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Soviet "Sputnik-1" launched
This was the first satellite launched into orbit, and was lunched by the USSR onboard a ballistic missile. The satellite was visible by ground observers, and the telemetry beacon was able to be received with modest radio equipment. This was the start of the "space race."
Sources:https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1957-001B
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4215/ch1-2.html -
U.S. "Explorer 1" launced into orbit
Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this was the first U.S. satellite. -
Soviet "Luna 2" launched
This was the first man made object to come in contact with the Moon. Launched by the USSR on Sep. 12, the satellite hit the surface of the moon on Sep. 14, 33.5 hours into its flight.
Source: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-014A -
Sit-In at Greensboro, NC diner
Considered a great moment in the fight for equality, the sit-ins at a Woolworth’s lunch line started a wave of sit-in protests across the country. The Greensboro Four--Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil--are the first people who are credited with starting the sit-in protest against segregation.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/the-greensboro-sit-in -
U.S. Presidential Election of 1960
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U.S. "Mercury" space project
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Soviet Yuri Gagarin becomes first man in space
On this date, 27 year old Yuri Gagarin was launched into space in the Vostok 1 spacecraft, becoming the first human in space. His flight lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes, orbiting the Earth once. He then landed safely in Moscow. Yuri died on March 2, 1968, in a jet airplane during a training flight with another pilot.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yuri-Gagarin -
The Bay of Pigs
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Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space
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Berlin Wall Constructed
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OSCAR-1 Launched
An Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR) was launched on this date and became the first private satellite in space. Its 144.9830 MHz CW (Morse code) beacon was receivable for 22 days by hundreds of hams (radio operators). Today, The Amateur Radio Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) continues to organize satellite launches for free use by Amateur radio operators around the globe.
Source: www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/Bilsing.pdf -
U.S. Project "Apollo"
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John Glen
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Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis began when U.S. planes discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, just miles from the border of the U.S. In reaction, the U.S. threatened military force if the missiles were not removed. This caused panic due to fear of nuclear war. However, the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles, on the condition that the U.S. did not invade Cuba, and that the U.S. missiles would be removed from Turkey.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis -
South Vietnam presdient Diem assinated
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Martin Luther King Jr. Arrested
After a peaceful protest was turned violent by police, King was thrown in jail. While imprisoned in a Birmingham, AL., King wrote "A Letter from Birmingham Jail," called so for obvious reasons. This letter is one of King's most iconic works.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr/The-letter-from-the-Birmingham-jail -
Martin Luther King Jr. Released
Martin Luther King Jr. was released from a Birmingham, AL. jail on this date, after being held for eight days.
Source:https://www.history.com/news/kings-letter-from-birmingham-jail-50-years-later -
Martin Luther King Jr's March on Washington
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John F. Kennedy Assassinated
During a parade through Dallas, Texas, President John Kennedy was shot while driving by the Texas School Book Depository. The shooter also hit Governor John Connally, who was able to recover. The wives of both men were along side them during the shooting. Vice president Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president shortly afterwards, and suspected shooter Lee Harvey Oswald was caught.
Source:https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/november-22-1963-death-of-the-president -
Revenue Act of 1964
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Civil Rights Act of 1964
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Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
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Freedom Summer
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U.S. Presidential Election of 1964
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Housing and Development Act of 1965
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Voting Rights Act of 1965
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March in Selma, Ala.
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Anti-War Protests at the Capital
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The Tet Offensive
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U.S. Presidential Election of 1968
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Operation Commando Hunt
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First human lunar landing
On this date, Apollo 11 was launched toward the Moon carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Leaving Collins in the main capsule, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon with the lunar lander. Armstrong then became the first person to touch the surface of the moon, and both preformed several experiments while on the lunar surface.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/space-exploration/moon-landing-1969 -
Environmental Protection Agency created
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The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
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Leaking of "The Pentagon Papers"
The Pentagon Papers were classified document that were leaked from the government to major news agencies. While it was beginning to spread, to government attempted to contain it. However, the supreme court overruled the restraining order, allowing them to be released. The papers exposed multiple cover-ups before and during the Vietnam war, further increasing anti-war sentiment. More documents were declassified in 2011.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentagon-Papers -
Break in at the DNC Watergate Headquarters
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1972 U.S. Presidential Election
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OPEC oil exports to the U.S. halted
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Roe vs. Wade
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U.S. troops removed from Vietnam
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Yom Kippur War
Taking place on a Jewish holy-day, this marks the beginning of a 19 day war between Israel, Egypt, and Syria. Egypt and Syria had lost territory to Israel during the Six-Day war, and fought to get it back. A cease-fire between Israel and Egypt was signed on Oct. 25, and this resulted in Syria's loss of more land to the Israelis.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/yom-kippur-war -
Nixon resigns from office
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Ford becomes president