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Essential Question
The Vietnam War had the biggest impact on American history. The war was fought to contain communism. However, it quickly dragged on and became pointless. Over half of Americans personally knew someone in the war. Many Americans died, were wounded, or became prisoners of war. It divided the country into hawks (favored war) and doves (anti war). It later became unpopular in the US and led to many protests. Also, it was broadcasted on television uncensored, exposing Americans to the horrors of war. -
Vietnam War
Lasting 20 years, the war sought to stop the spread of communism and protect democracy. However, it became widely controversial after it dragged on. Many believed it caused pointless American deaths and was not beneficial for the U.S. This led to many antiwar protests. The war transitioned from heavy involvement to gradual withdrawal of troops with Vietnamization.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1960s-america/v/vietnam-war -
Elvis Presley and Rock & Roll
Inspired by black musicians like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, he made rock and roll popular with during the 1950s. He changed social and moral values of Americans. Teenagers resonated more with his music. In 1956, he made his debut on television, performing his song Hound Dog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQ8GDBA8Is -
Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
George Wallace attempted to block two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from entering the University of Alabama. He was against the decision of Brown v. the Board of Education which desegregated public schools. JFK was forced to order the National Guard to get Wallace to move.
https://www.npr.org/2003/06/11/1294680/wallace-in-the-schoolhouse-door -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
JFK was fatally shot while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. He was traveling to Texas to resolve tension in the Democratic Party. Former U.S. Marine Lee Harvey Oswald was charged for his murder. The nation was shocked and many grieved for their young president.
https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/jfk-assassination -
Black Panther Party
The party was founded during the civil rights movement. Their original purpose was to defend residents of African American neighborhoods from police brutality. They also wanted to prevent racism and have equal rights for African Americans.
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/black-panther-party/ -
"March on the Pentagon" Rally
Peaceful protest against the Vietnam War. People were fed up with the government overstepping their boundaries. For example, the invasion of neutral Cambodia. Also, they believed the war was becoming pointless and dragging on.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/20/opinion/sunday/march-on-the-pentagon-oral-history.html -
Hippie Movement
They rejected the social norms of American life. They were against war and encouraged peace and love. They participated in sexual relationships and the use of drugs like marijuana for recreation. -
The Moon Landing
Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men on the moon. During the Cold War, the U.S. was struggling to catch up to the Soviet Union in space developments. The Soviets were the first to get into space while the U.S. was the first on the moon. This made the U.S. more superior in the space race. -
Ping-Pong Diplomacy
The gift exchange between American table tennis player Glenn Cowan and Chinese champion Zhuang Zedong reopened diplomatic relations with China. China invited the American team to visit and play some matches with them. As a result, Nixon began to cut back on trade embargoes and travel bans against China.
https://www.history.com/news/ping-pong-diplomacy -
Watergate Scandal
Five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. They were caught stealing documents and wiretapping phones. They were found to be connected to Nixon's reelection campaign. Nixon attempted to cover it up, but failed. This incident led to his resignation.
https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/investigations/Watergate.htm -
Hurricane Carmen
The most intense tropical cyclone during 1974. Sugar cane crops in Louisiana were destroyed, the fishing industry took a hit, and there was major flooding. Only a total of 8 people died. -
HIV/AIDS Epidemic
A virus/disease, that originally was found amongst the gay community, quickly spread to many Americans. Reagan initially saw the epidemic as the "gay plague" and took it as a joke. Then, it became more serious and many were dying, including those who weren't gay. People believed he took too long to respond to the issue.
