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SNCC formed
The Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee or SNCC was formed by students to fight for equal rights for the black community. -
first televised presidential debate
The first televised presidential debate was held between Kennedy and Nixon. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
The Flintstones was a cartoon about a prehistoric family. -
President Kennedy is elected
John F Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th president of the United States. He didn't win the popular vote but did get enough votes from the electoral college. -
Russians send the first man into space
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Russian astronaut that was the first man that went into space and came back. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
The Port Huron was a manifesto made by the Stucent Democratic Society. -
Berlin Wall is constructed
The Berlin Wall was made to stop eastern German citizens, run by the Soviet Union, to cross over to western Germany, which was run by America. -
Roger Maris breaks Babe Ruth’s single season home run record
Roger tied with Babe Ruth at 60 home runs. It was controversial because the number of games in a season increased since Babe Ruth's day. -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe, the most popular sex symbol in the '50s and '60s and died of an overdose. -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meridith became the first African American to go to the University of Mississippi. -
Dr. No
Dr. No was the first James Bond movie to premiere. It was about a suave gentlemen spy. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest we ever got to nuclear war. America gave nuclear warheads to Turkey (right outside of the Soviet Union). In response, the Soviet Union gave nuclear warheads to Communist Cuba. -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
Martin Luther King Jr was a black Baptist minister that fought for equal rights for people of color. His speech talked about his dream for everyone to live as one. -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
JFK was beginning campaigning to run again in the 1964 election but was shot as he was driven down the road in a motorcade. -
The Beatles arrive in the United States
The Beatles arrived at JFK airport with thousands of fans already surrounding the area. This was just the start of the Beatle Mania. -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
This was their first live appearance in America and 73 million people watched that night. -
New York World’s Fair begins
The world fair was a way to showcase American advanced technology and culture. All buildings were demolition after the fair was over. -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
LBJ wins the presidential election, against Barry Goldwater, becoming the 36th president of the United States. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X was a Muslim Minster that also fought for equal rights in the '60s. He was killed in Manhattan while giving a speech. -
Watts race riots
The uprising was caused because of how black Americans were treated: high unemployment, inferior living conditions, and poor schooling. The spark that lit the powder keg was a white Californian police officer arresting a black man. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
Nevada and California signed a bill into law stating that no one could make, buy, or use LSD. -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
Star Trek the original series was about space travelers and their adventures. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
The First NFL Super Bowl was held at Memorial Coliseum where the Green Bay Packers won against the Kansas City Chiefs. -
Boxer Muhammad Ali refuses military service
Ali was drafted into the Vietnam War and he refused to go citing that his religion forbade him to fight. -
Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s album
The Beatles released the Sgt. Pepper's album because Paul wanted to be so different that the Beatle Mania will subside. This concept album was the first Rock n' Roll album to not have a designated signal. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
Lyndon Johnson anointed him as an assistant justice after Tom Clark left it vacant. -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” begins
The Summer of Love was when a bunch of young people adopted the hippie style and converged at Haight-Ashbury, San Fransico. -
Tet Offensive
The Vietcong and North Vietnamese Communists launched an attack on South Vietnam. It was supposed to squash rebellion in the South and make the American forces retreat. It only escalated the war. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr was shot on his balcony in Memphis Tennessee. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Robert Kennedy was a senator who after his brother's death began to run for president and won the primaries in California before getting shot. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
The protest was against the Vietnam War. It spanned 5 days and took place during the Democratic National Convention. -
Richard Nixon is elected
Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the 37th president of the United States. -
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall Riots was a response from the queer community to the Police raiding the gay bar known as Stonewall. -
American astronauts land on the moon
In July of 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to set foot on the moon. This won the space race for America. -
Woodstock concert
The Woodstock Concert was a celebration of art and music. Woodstock was said to promise three days of peace, love, and music. -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
The Rolling Stones performed a free concert. It was the end of their US tour and was seen as the Woodstock of the west.