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A Nation Facing Challenges
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Brown vs. Board of Education
This was a court case against the segregation of whites and blacks in schools. It looked into the affects of segregation on Afican American children (doll study) and all nine judges agreed that separate schools for blacks and whites violated the constiutions guarantee of equal protection of the law. -
The Geneva Conference
The goal of the conference was to work out a peace agreement and arrange for Indochina's future. Vietnam was split into two at the 17 parallel creating a North and South Vietnam. This decision was made in a ceasefire agreement. The 17 parallel was a buffer zone to prevent fighting between the North and South. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
After a long day at work, Rosa Parks sat down on a bus to go home. When ordered to move, due to the fact that she was sitting in a claimed "white only" section, she didn't comply to the request. Rosa Parks was then arrested, and in reponse many African Americans set up a boycott of the bus system that lasted almost a year. Then finally, they gained integration of the buses in 1956. -
The Little Rock Nine Crisis
After the Brown vs. Board case, some schools integrated quickly, but when nine African Americans tried to attend Little Rock High School in Arkansas, they were rejected. Gonvernor Orval Faubus wouldn't allow the integration to occur. Also, angry whites harrassed the nine black students and soldiers turned them away from entering the school. In response, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the kids through school. -
Kennedy Takes Office
President Kennedy gives his Inaugural Address at the White House on January 20, 1961 after the 1960 election. It took a strong anti-communist tone and showed that one of his top prioirites was accomplishing domestic goals by creating several programs. -
The Freedom Riders
Members of the Freedom Riders, African Americans that rode buses to different locations and tried using "white only facilities", left on May 4 for New Orleans. As the began their trip, they used different "white only" facilities along the way with mild harrassment from whites. On May 4, the encountered a mob which surrounded their bus. They were in Alabama at that point. He is the first time that the Freedom Riders were beaten. -
The Space Program
May 1961 is when JFK makes a proposal to Congress in hopes of restoring America's world prestige. He wanted to land a man on the moon and bring him home safely before the decade was over. He said, "...But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon... it will be an entire nation." This makes the space race part of the Cold War. -
Native American Movement Emerges
Many Native Americans felt that is was time for an organized movement for their rights. Numerous Native Americans from several nations held a conference in Chicago to oppose the termination policy and create a political agenda for change. -
The Berlin Wall
Khrushchev responded to Kenndey, after Kennedy activated troops, launced a program to build shelters in the U.S., and began a troop build up in West Germany, on August 13, 1961. Communist forces stopped people from being able to cross over from West Germany into East Germany and vice versa. Kennedy wanted to avoid war with Germany, thus the Berlin Wall was constructed. -
The Warren Court- Religios Freedom
In the court case Engel v. Vitale, court justices banned formal praying in public schools and daily Bible readings in school. The Supreme Court felt as though this violated the 1st amendment. The part of the amendment they felt was broken, was the idea of the guarantee that government would not make any religion the nations "official" religion. -
The Cuban Missle Crisis
Khrushchev was placing missles in Cuba without U.S. knowledge or consent. When Kennedy found out, he order U-2 spy-planes flight over the island and they found the SAMs on August 20, 1962. The Soviets denied having offensive missiles in Cuba. Then on October 14, 1962 photos from a U-2 plane found evidence that the Soviets were lying, therefore, the Cuban Missile Crisis began. -
The Assassination of Medgar Evers
Head of the NAACP, Megar Evers was shot dead on June 11, 1963. Members of the Ku Klux Klan were arrested for his murder. However, this asassination of Evers leads to the March on Washington where African Americans tried to build support for Civil Rights. This is where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Kennedy's Assasination
Trying to gain support for his 1964 election campaign, President Kennedy flew to Dallas, Texas to give a speech. On November 22, 1964, in an open top motorcade, the President rode to the location of his speech in Dallas, Texas. As he was being driven to the location, he was shot and died hours later. Vice President Johnson was sworn in on Air Force One the same day. His death shocked majority of Americans. -
The Warren Commisision
After President Kennedy's assassination, the Dallas police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald for the murder of the president. As the police where moving Oswald, two days later, to a new location, he was shot by Jake Ruby. This caused people to think that Oswald worked with a conspiracy. Johnson put Earl Warren incharge of the investigation to see if this conspiracy theory was true. 10 months later, it was reported that each, Ruby and Oswald, had worked alone and there was no conspiracy. -
Diem's Overthrow
