There’s no doubt about it. The 2010s was a packed decade. Whether you’re talking about technology, politics, entertainment, the economy, the nation, the globe, or nearly anything else, the last ten years were filled with one big-ticket event after another.
The decade has ended and it’s worth taking a few minutes to consider some of the most notable moments of the past decade and how they might shape the 2020s and beyond.
Here are 8 Notable Events From the 2010s:
1. Pokemon Go Revolutionizes Gaming
Let’s kick things off with something light. While smartphones have revolutionized many practical aspects of our lives, it wasn’t until Pokemon Go was released in mid-2016 that the entertainment world began to wake up to the true potential at its fingertips.
The game utilized augmented reality to allow users to play wherever they currently were located, providing a global level of fun that captured international headlines for quite some time after the incredibly popular game’s release.
2. England Bails on the EU
Brexit was another long-running storyline of the 2010s that kicked off in mid-2016. Just a few weeks before Pokemon Go hit the streets, the citizens of the UK dramatically voted to withdraw from the European Union.
The attempt for Great Britain to detach itself from the European Union was a dramatic storyline that has continued to garner international attention ever since as it perpetually threatens to throw many different industries into turmoil.
3. Avengers: Endgame Smashes the Box Office
The 2010s saw Disney — and Marvel Studios, in particular — go on an unprecedented run of success. The extremely popular Infinity Saga had 21 of its 23 movies come out during the 2010s, starting with Iron Man 2 and ending with Spider-Man: Far From Home.
However, for all of the hoopla surrounding each tentpole film, there was one movie that stood tall above all the rest: Avengers: Endgame.
The film came out in early 2019, just in time to make the cut for the decade, and it didn’t disappoint. Raking in over $2.7 billion in a staggering box office run, Avengers: Endgame marked a triumphant moment for Marvel, Disney, and 2010s entertainment as a whole.
4. The Flint, Michigan Water Crisis Causes Concern
In April 2014, officials in the unassuming town of Flint, Michigan quietly began switching their city’s water over to a new supplier in an attempt to help the struggling city’s bottom line. However, in the process of doing so, they introduced lead-poisoning into the water, sparking a water quality crisis that continued for the rest of the decade and is expected to continue beyond it.
While the city’s water was reverted back to its original source in late 2015, the damage to the existing infrastructure was already done, and a state of emergency was declared. Two years later most of the water was clean again, but the crisis permanently scarred many of the wary Flint residents and brought up many questions about poverty, race, and the prevention of similar scenarios down the road.
5. The Boston Marathon Bombing Upsets the Nation
Another tragic moment that took place exactly one April before the Flint, Michigan crisis started was the Boston Marathon Bombing.
Coming after a decade of counter-terror activity, the blasts killed three people and injured hundreds of others. The situation was a jarring event for the country, leaving many on edge for years to come.
6. Colorado Legalizes Recreational Marijuana
After decades of slowly turning back regulations and restrictions, the 2010s saw a banner moment for recreational marijuana users — at least in the state of Colorado.
In 2012 the Rocky Mountain State passed Amendment 64, legalizing the use of recreational marijuana within the state. The landmark amendment has opened up the doors for other states to follow suit and has helped to keep the burgeoning cannabis industry in the national spotlight ever since.
7. Donald Trump Is Elected President of the United States
The presidential race of 2016 produced a historically important result: the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States of America.
While his predecessor, Barack Obama, had made headlines as the first African American president, Trump made history in his own way by being the most recent candidate with no political experience to win an election.
Regardless of personal views, the election of such a polarizing president marked a significant continuation and escalation of the personality politics that largely defined 2010s statecraft in the United States.
8. Self Driving Cars Noticeably Incubate
While the 2010s won’t be remembered for self-driving cars dominating the roads, 2013 did mark the first time that a fully autonomous vehicle was demonstrated.
Mercedes-Benz turned heads when its new S-class vehicle made a 60-mile trip utilizing its autonomous driving system. While self-driving cars are still in development, the 2010s certainly saw the phenomenon move from a concept to near-commercial reality.
Preparing for the 2020s
While the 2010s were filled with countless events of all kinds, there’s no doubt that the momentum will carry forward into the 2020s as well. Technology continues to advance apace, politics is only heating up as the 2020 election approaches, and the entertainment industry is in its golden age. Here’s to a smashing next ten years and everything they bring with them!
Watch this space for updates in the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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