Nah, Obamas election had no effect at all on me (I happen to live in Germany). I’m not really sure there was even any event.

>I happen to live in Germany

Then I really have no idea, haha. It's also quite possible that we're so inundated with sensationalized news these days that the idea of one single event sort of stopping people in their tracks just isn't something likely to happen anymore.

Sadly, groups of people die all the time, perhaps monthly.

The kind of event we're speaking of though is one that strikes at the core of a nation's identity and/or faith in humanity.

I believe these events transcend news. They tend to happen once a decade or two, and as you age the second or third perhaps starts to lose its power.

So then to answer the original question, what event would this be for someone born in the mid 90's?

I don't think there's been anything on that scale (if you were too young to appreciate 9/11). I knew some folks who lost everything in 2008, but it wasn't everyone.