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SNCC formed
Standing for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, it sought to coordinate campaigns against the civic segregation and political exclusion of African Americans. -
First televised Presidential debate
An estimated total of sixty to seventy million viewers watched the first the Nixon-Kennedy debate. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
The Flintstones were introduced to television audiences by ABC. It was network television's first animated series. -
President Kennedy is elected president
His presidential campaign gained lots of support after the first ever televised presidential debates. He defeated Republican opponent Richard Nixon. -
Russians send the first man into space
Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union was the first human in space. He remained in space for one hour and forty-eight minutes before landing in Saratov Oblast, a region in west Russia. -
Berlin Wall is constructed
Built by the German Democratic Republic, the Berlin Wall became a symbol of the Cold War as it prevented the German population from Soviet-controlled East Berlin to West Berlin which was controlled by the major Western Allies. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth’s single season home run record
Maris hit 61 home runs during the 1961 season, setting a new Major League single-season record. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
It was a manifesto by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). It called for the creation of a “New Left,” which was a new kind of liberalism. -
Marilyn Monroe's Death
Her death was ruled as a probable suicide as she died from a barbiturate overdose. This was based off of being prone to mood swings, past overdoses, and suicidal thoughts. -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. He was guarded at all times by reserve U.S. deputy marshals and army troops, and he endured constant verbal harassment from students. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A direct and intense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it was the moment when the two nations came very close to nuclear conflict. -
“Dr. No," the first James Bond movie premiers
It was the first to start Sean Connery as James Bond. It paved the way for all future Bond films by making $16 million domestically. -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
Dr. King delivered this iconic speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In his speech, he called for civil and economic rights as well as an end to racism in the US. -
President Kennedy is assassinated
Kennedy was shot while he rode through Dallas, Texas on a motorcade. He was 46 years old and had served less than 3 years in office. -
The Beatles arrive in the US
The Beatles were greeted by screaming American fans as Beatlemania began to take over the United States. -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
The Beatles' debut on the Ed Sullivan was the one of their first appearances in front of an American audience. -
New York World’s Fair begins
The theme for the 1964-1965 World's Fair was "Peace through Understanding." It hosted 80 countries, the US government, 24 states, and NYC. -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
Johnson beat Goldwater, winning over 61% of the popular vote. He became the only Democrat between 1944 and 1976 to win a majority of the popular vote. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Civil rights activist Malcolm X was shot and killed inside Harlem's Audubon Ballroom in New York. Three men who identified themselves as members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of murder and imprisoned. -
Watts race riots
These riots were a series of violent confrontations between LAPD and residents of Watts as well as other predominantly African American neighbourhoods of South-Central LA. It lasted for six days. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
Bills where the production, sale, and possession of LSD was outlawed were signed by the governors of Nevada and California.The law went into effect immediately in Nevada was a few months later in California. Other U.S. states and many other countries soon followed with similar bans -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
The show depicts the adventures of the crew of the starship USS Enterprise and its five-year mission "to boldly go where no man has gone before", under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” begins
Thousands of hippies, beatniks, and counterculture figures gathered San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district and Golden Gate Park. This convergence encompassed hippie culture, spiritual awakening, hallucinogenic drugs, anti-war sentiment, and free love. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
Green Bay Packers were up against the Kansas City Chiefs, finishing in the Packer's victory 35-10. -
The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's album
It was the first Beatles album to be released with identical track listings in both the UK and USA, as stipulated by the group. It topped the Billboard Charts for 15 weeks. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Marshall and became the first black Supreme Court Justice. -
Boxer Muhammed Ali refuses military service
Muhammad Ali was convicted for refusing the Vietnam draft. He suffered the stripping of his heavyweight title, a suspension from boxing, a $10,000 fine, and a five-year prison sentence. -
Tet Offensive
The North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong launched a coordinated attack against a number of targets in South Vietnam. This weakened US public support for the Vietnam War. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
Posing as John Willard, James Earl Ray shot Dr. MLK Jr. who was standing on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Only 5 years after his brother was assassinated in Dallas, Robert Kennedy ran for office. However, he was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan nd died the following day. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
This uprising was a series of protests against the US's involvement in the Vietnam War. It occurred prior to and during the 968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois and lasted seven days. -
President Richard Nixon is elected
While many assumed Nixon's political career was over after losing the election in 1960, he went on to defeat Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Third Party candidate George Wallace. -
Stonewall Riots
This uprising began when the NYPD raided Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village in NYC. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the US. -
American Astronauts land on the moon
American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon. This put America in the lead for the Space Race against the Soviet Union. -
Woodstock Concert
It was a music festival that was held in Bethel, NY and many iconic singers like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and several others performed. This concert was an opportunity for people to escape from the controversial Vietnam War conflict and spread a message of unity and peace. -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
Thousands gathered at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California. However it is remembered for Hells Angels as security and its significant violence, including the stabbing death of Meredith Hunter, an 18 year old man.