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Eisenhower Presidency
Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the 34th President of the U.S. -
Polio Vaccine
The Salk polio vaccine was determined to be effective and was released to the public. Polio had plagued so many people and the vaccine changed lives. -
Minimum Wage Act
Eisenhower raised the minimum wage from $0.75 to $1.00 per hour. Eisenhower also suffers a heart attack that night and stayed in the hospital until November -
Arrest of Rosa Parks
Rosa Park, a black seamstress, refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested. This event triggered the bus boycott and a major step toward racial equality -
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Vietnam War
The Vietnam war was between communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam, allied with the U.S. The U.S. wanted to stop the spread of Communism and was partly by the ongoing Cold War. More than 3 million Americans served in the war. -
Interstate Highway system
Eisenhower signs off on the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1956, creating the interstate highway system. The was one of the biggest public work projects in the U.S. -
Little Rock Desegregation
Little Rock, Arkansas, was refusing to desegregate the city's public school systems. Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce it, and it allowed nine black students to go to school at Little Rock Central High School. -
First Nuclear Power Plant
In Shippingport, Pennsylvania, the first nuclear power plant starts operating, supplying electricity to Pittsburgh. -
U.S. Satellite
The U.S. launches Explorer I, a satellite, into space. This marks the U.S. entry into the space race with Russia. The start of satellites completely changed the world and is the reason for a lot of advanced technology today. -
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Kennedy Presidency
John F. Kennedy becomes the 35th president of the U.S. He was assassinated in Dallas Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald -
"I Have a Dream" Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech that is still studied today. It is considered the turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. -
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Johnson Presidency
Lyndon B. Johnson becomes the 36th president. -
March on the Pentagon
Many people were against the war in Vietnam and thousands marched to the Pentagon in protest -
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Nixon Presidency
Richard Nixon becomes the 37th president of the U.S. He was the only president to resign following the Watergate scandal. -
Watergate
Five men were arrested for burglarizing the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and resulted in President Nixon's resignation.