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SNCC formed
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was formed in April, 1960. Held campaigns against segregation and other forms of racism. -
First televised Presidential debate
Nixon and JFK participated in the first ever televised presidential debate. Viewers who watched the debate said that JFK won, while people who only listened on radio believed that Nixon had better points during the debate. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
The popular animated series first released in the 60s. It appealed to both children and adults. It also was the first television show to depict a man and his wife in the same bed. -
President Kennedy is elected
A very close election against JFK and Richard Nixon. -
Russians send the first man into space
Yuri Gagarin was the 1st human in space, he completed a rotation of the Earth. -
Berlin Wall is constructed
Showed disconnect and tensions between East and West Berlin caused by U.S and Soviet union. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth’s single season home run record
Roger Maris achieved 61 home runs making him known as the one who broke Babe Ruth's record. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
"Students for a Democratic Society" advocated for student power through direct action and criticized U.S involvement in the Vietnam war. -
Marilyn Monroe's Death
Marilyn Monroe a famous Hollywood star was found dead, due to an overdose. -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith officially became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. He had to be guarded by reserve army troops due to huge mobs protesting his arrival; -
“Dr. No” the first James Bond movie premiers
First of the many bond movies premiers, it was a financial success. It started a push for more movies to be about the secret agent genres. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Confrontation between the U.S and Soviet Union during the cold war. An american spy plane had discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba further increasing tensions between both superpowers. -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
It was MLK's most radical speech with famous quotes mentioning the hope for equality. It took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
While going on motorcade through downtown Dallas he was shot and later pronounced dead. -
The Beatles arrive in the United States
The British artists arrive in the U.S with Beatlemania... -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
The Famous British boy band performed on one of most popular channels in the U.S -
New York World’s Fair begins
It promoted "peace through understanding". -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
Johnson continued JFK's push for civil rights, and during the election he won more than half of the states. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X was a civil rights activist but unlike MLK he took a more extreme approach. He was killed due to growing tensions with the Nation of Islam -
Watts race riots
Occurred in La, after a white officer arrested a African American man who was suspected of a dui. The situation escalated with onlookers entering the scuffle... -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
The show demonstrated problems with issues that were prevalent during the 60s like racism and war. It also influenced public interest in the U.S Space program. -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” begins
The counterculture of the 1960s, close to 100,000 people converged in San Francisco. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1st ever Superbowl -
Boxer Muhammed Ali refuses military service
Ali refused to enter military service as it went against his religious beliefs. Just like many others people felt opposed to the war in Vietnam. -
Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s album
It broke traditional rules about the rock genre. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
He was the first African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
After being viewed as a cultural threat the alleged truth serum was made illegal. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
MLK was a famous civil rights activist who preached change by having non-violent protests. He was assassinated while standing on the balcony of the hotel he was staying at. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Around 5 years after his brother's death Robert was assassinated while making his campaign for presidential election -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
Protests against the U.S involvement in the Vietnam War lasted seven days. It happened prior to the Democratic National convention -
Tet Offensive
A major offensive by the Viet cong, which proved as a turning point in the Vietnam war. -
Richard Nixon is Elected
Nixon ran for president after losing to JFK. -
Stonewall riots
Also called the Stonewall uprising. NYC police raided a gay club, leading to conflict between bar patrons and police causing six days of protest. Started the gay rights movement -
American astronauts land on the moon
America won the space race, by landing on the Moon. -
Woodstock concert
The most famous hippie rock concert. Around 500,000 hippies showed up with, the event took place on a farm, with free food with messages of peace and love... -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
Unlike Woodstock this free concert didn't receive the same peace and love treatment, due to it being poorly planned have many violent encounters with fans.