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SNCC formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded after student sit-ins at segregated lunch counters across the South. It became the major way for students to participate in the civil rights movement. -
First televised Presidential debate
The 1960 presidential debates with John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were the first televised presidential debates and brought new criteria to the presidential candidates campaigning. The hope of attracting more voters and increasing education of the issues was overcome by the interest of politicians catering to public image and using media exposure to build credibility and create more personality. -
First airing of "The Flintstones"
A prehistoric suburban sitcom made history by being the first cartoon sitcom on a major American TV network. Also, the first cartoon aimed at adults. -
President Kennedy Elected
Democrat John F. Kennedy beats out Republican Richard Nixon to become the 35th President of the United States. -
Russians send first man to space
Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union was the first human in space. The Vostok 1 circled Earth at a speed of 27,400 kilometers per hour with the flight lasting 108 minutes. -
Berlin Wall Construction
Russia constructs the Berlin Wall to keep West Berliners from escaping to East Berlin and leave Germany. -
Roger Maris breaks Babe Ruth's single season Homerun Record
In New York's final game of the regular season, Roger Maris hits his 61st home run, becoming the first player in MLB to hit more than 60 in a season. He tops former Yankees great Babe Ruth, who hit 60 home runs in 1927. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
The statement issued a call for participatory democracy, based on non-violent civil disobedience and the idea that individual citizens could help make the social decisions that determined their quality of life. -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Popular actor and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe overdosed in her home. -
James Meredith enrolls at Ole Miss
The first black student at Ole Miss, an all-white school, showed the changing times of the country. -
“Dr. No” the first James Bond movie premieres
Start of an insanely popular spy series watched by leaders around the world. The novels were recommended to America by President JFK as one of his Top 10 books of all time. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The US discovered nuclear missiles with drone camera shots. Russia gave Fidel Castro the missiles to use as a launch point on the US. -
MLK's "I have a dream" Speech
MLK and over 200,000 people marched for equal rights for African Americans. He then delivered his most iconic speech and shared his dream with the world of a country of no hate. -
JFK Assassination
President John F Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas while riding in his motorcade. -
Beatles arrive at the US
Popular band The Beatles arrive from Britain to finally perform in America. They are greeted off the plane by thousands of screaming fans. -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
73 million people gathered in front of their TV sets to see The Beatles' first live performance on U.S. soil. -
New York World’s Fair begins
The theme of the 1964 World's Fair in New York City was "Peace Through Understanding". Countries, cities, and corporations set up to display their ideas and achievements to the world. -
Beatles release album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
One of if not the most influential albums of all time. Changed and broke "rules of rock" and gave artists new ideas and mindsets of music. -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
With over 60% of the popular vote, Lyndon B Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater in a landslide victory. This was a defining moment for the unity of America over Goldwater's view on states rights. -
Malcom X Assassination
The violent version of MLK, Malcolm X was a civil rights activist who believed they shouldn't wait for rights, but fight and force them. Right before one of his civil rights speeches, Malcolm X was ambushed with a smoke grenade and shot with his family nearby. -
Watts race riots
Caused by high unemployment, poor schools, and related inferior living conditions that African Americans endured in Watts. Multiple days of widespread looting and violence resulted in over 1,000 casualties. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
LSD was once legal and used in studies on psychiatric patients, however, due to the abuse by the younger generations, it was outlawed. -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
Star Trek is an iconic staple in television, let alone science fiction storytelling. With the space race and promises to go to the moon the people of America grew rapid interest in space and what may be out there. -
San Francisco "Summer of Love" begins
85,000 young people moved to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood for a communal utopia. -
First NFL Super Bowl
Green Bay Packers win the first NFL Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10. Packers coach, Vince Lombardi, is immortalized with the Lombardi Super Bowl trophy. -
Boxer Muhammed Ali refuses military service
Ali and a couple of other star athletes refused to fight in the war due to their religion. He also went on to say he has no problem with the Vietcong as they are fighting for freedom just like minorities in America. -
Thurgood Marshall is nominated into the Supreme Court
First African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court. -
Tet Offensive
During Vietnam's Lunar New Year (ceasefire) the Vietcong launched a coordinated attack on American troops. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
After delivering his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech MLK returned to his Motel where he was fatally shot. -
Robert Kennedy Assassination
Kennedy gives a speech to the world and goes back to the Ambassador Hotel. Right after midnight he is shot and killed in the kitchen by a protestor to his support of Israel. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
Anti-Vietnam War protest groups began planning protests and demonstrations in response to the convention, and the city promised to maintain law and order. The protesters were met by the Chicago Police Department with indiscriminate police violence. -
Stonewall Riots
New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City. The raid started a riot as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and fights with the police. -
American astronauts land on the moon
America successfully landed and walked on the moon beating the USSR in the space race. -
Woodstock Concert
A massive festival where people can come to get away from the Vietnam war. It was used as a place of tranquility and love away from the violence. -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
About 300,000 gathered at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California to see the Rolling Stones perform a free concert. Unfortunately, tragedy struck as the security guard killed a black man who approached the stage.