-
First tape recorder invented
Used for recording sounds allowed for digital information to be easily spread -
GI bill passed
It established hospitals, allowed for low-interest mortgages to be available, and created stipends covering tuition and other expenses for military veterans attending university or trade schools. -
Sony Founded in Japan
A massive tech conglomerate, now worth billions and billions of US dollars, and employs over one hundred thousand people in Japan alone. -
Start of Cold War
An extremely tense nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, centered around the spread of communism versus the free world. -
First Tap Recorder Sold
Having the tape recorder infinitely facilitated the store and the spread of information, typically via voice recordings. Would also be used in other aspects such as legal hearings or song recordings. -
Soviet Union Detonates their own atomic bomb
During this nuclear arms race between the two world super powers, the US leading the free world, and the Soviet Union leading the communist powers, it was always a sigh of relief to know that the US was the only country to have a developed atomic bomb. So, when the Soviet Union detonated its own, it left a dark feeling of fear in not just the United States, but the rest of the free world as well. -
Mao Zedong takes power in china with communist party
Mao Zedong taking power in China did not have any physical effect on the people of the United States, but it absolutely did mentally. With the fear of communism spreading like wildfire across many areas of the world, it really was just a cherry on top when the largest most populated country in the world was taken by a communist leader. -
Joseph McCarthy gives polarizing wheeling speech WV
Senator Joseph McCarthy gives the famous line "The State Department is infested with communists. I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department." -
start of korean war
The first true action taken against the spread of communism begins. With communist North Korea Invading the democratic South, the United States took action sending troops to the aid of the South Korean forces, pushing the North Back to the 38th parrallel. -
Mattachine society founded first gay liberation society
Many human rights changes were going on at the time. With the civil rights movement, birth control, and gay rights. The Mattachine Society was the group that led the gay rights movement starting in Los Angeles. -
Truman announces the end of world war
Although the fighting had ended in Europe a few years prior, there was still a lingering suspicion that it could start again, given the tensions with the communists. When Truman officially announced the end of the war, it was a major relief for all Americans. -
Eisenhower reports first detonation of hydrogen bomb
-
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage and sentenced to death
-
First shopping mall opens
A totally different take on the way shopping was done, it not only made people's lives much easier with all the stores that they want to go to in one place, whether it be women's, men, children's, or home goods, it also almost posed a symbol to American capitalism and democracy. -
McCarthy hearings begin
After Senator McCarthy made his bold accusations, the fear of communism known as "The Red Scare" was so powerful in the United States that these baseless accusations actually came to fruition. With each person on that list of names actually being tried for communism and treason. It is clear to see that McCarthy simply just took advantage of people's fear in order to attain power in government. -
The new rules put an end to the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine which had been in place for many years
The first step in ending segregation and moving toward integration in the United States. -
Rosa Parks refuses to move to the back of the bus
One of the most iconic moments, not just in our generation, but in American history as a whole. Rosa Parks was arrested and tried for refusing to give up her seat to a white person in the front of the bus. This was one of the major catalysts sparking the full-on Civil Rights Movement. -
First transatlantic telephone cable
Much like the tape recorder, but probably having an even more dramatic effect on the way communication was done, the transatlantic telephone cable allowed people to communicate with each other in an instant regardless of where they were located in the country. This drastically improved and changed the way information was conveyed. -
Georgia State Senate unanimously approves Sen Butts’ bill barring blacks from playing baseball with whites
Although the Civil Rights Movement was beginning to move in full swing, there were still many people, both citizens, and government who wanted to oppose it. This was done in any way they possibly could, such as banning blacks and whites from playing baseball together. -
Toyota begins exporting vehicles to the U.S.
-
President Eisenhower orders U.S. troops to desegregate schools in Little Rock, Arkansas
The famous Little Rock Nine. Nine colored students were permitted to enter an attend an all-white school in Arkansas, where racism was so prevalent, that it was required for them to have military support behind them to ensure their safety. -
Sputnik launched into space
One of the main events that led up to the Space Race, which was a competition of sorts between the United States and the Soviet Union to send the first men into orbit, was the launch of the space probe sputnik. Although it was not a manned aircraft, it was a missive step in science and space exploration, as the probe was able to gain a load of data that we did not have prior to launch. -
President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffers a stroke
With the leader of the free world suffering a stroke, this did not inspire much confidence in the American people, with the dark cloud of communism and nuclear fallout looming over everybody's heads. -
First nuclear power plant
Although extremely dangerous if not done correctly, ie. Chernobyl, nuclear power is one of the most efficient forms of energy in the world. This provided millions of people with cheap energy and power. -
Elvis Presley is drafted into the U.S. Army
America's most famous pop start/ music icon is drafted in the the Army. -
Kennedy elected President (first election where 50 states participated)
-
Berlin Wall goes up
A Wall builtby East Germany (Soviet Union) to divide the city of Berlin into east and west sides controlled by the Soviet Union (east) and the United States (west). -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Further adding to the red scare, the Cuban missile crisis was a major confrontation in 1962 that brought the United States and the Soviet Union close to war over the presence of Soviet nuclear-armed ballistic missiles in Cuba. Led to an extremely tense 13 day standoff between the US and the Soviets. -
Beatlemania, everyone likes the Beatles brings love of rock music to the US
The UK band, The Beatles, takes the world by storm, creating timeless music that is still enjoyed to this day. Led by John Lennon, they produced some of the most iconic rock music ever made, and brought the love of rock music back to the United States, with songs such as "A Day in the Life" and "Yesterday". -
Martin Luther King leads march on Washington DC
The largest civil rights march ever held, was to fight the discrimination, racism, and separate but equal doctrine going on in the United States at the time. Led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who gave one of the most famous speeches in American history, the "I Have a Dream" speech. -
President John Kennedy assassinated
-
Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed
The biggest step was taken by the United States government. In 1964, president Truman signs into law the Civil Rights Act, outlawing any discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.