4284057This September marks the first year high school freshmen will have been born in the 21st century, meaning most were only young children during a decade that changed the United States.
Let s look back at just how young these now-teens were during the major events of the 21st century s first 10 years.
1. September 11, 2001, 9/11
Age: Not born yet
Photo from Getty Images
Most kids starting high school in 2014 were born after the tragic events of 9/11, and were only fetuses when two planes crashed into the North and South Twin Towers, Pentagon, and White House, .
2. May 19, 2003, United States invades Iraq
Age: Two years old
Photo from Getty Images
They were two-years-old when the . George W. Bush went on live television to announce that, At this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found.
3. February 4, 2004, Facebook founded
Age: Three years old
Mark Zuckerberg started the Facebook in 2004, when the site s membership was limited to Harvard University students, only later adding access for other university and high school students. Today s high school freshmen were three years old then.
4. August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina
Age: Four years old
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High schoolers were only 4 years old when deadly and destructive struck the Gulf Coast, stretching 400 miles wide and causing $100 billion in damage. The storm killed almost 2,000 people.
5. August 2006, Pluto declared no longer a planet
Age: Five years old
(Photo: Flickr)
In August, the announced that Pluto was no longer a planet, and was instead being downgraded to the status of dwarf planet because it did not meet the criteria for full-sized planets. These teenagers were about to turn five years old, and probably only memorized eight planets in grade school.
6. December 30, 2006, Saddam Hussein Executed
Age: Five years old
Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, was after being found guilty of crimes against humanity when these freshmen were only five years old and starting kindergarten. He had been captured in early December after a nine-month manhunt.
7. June 2007, Apple Debuts iPhone
Age: Six years old
It was named by Time when these children were turning six. The multi-media enabled smartphone debuted as a camera phone and portable music player device, with Internet access.
8. January 18, 2009, Barack Obama Sworn In As 44th President
Age: Eight years old
Photo from Getty Images
Incoming high schoolers were eight years old when Barack Obama was sworn in as the first African American president in 2009, when a financial crisis was immobilizing the country.