Diem's government became more unpopular as time went on. This caused Buddhist rebeling in public locations. News spread quickly around the world and the images shocked many. In response, public opinion turned against Diem. Then in November, 1963 the South Vietnamese plotters murdered Diem. Kennedy supported the overthrow, but he did not seeki his assassination. -
The War on Poverty
In President Johnson's first State of the Union Address in January of 1964, he stated "unconditional war on poverty". In order to launch this war, he asked congress to pass the Economic Opportunity Act, and in August of 1964, Congress did. This act funded new antipoverty programs like the Job Corps and VISTA. These programs provided for the umemployed youth, education for adult, and work opportunities for unemployed mothers and fathers. -
Freedom Summer
After the passing of the 24 amendment, which banned states from taxing citizens to vote, there was a cry for help in Mississippi to help register African Americans for voting. The project was called Freedom Summer, and many college aged students trained to register voters or teach at summer school. These volunteers also starterd a freedom movement in Mississippi. -
Passing the Civil Rights Act
The March on Washington and death of Medgar Evers leads to the passing of the Civil Rights Act. President Johnson supported the act even though some southerns in Congress disagreed with it, he still signed it into a law on July 2, 1964. This act banned discrimination in employment and in public acommodations and changed the lives of all minorities. -
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution
This resolution enabled the president to take any necessary steps to repel any armed attack against forces of the U.S.. This also allows Johnson and his advisors to expand the war. The Tonkin Gulf was also part of the problems over in Vietnam. -
The 1964 Election: Great Society
The presidential election of 1964 was when Johnson and his administration used the idea of a Great Society in their campaign. Johnson really sealed the deal for his reelection when opponent Goldwater spoke of using nuclear weapons in Vietnam. Many were convinced that Goldwater was a dangerous extremist. Johnson's ideas to help people in the Great Society help him win the 1964 election. -
The Selma March
600 African Americans take a 54-mile march in hopes of gaining voting rights.Police fired tear gas and beat them with clubs, chains, and electric cattle prods. Even though King wasn't at the March 7 march, he was the on pushing for these rights and he declared it would begin again on March 9. Finally, after receiving federal protection, the marchers reached Montgomery on March 25. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was a bombing campaign over North Vietnam. Johnson's plan was to weaken the enemy's ability and will to fight. He wished to display the South Vietnam his commitment to its independence. U.S. pilots bombed army bases, air fields, or anything North Vietnam would find useful in the war effort. -
Declining Troop Moral
Some Vietnamese play peaceful peasants during the day and became part of the Vietcong by night. Our U.S. soldiers faced constant danger facing potential ambush around every turn. This caused uncertainty among mariens and army men alike when interactng with Vietnamese soldiers. -
Rise of the Counterculture
The counterculture was a rebellion of teens and young adults against mainstream American society. The young Americans that took part in this movement were referred to as "Hippies". They felt as thought society's values were "hollow" and priorities misplaced. They wanted to create an alternative culture based on peace and love. -
Johnson's Foreign Policy
Just like President Kennedy, Johnson was all for "guns over butter" because he wanted to stop the spread of communism. In 1965, he sent over 22,000 U.S. troops to put an end to the revolt in the Dominican Republic, and at the end of 1966, about 385,000 troops were in Vietnam. This guideline for intervention was called the Johnson Doctrine. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
After the Selma March, Johnson asked for a passage fo voting rights laws. Hence the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed in Congress. King, Farmer, and Parks all attended the president's signing on August 6th. This law gave the government powerful tools to bring down the barriers of African American voting rights. -
The Antiwar Movement
This movement attracted a broad range of people, for example students, civil rights workers, doctors, and many more types of people. Many antiwar rallies took place on college campuses and were lead by students. The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was the most vocal group. They also held marches and created petitions to end the war. -
Movements for Latino Rights: Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales
In 1966 Rodolfo Gonzales, a leading figure in the Chicano movement, founded the Crusade for Justice. This group promoted Mexican American nationalism and provided legal aid, a theater for enhancing cultural awareness, a Spanish-language newspaper, and other community services. In addittion, it offer free bilingual classes and lessons in Chicano culture. -
The Movement Moves North
After the Kerner Commission studied the causes of urban rioting and placed the blame on poverty and discrimination, King was convinced that the movement was bypassed by many African Americans. Therefore, in July, after failed campaign attempts in Chicago, King went to the white neghborhoods and declared himself victorious. -
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party, a group of young African Americans that rejected nonviolence, called for a violent revolution as a way for African American liberation. This group of people carried guns and confrontation with police led to some shootouts and deaths on both sides. -
