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Roosevelt Bans Discrimination in Defense Industries
This was known as "Executive Order 8802" which prohibited ethnic or racial discrimination in the nation's defense industry. This was the first federal action, that wasn't a law, that promoted equal equality. It also introduced the Fair Employment Practice Committee. This was a huge step towards equal rights for racial and ethnic minorities in the country at the time. -
CORE was Formed
CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) was an African-American organization that played a key role for African Americans in the Civil Rights Movement. It's main goal was to bring about equality for all people, no matter race, gender, sex, etc. They took part in Freedom Rides, desegregating schools, and the March on Washington. They also supported Nixon in his presidential candidacy. -
Jackie Robinson Joins the Brooklyn Dodgers
Jackie Robinson would be one of the first major breakthroughs with breaking the color barrier in sports. Never before had a colored man played with white people on the same field or team on such a huge stage as the professional baseball league. Jackie was perfect for this spotlight because of his talent and his strength to ignore all of the white people who attempted to get under his skin. He was a shining example that white people and colored people should play together and not separate. -
Truman Desegregates the Military
Executive Order 9981 was issued by President Harry S. Truman and it abolished discrimination on race, color, religion, or national origin in the USAF. This would give equal military jobs and opportunities to all U.S. soldiers and end any sort of segregation in the military. Colored people no longer had to wait for months to began training after being qualified unlike white people who could began training almost weeks after. -
U.S. Begins to Aid France in Vietnam
Initially the U.S. sent economic aid to the French in Vietnam to help with their battle against communism. We did not want to enter the war fully but we also did not want to risk communism spreading. So instead of sending in troops to fight the battles we aided our close ally France with their fight. This would eventually lead us to fully entering the war after France would later surrender. -
French Surrender in Vietnam
France's final stronghold in Vietnam was put under siege by Ho Chi Minh's forces for 57 days. After that day the French would surrender and end their fight against communism in Vietnam. The French were supported by the U.S. during their campaign in Vietnam, economically, and despite their defeat the U.S. would eventually come in and take their place and continue the fight against the Vietcong forces. -
Brown vs BOE
In this court case the Supreme Court ruled that American state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools were unconstitutional. This case became a thing after the Brown family's daughter was refused to be allowed into a local public school in Topeka, Kansas. The Brown family then decided to file a lawsuit on the school. -
SEATO Formed
SEATO was formed to block further communist gains in Southeast Asia. It was considered a failure because of internal conflict and other disputes that hindered the general use of the SEATO military. It was later dissolved in 1977 when many of the members lost interest and withdrew from the organization. -
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give up Bus Seat
On this day Rosa Parks got on her usual bus and this time when a white person demanded she gave up her seat Rosa Parks refused. She was later arrested for refusing to do this and because of this she would end up helping to start a strong movement to end segregation on buses. She was also called "the first lady of civil rights" by the U.S. Congress. -
Southern Manifesto
The Declaration of Constitutional Principles (known informally as the Southern Manifesto) was a document written in February and March 1956, in the United States Congress, in opposition to racial integration of public places.It was signed by 101 congressman and it was meant to counter the landmark Supreme Court ruling Brown vs BOE. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
This boycott was a political and social protest against the policy of racial segregation on the public transit system of Montgomery, Alabama. This was a movement that started in response to Rosa Parks being arrested a few days earlier for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. This would later lead to the Supreme Court ruling that Alabamas laws on segregated buses were unconstitutional. -
Vietcong Formed
The vietcong would form to be led by one leader and be a stronger fighting force. -
Little Rock Nine
Little Rock Nine was when a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School. This would be the first time ever that African American students were allowed into the school. This was such a huge event that federal troops were called in to escort the African Americans into the school. -
SCLC Formed
The SCLC or Southern Christian Leadership Conference was an African American civil rights organization. Martin Luther King Jr. would be the groups first president and this group played a huge role in African American civil rights movement. They would take part in peaceful protests and marchs to help gain voting rights and desegregate buses in Alabama. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 would empower federal prosecutors to obtain court injunctions against interference with the right to vote. This act was a huge win for MLK Jr. and many other African Americans. They previously had the right to vote but were constantly denied that right in the south so this finally gave them the freedom they deserved to vote for who they wanted to represent them. -
NASA Created
NASA was created as a result of the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. They were created in response to the Soviet Unions launch of it's first satellite, Sputnik 1. They would also end up sending the first U.S. man into orbit around Earth and finally they would send the first man up onto the moon and then be able to bring him back home. -
Fidel Castro Sworn in
Fidel Castro would be sworn in as prime minister of Cuba after he led a guerrilla campaign that forced away the right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista and put him into exile. This would make Castro the commander in chief of Cuba's armed forces and a chance to lead Cuba. -
SNCC Formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was another major civil rights group of the 1960s. This group started to gain attention after they began to do sit-ins in diners and restaurants that previously refused to serve them. They were another group that also believed in non-violent protests. -
First US Troops in Vietnam
