and a report showing contraction in the a report showing contraction in the

manufacturing sector raised manufacturing sector raised worries about the threat of worries about the threat of

recession.recession.

Barack Obama Starts Barack Obama Starts StrongStrong

January 3, 2008:January 3, 2008: Senator Barack Senator Barack Obama of IllinoisObama of Illinois won the won the Iowa Iowa Caucus,Caucus, defeating defeating Senator Hillary Senator Hillary ClintonClinton

Ted Kennedy's Endorsement Ted Kennedy's Endorsement of Barack Obamaof Barack Obama

January 28, 2008:January 28, 2008: In a In a move that enhanced the move that enhanced the stature of stature of Barack Barack Obama'sObama's candidacy, candidacy, Senator Ted KennedySenator Ted Kennedy endorsed endorsed SenatorSenator ObamaObama instead of instead of SenatorSenator Hillary Hillary Rodham Clinton.Rodham Clinton.

President of RussiaPresident of Russia

May 7, 2008:May 7, 2008: Dmitry Dmitry Medvedev became Medvedev became President of Russia. President of Russia. Vladimir Putin, in turn, Vladimir Putin, in turn, became Prime Minister became Prime Minister of Russia on May 8, of Russia on May 8, 2008. 2008. MedvedevMedvedev served a four year term, served a four year term, leaving office in May leaving office in May 2012. 2012.

Summer OlympicsSummer Olympics

August 8, 2008:August 8, 2008: The The People's Republic of People's Republic of ChinaChina hosted the 2008 hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. The Summer Olympics. The opening ceremony was opening ceremony was held on August 8th. The held on August 8th. The 2008 Summer Olympic 2008 Summer Olympic games lasted until games lasted until August 24, 2008August 24, 2008. .

Summer OlympicsSummer Olympics

China; Fireworks China; Fireworks over the "Bird's over the "Bird's Nest," the major Nest," the major Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium in Beijingin Beijing

Presumptive Presumptive Democratic Democratic presidential nominee presidential nominee Barack Obama named Barack Obama named Senator Joe Biden of Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice Delaware as his vice presidential running presidential running mate. mate.

Michelle ObamaMichelle Obama

Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama, wife of Senator wife of Senator Barack Obama, Barack Obama, addresses the 2008 addresses the 2008 Democratic Democratic Convention in Convention in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado

President George President George W. Bush speaks W. Bush speaks to the 2008 to the 2008 Republican Republican National National Convention via Convention via video linkvideo link

China as a World PowerChina as a World Power

September 27, September 27, 2008: 2008: Shenzhou 7Shenzhou 7, , China's third China's third manned space manned space expedition, expedition, conducted the first conducted the first spacewalk for its spacewalk for its space program. space program.

Presidential DebatePresidential Debate

Senator John Senator John McCain and McCain and Senator Barack Senator Barack Obama debate in Obama debate in town hall style at town hall style at Belmont Belmont University on University on October 7, 2008October 7, 2008

BaseballBaseball

2008 World Series: 2008 World Series: The Philadelphia The Philadelphia Phillies Defeated Phillies Defeated the Tampa Bay the Tampa Bay RaysRays

Barack Obama Sails to Barack Obama Sails to VictoryVictory

November 4, November 4, 2008: Senator 2008: Senator Barack H. ObamaBarack H. Obama was elected was elected President of the President of the United StatesUnited States

The Presidency of Barack H. The Presidency of Barack H. ObamaObama

January 20, 2009:January 20, 2009: Barack Barack Obama became President Obama became President of the United States of of the United States of AmericaAmerica

Barack Obama (Democrat), Barack Obama (Democrat), 44th American President44th American PresidentYears in Office: 2009-Years in Office: 2009-Present Present

United States Surgeon United States Surgeon GeneralGeneral

November 3, 2009:November 3, 2009: Fairhope High Fairhope High SchoolSchool graduate, graduate, Dr. Dr. Regina BenjaminRegina Benjamin became the became the Surgeon-Surgeon-General of the General of the United StatesUnited States

Mark IngramMark Ingram

December 12, December 12, 2009:2009: Alabama's Alabama's Mark IngramMark Ingram won won the the Heisman Heisman TrophyTrophy

New DecadeNew Decade

January 1, 2010:January 1, 2010: The beginning of The beginning of aa new year and a new year and a new decadenew decade were were celebrated in celebrated in Hong Hong Kong, China.Kong, China.

Alabama Wins a BCS Alabama Wins a BCS National TitleNational Title

January 7, 2010:January 7, 2010: Former Foley Former Foley High School star, High School star, Julio JonesJulio Jones, helps , helps AlabamaAlabama cap off a cap off a perfect season and perfect season and a a BCS BCS Championship.Championship.

State of the Union State of the Union AddressAddress

January 27, January 27, 2010:2010: President President Obama gave his Obama gave his State of the UnionState of the Union message to a joint-message to a joint-session of session of Congress. Congress.

Super Bowl XLIV:Super Bowl XLIV:

DAT?! New DAT?! New February 7, 2010:February 7, 2010: WHO Orleans WHO Orleans Saints won Super Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, Bowl XLIV, defeating the defeating the Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Colts, 31 to 17.31 to 17.

Winter OlympicsWinter Olympics

February 12, 2010:February 12, 2010: In the 2010 Winter In the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Olympics held in Vancouver, Canada, Vancouver, Canada, the opening ceremony the opening ceremony launched the games. launched the games.

AuburnAuburn

January 10, 2011:January 10, 2011: AuburnAuburn capped off a capped off a perfect season to win perfect season to win the the BCS National BCS National Championship.Championship.

China AcknowledgedChina Acknowledged

February 14, 2011:February 14, 2011: China is acknowledged China is acknowledged as the world's second as the world's second largest economy behind largest economy behind the United States.the United States.

The Killing of Osama Bin The Killing of Osama Bin LadenLaden

May 1, 2011:May 1, 2011: President Barack President Barack ObamaObama announced announced that a U.S. intelligence that a U.S. intelligence and military operation and military operation had found and killed Al had found and killed Al Qeada leader, Qeada leader, Osama Osama Bin LadenBin Laden. .