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Period: to
1945-present
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WWII ended
Truman announced Japan's surrender and the end of WWII.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/end-world-war-ii-1945 -
Truman Doctrine
U.S. policy that aimed at containing the spread of communism by providing military and econmic aid to countries that were influenced by communism. It was the beginning of America's active involvement in the Cold War. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/truman-doctrine -
Desegregation of U.S. Armed Forces
President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, making it illegal to discriminate based of race, color, religion, or national origin. It helped pave the way for racial integration and equality in the armed forces.
https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/diverse-experiences-in-service/equality-of-treatment-and-opportunity/ -
Brown Vs. Board of Education
Supreme Court case that rules racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The court decided that "separate but equal" facilities were in-fact not equal. This decision helped end legal segregation and was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/brown-v-board-of-education -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Began in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white person. It was a peaceful protest led by African American citizens in Montgomery, Alabama, to challenge racial segregation on public buses. It lasted just over a year when Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/12/01/rosa-parks-refused-to-give-up-her-seat-60-years-ago-heres-how-the-political-world-is-remembering/ -
March on Washington
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech advocating for civil rights and racial equality. https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-rights-history-project/articles-and-essays/the-march-on-washington/. -
1964 Civil Rights Act
Landmark law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin or gender.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act -
1965 Voting Rights Act
an Act that protected African Americans' voting rights by banning the literacy test and other discriminatory practices. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/voting-rights-act. -
Apollo 11
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins go to the moon. The U.S. wins the Space Race by landing the first humans on the Moon. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-11/ -
Title IX
Title IX states that "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded for the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance" https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/14th-amendment-and-evolution-title-ix. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (later known as IDEA)
This guaranteed free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities in the U.S. It required schools to provide IEPs and ensured that students with disabilities be in their least restrictive learning environment. Later on this became the foundation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/ST
ATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg773.pdf -
Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Sandra made history in 1981 becoming the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her appointment by President Ronald Reagan marked a pivotal moment for gender equality in the legal field. https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/exhibitions/SOCExhibit/Default.aspx -
Challenger Disaster
The Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the NASA space shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members aboard. Caused by an O-ring seal failure. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-51l/ -
1990- Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA is legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment transportation, and public accommodations. Its to ensure equality to all that have disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/americans-disabilities-act-1990-original-text -
Columbine Massacre
Two shooters entered Columbine high school and opened fire, killing 13 poeple and injuring many more. They told students as they were shooting that it was because of the people that bullied them the year before. https://www.denverpost.com/1999/04/21/columbine-high-school-shooting/ -
September 11 attacks
Terrorist (al-Qaeda) Hijack planes and crash them into the world trade centers. Another plane is hijacked and was aimed for the Pentagon.
https://www.911memorial.org/911-faqs -
No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act was a major education reform law aimed at improving student success and closing gaps by holding schools accountable. Thus we came to having so much standardized testing.
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04 -
Obama takes office
Barack Obama makes history by becoming America's first ever black president- elect. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-becomes-first-black-president-elect/ -
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act was a stimulus package designed to counteract the effects of the Great Recession by creating jobs, investing in infrastructure, and providing tax relief. Signed by President Obama, the act injected over $800 billion into the U.S. economy to stabilize https://2009-2017.state.gov/recovery/index.htm -
Affordable Care Act
Also known as Obamacare, was a comprehensive health care reform law aimed at expanding access to affordable health insurance and reducing costs. It introduced key provisions such as the creation of health insurance marketplaces, the expansion of Medicaid, and protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. https://www.ama-assn.org/health-care-advocacy/access-care/understanding-affordable-care-act#:~:text=The%20Affordable%20Care%20Act%20(ACA,a%20better%20health%20care%20system. -
Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting
The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut. A gunman killed 20 students and 6 staff members in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. This tragedy sparked renewed debates on gun control and school safety nationwide. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school.html -
U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Ends the 20-year war on terrorism in Afghanistan. -
U.S. Capitol Riot
The riot occurred when a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The violent breach lead to deaths, injuries and widespread damage, disrupting the certification of Joe Biden's victory and prompting a national reckoning on democracy and political extremism. https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/us-capitol-riots-investigations -
Roe v. Wade overturned
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, ending nearly 50 years of federally protected abortion rights. The ruling shifted the authority to regulate abortion laws back to the individual states, leading to patchwork of legal standards across the country.
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn