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Disneyland Opens
In 1955, one of America's greatest attractions, Walt Disney's Disneyland, opens in Anaheim, California.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.insider.com/disneyland-opening-day-vintage-photos-2019-9 -
Space Race Begins
The United States and the Russians began the space race in 1955 when the USSR responds to the US announcement that they intend to launch the first artificial satellite into space with a satellite of their own.
Source Desc: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-race-timeline
Image Source: https://cryptonetwork.news/why-china-japan-south-korea-canada-and-the-rest-of-the-world-is-rushing-in-the-cbdc-space-race/ -
Vietnam War Begins
The exact date of Vietnam War is difficult to pinpoint since the United States never formally declared war on Vietnam. A date (11/01/1955) chosen for the beginning of the war by the official Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Commission, because it marked the formation of Military Assistance Advisory Group-Vietnam, a U.S. command formalizing American military support for South Vietnam.
Source Desc: https://www.historynet.com/controversial-question-war-start/
Image Source is copied and pasted on pic. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, prompting a boycott that would lead to the declaration that bus segregation laws were unconstitutional by a federal court.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/honoring-legacy-rosa-parks-her-birthday-transit-equity-day -
Southern Manifesto
In 1956 politicians from southern states issued the Declaration of Constitutional Principles also known as Southern Manifesto. It denounced the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education as a breach of states’ rights and accused it of abuse of judicial power.
Source & Image Desc: http://www.african-american-civil-rights.org/southern-manifesto/ -
Federal-Aid Highway Act
The Interstate highway system begins with the signing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: http://dwighteisenhower123.weebly.com/the-federal-highway-system.html -
Transatlantic Telephone
The first transatlantic telephone cable begins operation.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.beachamjournal.com/journal/2021/09/mexico-and-the-united-states-began-the-first-telephone-between-the-two-countries-on-this-day-in-1927-94-years-ago.html -
First Civil Rights Bill
U.S. Congress approves the first civil rights bill since reconstruction with additional protection of voting rights.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.thoughtco.com/civil-rights-act-of-1866-4164345 -
National Guard Bar Black Students
In 1957 a despicable incident occurred when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called in the National Guard to ban nine black students from attending a previously all-white High School in Little Rock.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/us/little-rock-schools-resegregation-trnd/index.html -
US First Satellite "The Vanguard" FAILS
The first attempt by the United States to launch a satellite into space fails when it explodes on the launchpad. It rose only 4 feet in the air. To make matters worse the Russians launched their first satellite "Sputnik 1" which had been successful.
Source Desc: https://www.edn.com/1st-us-satellite-attempt-fails-december-6-1957/
Image Desc: https://www.reddit.com/r/ImagesOfThe1950s/comments/7ywxsl/1957_vanguard_tv3_launch_failure/ -
Explorer 1
Explorer I, the first U.S. space satellite, is launched by the Army at Cape Canaveral. It would discover the Van Allen radiation belt.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/334322/view/explorer-1-in-orbit -
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, known was NASA, begins operations as a civilian agency of the federal government dedicated to space science. It replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Source: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/sputnik-and-the-creation-of-nasa-a-personal-perspective/ -
Boeing 707
Using a Boeing 707 leased from Pan American World Airways, National Airlines became the first U.S. airline to operate jet airliners within the United States. This was the first jet service in the USA between Miami and New York.
Source Desc: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/10-december-1958/
Image Desc: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/10-december-1958/ -
Alaska and Hawaii Admitted to the US
Alaska is admitted to the United States as the 49th state to be followed on August 21 by Hawaii making the United States complete with 50 states.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/02/how-each-state-got-its-name/112043890/ -
United States First Astronauts
NASA selects the first seven military pilots to become the Mercury Seven, first astronauts of the United States. The Mercury Seven included John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Wally Scare, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-astronauts-introduced -
St. Lawrence Seaway
The St. Lawrence Seaway is opened along the Canada and United States borders, allowing increased ship traffic between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Source: https://www.workboat.com/coastal-inland-waterways/st-lawrence-seaway-begins-navigation-season -
First Weather Satellite
Tiros I, the first weather satellite, is launched by the United States. Twelve days later, the navigation satellite, Transit 1-b is launched.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/a-brief-history-of-weather-satellites/ -
Fifty Stars and Thirteen Stripes
The fifty star flag of the United States is debuted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reflecting the admission of Hawaii into the union in 1959.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Source: https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/symbols-of-the-united-states/ -
John F. Kennedy
The 1960 Presidential Election was won by John F. Kennedy making him the 35th president of the United States.
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-f-kennedy/ -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was a failed invasion attack from the CIA during the Kennedy administration in an attempt to push Cuban leader Fidel Castro from power.
Source Desc: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/bay-of-pigs-invasion
Image Desc: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56808455 -
United States in Space
The first U.S. manned sub-orbital space flight is completed with Commander Alan B. Shepard Jr. inside a Mercury capsule launched 116.5 miles above the earth from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Source: https://astronomy.com/news/2021/05/60-years-ago-alan-shepard-became-the-first-american-in-space -
Project Apollo Begins
On May 25, 1961, President Kennedy announces at the end of the decade to put a man on the moon.
Source Desc: https://history.nasa.gov/moondec.html#:~:text=The%20Decision%20to%20Go%20to,25%2C%201961%20Speech%20before%20Congress&text=On%20May%2025%2C%201961%2C%20President,the%20end%20of%20the%20decade.
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"Happy Birthday, Mr. President"
At a fundraiser for President Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee in Madison Square Garden, Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday to President Kennedy.
Source Desc: https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/04/27/marilyn-monroe-jfk/
Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvoqK6aLE2E -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crises begins when the Soviet Union built offensive missiles in Cuba. In response, Kennedy orders naval and air blockade of military equipment to the island.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item108397.html -
"I Have a Dream"
The famous Civil Rights march on Washington, D.C. for Jobs and Freedom led by Dr. Martin Luther King and several others was attended by over 200,000 people. King's famous speech for equal rights called "I Have a Dream" was given at the Lincoln Memorial.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.businessinsider.com/50-year-anniversary-of-march-on-washington-how-it-came-to-be-photos-2013-8 -
President Kennedys Assignation
In Dallas, Texas, during a motorcade through downtown, the world watched on live Television as President John F. Kennedy is mortally wounded by assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-american-media-assassination-kennedy-review-20170525-story.html -
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President to President Kennedy, is sworn into office the day after Kennedy was assassinated, making him the 36th President of the United States.
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/lyndon-b-johnson/ -
24th Amendment
The United States ratified the 24th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting any poll tax in elections for federal officials.
Source Desc: https://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/modern/jb_modern_polltax_1.html#:~:text=On%20January%2023%2C%201964%2C%20the,in%20elections%20for%20federal%20officials.
Image Desc: https://www.coolkidfacts.com/twenty-fourth-amendment-facts/ -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Source: https://historydaily.org/1965-voting-rights-act-signed-by-lyndon-johnson -
US Begins Bombing Vietnam
United States warplanes begin their bombing raids of Hanoi and Haiphong, North Vietnam and by the end of the year the US 385,300 troops were stationed in South Vietnam.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://adst.org/2015/07/rolling-thunder-behind-the-fog-of-war/ -
First Black Senator in 85 Years
The first black United States Senator in eighty-five years, Edward Brooke, is elected to Congress.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6690625/ -
The First Super Bowl
The first Super Bowl is held in Los Angeles between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs with Green Bay winning 35-10. Over fifty-one million people watched on television.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/02/13/first-super-bowl-blackout-nixon/ -
The U.S.S. Pueblo
The U.S.S. Pueblo incident occurs in the Sea of Japan when North Korea seizes the ship and its crew, accusing it of violating its territorial waters for the purpose of spying. They would release the prisoners on December 22, but North Korea still holds possession of the U.S.S. Pueblo to this day.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://medium.com/the-spyglass/korea-the-endless-war-the-uss-pueblo-incident-3fa8192c2c74 -
Ford Theater Reopens
Ford's Theatre, the site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 in Washington, D.C., reopens to the public. It had been restored to its original appearance and use as a theatre, now comprising the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://cemeterytravel.com/2013/01/30/cemetery-of-the-week-89-abraham-lincolns-monument/lincoln-fords-theater001/ -
MKL is Assassinated
Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee while standing on a motel balcony by James Earl Ray.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/682774082/original-martin-luther-king-jr -
Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated
Robert F. Kennedy was shot while running for President in Los Angeles, five years after his brother, President John F. Kennedy was shot.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Source: https://www.latimes.com/visuals/photography/la-me-fw-archives-boris-yaro-covers-the-assassination-of-robert-kenedy-20180424-htmlstory.html -
Richard M. Nixon
Richard M. Nixon wins the Presential Election of 1968 making him the 37th President of The United States. He also became the only President to resign from office.
Source & Image Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/richard-m-nixon/#content -
US Leaves Vietnam
As the Vietnam War comes to an end, the peace talk begins at the beginning of 1969 and by July 8th the U.S. starts the withdrawal of its troops.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Image Desc: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/146648531602296476/ -
North Korea Shots Down US Airplane
North Korea shot down a US airplane above the Sea of Japan. All 31 men aboard the plane were believed dead.
