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Brown v Board of Education
Brown v BoE was a landmark case in civil rights history. The Supreme court ruled that segregation was unlawful in public schools. This effectively overruled plessy v ferguson which stated that segregation was lawful and constitutional.Brown v. Board of education -
Vietnam War
The communist government in the Northern half of Vietnam under Ho Chu Minh sought to reunify the broken country under one communist government. Because of the their containment policy, the U.S. agreed to help south Vietnam fight against the north. The war lasted longer than expected and caused much controversy protests over if fighting the war was even right. The U.S. eventually lost because of public pressure and the fact that they weren't making any significant progress. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was a 13 day standoff between the U.S. and Soviet Union in response to revelation coming to light about the Soviet Union placing missiles in Cuba. The United States commenced a blockade of the island to prevent any further missiles from being delivered. This made the world tense because if the Soviet Union broke the blockade the U.S. would shoot, starting a war. Fortunately president JFK struck a deal with soviet leader Khrushchev and conflict was averted. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
This was a 13 day standoff between the U.S. and Soviet Union in response to revelation coming to light about the Soviet Union placing missiles in Cuba. The United States commenced a blockade of the island to prevent any further missiles from being delivered. This made the world tense because if the Soviet Union broke the blockade the U.S. would shoot, starting a war. Fortunately president JFK struck a deal with soviet leader Khrushchev and conflict was averted. -
University of Alabama Desegregated
The University of Alabama desegregated when federal troops were sent by President John F. Kennedy to allow the entry of African American students that had been prevented from entering by Alabama Governor, George Wallace and the Alabama National Guard.Governor Wallace blocks entryway -
JFK Assassinated
President John F. Kennedy was shot in the head while riding in a motorcade. He later died at the hospital. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in later that day on Air Force One. Since this was in the middle of a crucial time in U.S. history (vietnam war, cold war, social changes) it was a huge inconvenience to the country.JFK assassination news -
MLK assasination
MLk was shot by a sniper 200 yards away while standing on the balcony of his hotel. His death rocked the nation and set off many riots throughout the country. It also angered black Americans leading to a more radical brand of civil rights. News of MLK assasination -
RFK Assassination
Senator Robert Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. After winning the California presidential primary and announcing to his supporters that the country was ready to end its divisiveness, Kennedy was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a 22 year old from Palestine.RFK assassination -
Democratic Convention 1968 Riots
Thousands of anti-war protesters gathered outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to protest the Vietnam War. The protesters were met with violence from police when and were severely beat and gassed. A riot, known as the ''Battle of Michigan Avenue'', erupted and was captured by cameras and subsequently televised. The riots that occurred during the very controversial Democratic Convention, where the Democrats were split in regards to having a position on Vietnam, were influential. -
Moon Landing
The 60's was in the height of the space race and at the beginning of the 60's JFK proclaimed that America would reach the moon at the end of the decade. Both the U.S. and Soviet Union worked feverishly to have superior space tech but the U.S. won the space race by reaching the moon first. The Soviet Union went bankrupt from trying to surpass U.S. technology which helped end the cold war.Moon landing footage -
Ronald Reagan Assassination Attempt
President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr on March 30 1981 outside of the Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. John Hinckley Jr was armed with a .22 caliber revolver and was only ten feet from Reagan when he started shooting. Although Hinckley missed most of the shots, one bullet ricocheted off the presidential limo hit Reagan in the chest. Fortunately, Reagan survived and recovered. John Hinckley Jr. was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. -
Iran Contra Scandal
The Iran Contra Scandal occurred when the Reagan Administration began selling weapons to Iran with the hopes of getting them to release American hostages in Lebanon that were being held by Hezbollah, a terrorist group with connections to Iran's leader. The U.S then used millions of dollars generated from the clandestine weapons sales to fund anti-communist Contras in Nicaragua. When the operation came to light, Marine Lt. Colonel took the blame and was convicted in response to the scandal. -
Persian Gulf War
In August 1990 Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. In response to occupation, Saudi Arabia and Egypt asked for the United States to intervene. When Iraq refused to withdraw from Kuwait and follow the orders of the United Nations Security Council, the U.S stepped in and led an air offensive against them known as Operation Desert Storm in January of 1991. By February, Iraqi forces had surrendered. Around this time, President George H.W Bush issued a cease-fire.
