-
Rock and Roll
Rock and roll in the 1950s was heavily influenced by a mix of jazz, blues, and gospel music. The guitar was mainly used as the leading instrument accented with either a bass or drums. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis were just a few of the rockabilly icons that represents this time period. -
Television
TV was a culture forced that changed America in this time period. Between 1949-1969 televisions were very common in households and tv signals were able to reach the most remote corners of the United States. Shows such as I Love Lucy and The $64,000 Question were very popular series at the time. -
Korean War
The Korean War lasted from 1950-1953. America and its allies Japan, The United Nations, and Britain teamed up to help South Korea keep North Korea from invading. The Unites States provided 88% of the force’s soldiers for South Korea. -
Disneyland
Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California. It was built on a 160-acre orange orchard and cost $17 million to build. When it was first opened 6,000 people by invitation-only were invited to receive a special preview of the park before it officially opened to the public. -
Rosa Parks
On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks made history when she refused to give up her seat to a white man while riding a public bus. The even took place in Montgomery, Alabama while laws of segregation were still in place. Her actions are considered to be the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a result of post-Cold War conflict when North and South Vietnam started to fight. The United States allied with South Vietnam while China aided North Vietnam. Around 58,000 soldiers from the US died in conflict. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban missile crisis was a 13 day confrontation between the Soviet Union and Cuba during 1962. It was one of the major conflicts in the Cold War and was closest to turning the war in to a nuclear disaster. This resulted in the Soviet Union withdrawing their missiles from Cuba and the US had to agree to never invade Cuba without direct provocation. -
JFK Assassination
The 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was assassinated on 1963 on November 3rd. He was fatally shot while traveling with his wife in a presidential motorcade. Lee Harvey Oswald is known to be the shooter. -
My Lai Massacre
During the Vietnam War on March 16, 1968, soldiers Charlie Company and William Calley from the United States were in the village of My Lai to search and destroy a mission. Under Calley’s command the rest of the soldiers massacred 345-500 civilians. He was later charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison. -
Moon Landing
In 1969, also a result from the Cold War, Neil Armstrong became the very first man to land on the moon. The US was able to receive bragging rights in front of the Soviets and it gave many people around the world hope of future space exploration. -
VCR
In 1970 the first home videocassette format was introduced by the Philips company. Even though it was referred to as N1500 it was named VCR. It used half inch tape inside square cassettes that could record shows on television for 1 hour. -
Sears Tower
Built in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world. In 1974 the observation deck was opened on the 103rd floor and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago. The glass balcony also brings in many visitors throughout the year. -
Gas Shortage
Occurring in 1979 the oil crisis during the Iranian Revolution stopped exports from being shipped out and the United States’ gas prices went soaring. The widespread panic resulted in President Jimmy Carter to order the cessation of Iranian imports. At the time the price of crude oil was on average $16 per barrel. -
3 Mile Island
Three Mile Island is a civilian nuclear power plant located outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River. It was the site of the most significant nuclear accident in US history when it suffered a partial meltdown on March 29, 1979. -
Iran Hostage
From November 1979 to January 1981, 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. A group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran. President Carter called the hostages “victims of terrorism and anarchy.” -
Star Wars
The smash hit by George Lucas has significant impact on American culture to this day. When Star Wars first premiered it earned $100 million in just three months. Not only did it gross millions for movie, but also saved the 20th Century Fox company from going bankrupt. -
Rap Music
Rap music in the 1990s developed as a part of hip hop culture. Part of the music not only contains music but also DJing and beatboxing. One of the greatest hits of the 90s included MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This.” -
Mt. Saint Helen
On May 18, 1980 Mount St Helen volcanically erupted in Skamania County, Washington. The event was the only significant to occur since the eruption of Lassen Peak in 1915. The ash deposited in to 11 different states and caused 57 people to die. -
Gulf War
Sadam Hussein ordered an invasion and occupation of Kuwait in early August 1990. Saudi Arabia and Egypt called on the United States and other nations to intervene. 42 days of attacks happened until President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28. -
Bombing in Beirut
The 1983 Beirut Bombings occurred during the Lebanese Civil War when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States military forces. It killed 299 American and French servicemen. The organization known as Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the bombing. -
Chernobyl
On April 26, 1986 the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant suffered a massive accident. The plant had four reactors which made up 10% of Ukraine’s power. When one of the reactors got too hot, a cloud of radiation was released in to the atmosphere. Because of the radiation levels in the region, an estimated 140,000 deaths are likely to occur and chances of developing cancer is higher. -
Black Monday
On October 19, 1987 the stock markets around the world crashed. Beginning in Hong Kong it spread west to Europe before hitting the United States. Many sources say the collapse was caused by interest-sensitive stock groups which made the market turn. -
Operation Desert Storm
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Operation Desert Strom was enforced by President George HW Bush. It would lead a massive attack in an effort to protect Saudi Arabia from Iraqi while trying to drive out Iraq from invading Kuwait. -
Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995 a man named Alfred Murrah drove a truck containing a homemade bomb in to a building that left 168 people dead. The bomb itself was set off my Timothy McVeigh who was later executed for his crimes. Another partner in crime, Terry Nichols, received a life sentence in prison. Until 9/11 it was considered the worst terrorist attack on US soil. -
Columbian Conflict
In July of 1999, Colombian military forces attacked a town in Colombia using US equipment. The town was attacked for over 72 hours and in September 2001 they were added to the US State Department’s “List of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” -
9/11
The September 11th attacks are known as the worst terrorist attack in US history. Four airliners were hijacked by Al-Qaeda members and two flew in to the World Trade Center while the third landed in a field, and another landed in the Pentagon. -
DC Sniper
The movie is created by the USA Network and is based off of the Beltway sniper attacks of 2002 when 2 men went on a serial killing spree in October of 2002 in Washington D.C. It was premiered on the USA Network just as the murder trials were getting over. -
Tsunami in Asia
On December 26, 2004 the Indian Ocean underwent an earthquake that happened just off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The water reached up to 98ft high and killed 230,000 people. It was soon recorded as the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. -
Virginia Tech Massacre
In 2007 a senior at Virginia Tech killed 32 people and wounded 17 others in two separate attacks. Two hours after the incident he committed suicide and the massacre is the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman in US history. -
Plane in Hudson
Known as US Airway Flight 1549, the plane lost engine power and landed in the Hudson River off of Manhattan. The entire crew was awarded with a Master’s Medal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. -
Haiti Earthquake
The January 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake was measured at a 7.0 and happened west of Haiti’s capital. The death rate reached an estimated 220,000 deaths. 250,000 homes and 30,000 commercial buildings either collapsed or were damaged. -
Japan Earthquake
An 8.9 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami in Tokyo, Japan on March 11, 2011. 200-300 bodies were found in the coastal city of Sendai and at least 88 were confirmed dead with 349 missing. Aftershocks occurred for more than 50 hours. -
Joplin Tornado
An EF5 multiple-vertex tornado struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011. The tornado reached nearly 1 mile wide and killed 162 people. It injured at least 1,150 others and the damages amounted to a total of $2.8 billion. -
Sandy Hook Massacre
On December 14, 2012 Adam Lanza fatally shot twenty children and six adult staff before taking his own life. Before arriving at the school he shot his mother. The incident is ranked second deadliest mass shooting by single person since the 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre. -
Girls Held Hostage for 10 Years
3 women were held hostage in a Cleveland home by Ariel Castro for 10 years. He fathers a 6 year old with one of the captives and he is now charged with kidnappings and rape of each of the women.
