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Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was America's second attempt to curb the spread of Communism in the East. The war dragged on for twenty years, ending in victory for North Vietnam and humiliation for America. The war was not just between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Symbolically, the war was between Communist powers and anti-Communist powers since North Vietnam was supported by Russia, China, and their ilk while South Vietnam had the United States and the Philippines on their side. -
Fidel Castro Establishes his Communist Dictatorship in Cuba
Castro formed a revolutionary group called 'The Movement' and after only seven years he was able to set up a provisional government in place of the previous one. Under his rule, Cuba became a single party socialist state under Communist rule. Cuba's proximity to the United States and its alliance with Communist forces made America uneasy, ultimately leading to the Cuban missile crisis. -
Publication of Silent Spring
Silent Spring showed the American public the dangerous effect of pesticides on the environment. Though chemical industries decried the book, it still led to the creation of many new policies regulating the use of pesticides and other chemicals. It documented not only the negative effects of 'biocides' on the environment, but the risk of poison and cancer in humans as well. -
The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
The governor of Alabama, George Wallace, stood in front of the doors of the University of Alabama in an attempt to stop two black students from entering. His attempt to stop racial integration failed and the children were allowed to enter. -
The Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was a militaristic protest group that supported racial equality. They were known for having armed citizen's patrol the streets in order to ensure the safety of African-Americans. -
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
The Apollo 11 was the first manned spaceflight to put men on the moon. In terms of its significance, it meant that the United States had outdone the Soviet Union, who had begun the Space Race with superior rockets. -
Ping Pong Diplomacy
The United States Ping Pong Team was invited to China to play Ping Pong. This represented a thaw in the relationship between Communist China and Capitalist America. Nixon called the week they spent in China "the week that changed the world." -
The Watergate Scandal
A break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters was discovered. Officials had been found attempting to bug phones within the office, among other things. The scandal revealed even further corruption within the Nixon administration, resulting in the president's resignation and the conviction of more than two dozen high ranking officials in his cabinet. -
Three Mile Island Reactor Accident
Due to multiple design flaws in the power plant's safety controls, nuclear coolant was allowed to escape into the plant. Though the incident did not appear to do any damage to the people in the area, it still led to anti-nuclear sentiment among the public. The Chernobyl incident in Europe that occurred eight years later only served to make matters worse. -
Reagan and Reaganomics
Soon after he began his presidency, Reagan instituted a new policy now referred to as 'Reaganomics.' Reaganomics was characterized by tax cuts, economic deregulation, and government spending cuts. Reaganomics has become a common fiscal policy for conservatives, though it is now known as 'trickle-down economics.' -
Tienanmen Square Protest
The Tienanmen Square Protest began in order to demand freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and a restoration of workers' rights over industry. The reaction in America was one of horror, with the photo of the man blocking the tank entering popular culture as a symbol of oppression and nonviolent rebellion. -
The Demolition of the Berlin Wall
Though regulations had been lifted earlier, demolition of the Berlin Wall began on November 9, 1989.