The first group of U.S. troops in Vietnam were actually special forces and they were sent in to train the South Vietnamese people how to fight. They would also advise their combat leaders at the time and train the South Vietnamese anti-guerrilla warfare tactics. -
Sit-ins Start
Sit-ins were a peaceful protest that was mainly done by SNCC members and their goal was to either get served food and drinks at local restaurants and diners or they would sit at the counter and prevent those businesses from making money. This was a very smart way of protesting peacefully because they were not being violent or breaking the law. -
John F. Kennedy Becomes 35th U.S. President
John F. Kennedy was a very strong president for the U.S. at the time. He would end up helping MLK and other civil rights leaders and groups to help them gain more rights for their people. He also helped negotiate the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and started the Alliance for Progress. He was assassinated in 1963 but what he did for African Americans was never forgotten by anyone. -
Peace Corps Formed
The Peace Corps was a volunteer program formed the United States government. Its main goal was to provide social and economic development through technical assistance. They also wanted to do this by promoting mutual understanding between Americans and other populations that served. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was possibly one of the biggest failed CIA invasions in Cuba. The initial plan included a massive airstrike and bombardment of the beach to annihilate any sort of defenses that may be their waiting for the CIA troops to arrive. However at the last minute the airstrike and bombardment were both canceled and when the CIA landed they didn't stand a chance against the beach defenses. This failed attack would also end up strengthening Fidel Castros power. -
First Freedom Ride
Freedom rides were when African Americans would ride interstate buses into segregated southern states. -
Berlin Wall Built
The Berlin Wall was put up to separate east and west Berlin. -
John Glenn 1st from U.S. to Orbit Earth
John Glenn would be the first U.S. astronaut to successfully orbit the Earth. -
James Meredith 'Ole Miss
James Meredith was a brave African American Civil Rights Movement figure that attempted to integrate the all-white school, the University of Mississippi. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13 day confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union which started when the U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba. -
"Letter from Birmingham" MLK Jr.
The "Letter from Birmingham" was written by MLK Jr. while he was in prison and this letter would end up gaining national attention and help the Civil Rights Movement. -
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
The Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty prohibited all test detonations of nuclear weapons except for underground testing. -
March on Washington
The purpose of the March on Washington was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. -
Alabama Church Bombing
The Alabama church bombing ended up killing four young African American girls and bringing even more attention to the Civil Rights Movement. -
JFK Assassinated
John F. Kennedy's assassination was a very emotional event for all Americans because of his strong presidency that he had had. -
Reynolds vs. SIMs
During this court case the Supreme Court ruled that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment required that the legislative districts across the states be equal in population. -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment prohibited any sort of poll tax in elections for federal officials. -
SNCC Formed Freedom Summer
This was a volunteer campaign in the U.S. that attempted to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi. -
Civil Rights Act
This Civil Rights Act prohibited unequal application of voter registration requirements, segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
This was a joint resolution that the U.S. Congress passed gave Lyndon B. Johnson almost unlimited powers to oppose communism. -
Economic Opportunity Act
This act authorized the formation of local Community Action Agencies to help with the war on poverty. -
Water Quality Act
This act required states to issue water quality standards for interstate waters. -
Immigration & Nationality Act
This act abolished an earlier quota system based on national origin and would establish a new immigration policy for the U.S. -
Bloody Sunday
This day got its name when British soldiers shot 28 unarmed civilians during a protest march in Northern Ireland. -
Malcolm X Assassinated
Malcolm X was an American Muslim Minister and a strong human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was the name of a gradual and sustained aerial bombardment that took place during the Vietnam war. -
Elementary Education Act
This act would help give more funding to primary education centers to help with the "War on Poverty." -
Medicare and Medicaid
These were both meant to help, older people and certain younger people with disabilities, give money to people who needed it and were unable to obtain it themselves. -
Voting Rights Act
This was a strong win for African Americans as they were finally given their full freedom to vote for who they wanted to lead them. -
"Black Power" Movement
The Black Power Movement was a political and social movement whose advocates believed in racial pride and self-sufficiency. -
Black Panther Group Formed
The party's original purpose was to patrol African American neighborhoods to protect residents from acts of police brutality. -
Clean Water Restoration Act
This act provided federal funds for the construction of sewage treatment plants. -
Air Quality Act
This act was a comprehensive Federal law that would regulate all sources of air emissions. -
Thurgood Marshall Supreme Court
Thurgood Marshall would end up becoming the first ever African American to serve on the Supreme Court. -
Race Riots Began (NJ, DET, & LA)
These were inner city riots that took place in minority areas usually due to poverty. -
MLK Jr. Assassinated
MLKs assassination was another emotional time for American citizens. He was a strong speaker and brave Civil Rights leader that will never be forgotten. -
Tinker vs Des Moines - Free Speech in Schools
This court case would end up bringing a lot of attention to free speech in schools and where the line should be drawn. -
First Man on Moon
On this day the U.S. landed the first man on the moon and beat the Soviets in the space race. -
Nixon Gives Affirmative Action
Nixon wanted federal contractors to show "affirmative action" to meet the goals of increasing minority employment. -
EPA Created
The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent agency of the United States federal government for environmental protection. -
Ronald Reagan Becomes 40th U.S. President
Ronald Reagan would become the 40th president of the U.S. and serve between 1981 and 1989.