The Countercultures Decline
Many hippies wanted and expected to be able to find mellow living by moving to communes and places like Haight-Ashbury. This was problematic because many hippies had no way to support themselves, and their lack of rules lead to conflicts. In addittion, this counterculure brought sinister characters who committed devious acts. For example, Charles Manson got a group of followers to committ mass murder in California. -
MAYO
This group was formed by protesting Mexican Americans in Texas. MAYO stands for Mexican American Youth Organization and they wanted to achieve economic independence for Mexican Americans, to gain control over the education of Hispanic children, and to achieve power for Latinos through the creation of a third political party. This group contributed to many of Hispanic protests. -
The Tet Offense
The Tet Offense was a seires of massive coordinated attacks throughout South Vietnam. The effects of the Tet was that it showed no part of South Vietnam was safe from attack. this lead to the broken belief of many Americans that communist forces were weakening. There were growing doubts and democratic challenges. -
Johnson Seeks a Solution
The Tet Offense was devestating to the enemy. Johnson wanted to send more ground troops to Vietnam. Many Americans were outraged that more troops needed to be sent over. Johnson now agreed that it was time to try and negotiate with North Vietnam. Talks started between North Vietnam and the United States immediately. -
King's Assassination
King headed to Memphis, Tennessee to help African American sanitation workers on strike. He remained in Memphis to speak at a rally on April 3. Then on April 4, James Earl Ray shot and killed King while in his motel. Many African Americans were outraged and reacted vioently. -
Poor People's Campaign
The Poor People's Campaign was an important expansion of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. felt that majority of African Americans were still incapable of achieving equaltiy because of how poor they were. He took matters into his own hands and decided to let the everybody know about the nation's poor people. When King died, Ralph Abernathy took over, however it was a complete failure. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
This law banned discrimination in the state or rental of housing. This occured after Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. President Johnson was the one who signed it. The Civil Rights act benefitted most African Americans. -
Results of the 1968 Election
The election was very close. It was Nixon vs. Humphrey with challenges from Wallace as well. The election, in the end, showed that Nixon was victorious. His victory in the electoral college gave him a mandate and the confidence to pursue new policies to achieve victory in Vietnam. -
The Brown Berets
In the late 1960s the Brown Berets came to be one of the most militant organizations in the Chicano movement. They were founded by working-class Chicano students and began their activism by protesting against police brutality in East Los Angeles. Also, they fought for bilingual education, better school conditions, Chicano studies, and mroe Chicano teachers. Overall, they also aided the Chicano civil rights movement. -
The Counterculture Legacy
Even though the counter culture didn't last long, it left a lasting impression on American culture. Majority of Americans became more laid back in their style of dress and became more open minded about lifestyles and social behavior. In art, they created pop art. Furthermore, in film, subects broadened and censorship rules relaxed. -
Vietnamization
Vietnamization involved turning over more of the fighting in Vietnam to the South Vietnamese while gradually bringing U.S. ground troops home. Nixon hoped that Vietnamization would give South Vietnamese leaders enough time to create a stable anti-communist government. -
The New Black Power
The New Black Power starts in the 1970s with the newly won voting rights of African Americans. They began taking over places in government and providing services for the nation. Some important people were Thurgood Marshall, John Lewis, Andrew Young. and Jesse Jackson. -
End of U.S. Involvment
Nixon ordered around-the-clock bombings of North Vietnamese citites to try and force North Vietnamese to make concessions. Finally, in 1973, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the U.S. finally reached a settlement. The U.S. would withdraw all of its troops from South Vietnam, but the key issue, the political furture of South Vietnam, was not settled. -
The Wars Political Impact
The U.S. government spent more than $150 billion on the Vietnam War. Many Americans felt Johnson and Nixon exceeded their constitutional powers by waging an undeclared war. Congress also passed the War Powers Act in order to prevent another Vietnam War. This Act reaffirmed congress' constitutional powers to declare war. -
Roe vs. Wade
In this case, Supreme Court struck down state laws that banned abortion. The court ruling stated that these abortion laws violated a constitutional right to privacy. Women felt that they could not feel equal until they had the control over when or whether they have children. Opposition of abortion came from religious or moral beliefs -
The Women's Liberation Movement
Many women felt the core of the liberation movement was feminism, the idea that men and women should be socially, politically, and econmically equal. A group of women organized NOW, National Organization of Women, to fight against gender discrimination in the workplace. NOW organized marches, lobbied government officials, filed lawsuits, and stated ralles as well as other nonviolent protests.