Source Desc: https://timelines.ws/20thcent/1969.HTML
Image Desc: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/11/07/north-korea-shot-down-a-u-s-spy-plane-in-1969-trump-might-be-appalled-by-the-response/ -
"One Small Step for Man...One Giant Leap For Mankind"
On June 20, 1969, the entire world watched as the United States made history; we landed a man on the moon. Fulfilling President Kennedy's promise the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon. Armstrong was the first to step on another planet saying his famous words, "One small step for man...one giant leap for mankind."
Source & Image Desc: https://www.history.com/topics/space-exploration/moon-landing-1969 -
The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac killer that terrorized San Francisco sent a poorly-spelled letter to the SF Chronicle, Examiner and Vallejo Times-Herald and took responsibility for the July 5 shootings along with a portion of a cipher.
Source Desc: https://timelines.ws/20thcent/1969.HTML
Image Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/monster-the-zodiac-killer-hear-new-podcasts-trailer-771765/ -
The First Earth Day
The first Earth Day celebration is held with millions of Americans participating in anti-pollution demonstrations. These demonstrations included school children walking to school instead of riding the bus.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/04/22/earth-arbor-day-virtual-events-books-websites -
Students Protest Vietnam
Four students from Kent State University in Ohio were killed and nine wounded by National Guardsmen during a protest against the Vietnam War spread into Cambodia.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1960s-america/a/the-student-movement-and-the-antiwar-movement -
The US Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is made independent in a postal reform measure for the first time in almost two centuries.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://stampaday.wordpress.com/2017/02/20/u-s-postal-service-act-of-1792/ -
Ban Against Advertising Cigarettes
A ban on the television advertisement of cigarettes goes into affect in the United States.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://www.quora.com/Why-should-tobacco-advertisement-be-banned -
The 26th Amendment
The Senate approves a Constitutional Amendment, the 26th, that would lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/voting-age-26th-amendment -
Pentagon Secrets Published
The United States Supreme Court upholds the right of the New York Times and the Washington Post to publish classified Pentagon papers about the Vietnam War, under the articles of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://coffeeordie.com/pentagon-papers/ -
US Visits China
The journey for peace trip of the U.S. President to Peking, China begins. The eight day journey by Richard M. Nixon and meetings with Mao Zedong, unprecedented at the time, began the process for normalization of relations with China.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2018/12/podcast-luke-nichter-1971-1972-white-house-tapes-china/ -
First President in Moscow
President Richard M. Nixon makes the first trip of the U.S. President to Moscow.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/detente -
Watergate Crisis
The Watergate crisis begins when four men are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office building in Washington, D.C. on the same day that Okinawa is returned from U.S. control back to Japan.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Watergate_Scandal -
Nixon's Historical Win
In one of the most lopsided races in American Presidential election history, incumbent President Richard M. Nixon beat his opponent 520 votes to 17, over 60% of the popular vote. However, this would start the end of of Nixon's presidency due to Watergate.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://stacker.com/stories/1280/ranking-every-presidential-race-least-most-dominant -
Roe vs. Wade
The United States Supreme Court rules in Roe vs. Wade that a woman can not be prevented by a state in having an abortion during the first six months of pregnancy.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-roe-v-wade-everything-you-need-know-n856891 -
Paris Peace Accords
Four part Vietnam peace pacts, the Paris Peace Accords, were signed in Paris, France. The announcement of the military draft ending also occurred on that date. The last U.S. military troops would leave the war zone on March 29.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: http://www.amervets.com/ops/parpea.htm -
The Arab Oil Embargo
Oil imports from Arab oil-producing nations are banned to the United States after the start of the Arab-Israeli war, creating the 1973 energy crisis. They would not resume until March 18, 1974.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://www.thebalance.com/opec-oil-embargo-causes-and-effects-of-the-crisis-3305806 -
Impeachment of 1974
Impeachment hearings are begun by the House Judiciary Committee against President Richard M. Nixon in the Watergate affair. On July 24, the United States Supreme Court rules that President Nixon must turn over the sixty-four tapes of White House conversations concerning the Watergate break-in.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://www.dogonews.com/2019/9/29/the-presidential-impeachment-inquiry-explained -
Nixon Resigns
President Richard M. Nixon resigns the office of the presidency, avoiding the impeachment process and admitting his role in the Watergate affair. Nixon was the first president to ever resign from office.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Desc: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/150-years/sd-me-150-years-august-8-htmlstory.html -
Gerald R. Ford
Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974 as our 38th President, he declared, “I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances…This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts.”
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/gerald-r-ford/ -
Wheel of Fortune
The television show Wheel of Fortune premiers.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1970.html
Image Source: https://wheeloffortunehistory.fandom.com/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_timeline_(network)
