1955-1975

  • The Polio Vaccine

    The Polio Vaccine
    The vaccine for Polio is found. After it is found, the disease pretty much disappears.
  • Geneva Summit

    Geneva Summit
    The first American, Soviet, French and Great Britain summit happens in Switzerland. No major agreements are made but the summit eases Cold War tensions.
  • Rosa Parks Refuses

    Rosa Parks Refuses
    Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. She is later arrested that day, but her action would inspire the civil rights movement to come.
  • The Interstate Highway

    The Interstate Highway
    Dwight Eisenhower signs an act that would create the Interstate Highway System. The system is one of the biggest public works projects in US history.
  • Eisenhower is Re-elected

    Eisenhower is Re-elected
    President Dwight D. Eisenhower is re elected for a second term.
  • The First Nuclear Power Plant

    The First Nuclear Power Plant
    The first US nuclear power plant is built and located in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. It supplied power to Pittsburgh.
  • The First US Satellite

    The First US Satellite
    The US launches its first satellite into space. Its name was Explorer I, and it allowed the US to take the lead in the 'space race'.
  • Charlotte Sit Ins

    Charlotte Sit Ins
    In Charlotte, North Carolina, many black students protested segregation. They sat at Woolworth's lunch counter and didn't leave until they were offered service.
  • John F. Kennedy Is Elected

    John F. Kennedy Is Elected
    John F. Kennedy beats outs Richard Nixon to become the 35th US president. He also become the youngest and first Catholic president.
  • The Bay of Pigs

    The Bay of Pigs
    1500 Cubans land on the Bay of Pigs and attempt to overthrow the Castro regime. The attempt is a failure that damages the US.
  • 'I Have a Dream'

    'I Have a Dream'
    Martin Luther King Jr. gives his famous speech 'I Have a Dream', that influences great national change.
  • JFK is Killed

    JFK is Killed
    President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. His vice Lyndon B. Johnson takes his place.
  • First Bombing of Vietnam

    First Bombing of Vietnam
    Lyndon B. Johnson orders an attack on Vietnam as a response to the USS Maddox. The US then bombs Vietnam for the first, but not the last time.
  • Lyndon is Elected

    Lyndon is Elected
    Former vice-president of JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson is elected president in a landslide victory.
  • MLK is Killed

    MLK is Killed
    Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray.
  • Nixon is Elected

    Nixon is Elected
    Richard Nixon is elected as the 37th president of the US. He won in a very one sided election against George McGovern.
  • Watergate Scandal

    Watergate Scandal
    Five men are caught breaking in to the DNC at the Watergate Hotel. This would later lead to Nixon leaving office.
  • Richard Nixon is Re Elected

    Richard Nixon is Re Elected
    Despite the scandal, Nixon is re elected as US president.
  • The US Leaves Vietnam

    The US Leaves Vietnam
    Congress (after withdrawing all military troops) ended all direct military involvement with the Vietnam War.
  • Nixon Leaves Office

    Nixon Leaves Office
    Due to the Watergate scandal, Nixon leaves office and his vice, Gerald Ford takes over.
  • The War Officially Ends

    The War Officially Ends
    The Vietnam War officially ends. NVA tanks drove through the gate of the presidential palace in Saigon.