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JFK elected president
JFK was elected in a close election against Nixon. -
The Freedom Rides Began.
The Freedom Riders were a group of Civil Rights activitists who rode buses whites in the back, blacks in the front in protest. Enfuriated white citizens attacked the buses several times. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis begins.
A U2 spy plane finds Soviet missiles being set up in Cuba. This starts a long process of peace/war talks between the US and the USSR. -
Martin Luther King, Jr. gives his "I have a dream" speech.
One of the most recognizable speeches in history is Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. In Washington DC, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, King spoke to urge the people of America through the 250,000 in attendance. In excerpt from the speech, "I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama...will be transformed unto a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as brothers and sisters." -
Diem assassinated.
Leader of S. Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, was assassinated by US troops against the wishes of President Kennedy. -
John F. Kennedy Assassinated.
John F. Kennedy, the current president of the United States Of America was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, during a parade being held in his honor. It is suspected that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone shooter in this event; however due to his untimely demise, no one will know what happened that day in 1963. There are many theories as to what occured but nothing has been found that proves any certain theory to be true. -
Johnson becomes president.
After the assassination of JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson, his vice-president, was sworn in on the airplane to DC. -
Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This document was a critical in establishing rights of many people. The Act stated that one could not be discriminated because of race, religion, national origin, or gender. -
Maddox fired at.
North Vietnamese torpedo was launched at the USS Maddox. The torpedo missed but, the Maddox fired back and inflicted dammage upon the boat. -
Operation Rolling Thunder begins.
With newly granted powers, Johnson begin Operation Rolling Thunder, an extensive bombing campaign on North Vietnam. -
Vietnamese spring Tet Offensive
On the Vietnamese New Year, there was a surprise attack on US troops. They won in the end but, politically this caused a stir in the US. -
Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassinated
One of the most influencial leaders in the Civil Rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated by James Earl Ray outside of King's Memphis Tennessee hotel room. -
Robert Kennedy assassinated.
Bobby Kennedy, brother of former president and presidential democratic forerunner, is assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan. -
Richard Nixon is elected his first term.
Arguably one of the most controversial presidents in US history is elected his first term. -
Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin set foot on the moon.
The first two men to set foot on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin in July 1969.
