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Brown v. Board of Education Key Concept 8.2 I B
This landmark court case overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established by the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. It determined the separate was inherently unequal. It was a huge step in the civil rights movement as it got rid of societal discrimination in the form of Jim Crow Laws. -
Vietnam War Begins Key Concept 8.1 I B
This day marked the beginning of what would be a relentless 20 year war between the northern communist Vietnamese and the southern capitalist Vietnamese with the support of the US. This lasted through 5 American President's terms in office. It created an immense deficit in the federal government's budget. It sparked a massive counterculture to the war in the US. Click Here for an explanation of how the Vietnam War started. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion Key Concept 8.1 I E
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed attempt to overthrow the communist dictator of Cuba. It was a clear display of the United States policy of containing communism. The failed invasion foreshadowed the Cubans coming into alliances with Soviet Russia, later leading to a grand Nuclear Missile Crisis. For an article on the Bay of Pigs Invasion, click here. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a period of mass tension between Communist Cuba and the United States. After Communist Cuba broke their agreement with the US to not transport and harbor nuclear weapons, the threat of Nuclear warfare became nearly imminent. President John F. Kennedy threatened to create a blockade around the island to prevent any more weapons from coming in, and reached an agreement with Cuban and Soviet leaders. -
March On Washington Key Concept 8.2 I A
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place during the height of the civil rights movement in America. This was where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech that discussed his vision on the future of a racially equal America. To see Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" speech click here. Hundreds of thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in protest of the racial injustices imposed all over America. -
my Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a massacre of hundreds of of innocent civilians in the Vietnamese village My Lai during the Vietnam War. The event was televised throughout the United States and sparked anger in millions of war protesters. The counterculture built against the Vietnam war grew heavily after this event. For a video that provides an in depth description of the event, click here. -
Kent State Massacre Key Concept 8.1 II B
This was the shooting of 4 unarmed college students during an anti- Vietnam War protest. They protested against the bombings in Cambodia by the US and for peace and equality. The 4 students were shot by members of the National Guard. Click here for a video with more on the Kent State Massacre -
OPEC Oil Embargo Key Concept 8.1 II D
The OPEC Oil Embargo was a ban on oil exports to the United States as a result of them supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War. The prices of oil in the United States rose drastically as the supply plummeted. This led to an energy crisis in the US, leading to the creation of nuclear energy, and the expanded use of solar and wind energy. The oil embargo also indirectly led to incidents such as the three mile island. -
Roe V. Wade Decision Key Concept 8.2 III A
The Roe V. Wade decision was a grand clash between conservative and liberal viewpoints. Conservative viewpoints were largely influenced by Christian ideologies and were anti abortion, while liberals sided with the ideology that it is a woman's choice what to do with her body. Ultimately, the result was that under the fourteenth amendment, a woman had to right to have an abortion. Here's an article that discusses the case of Roe v. Wade in more depth -
Nixon's Resignation
As a result of the Watergate Scandal, President Richard Nixon was placed under investigation in congress regarding his involvement in the burglary that took place. He was suspected to be somehow involved in the hiring of burglars in the effort to gain information on his political competition unethically. Had he not resigned mid investigation, he would have most likely been impeached for his actions. Once he resigned, Gerald Ford, the current vice president, to the presidency the next day. -
Vietnam War Ends
Under Gerald Ford, The Vietnam War finally ended with the two sides signing a peace treaty. Unfortunately, the communist north succeeded in their goals of reuniting the country under communism, and spreading it to Cambodia and Laos. Click here to find out more about the effects of the Vietnam War -
Peak of the AIDS epidemic Key Concept 9.1 I A
The AIDS epidemic peaked around the mid 1980s. The new culture of the youth encouraged a heightened sexual activity and excessive use of drugs leading to many diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C. It is estimated that 22 million have dies from AIDS related reasons. Many young citizens protested to get federal funding for the cure to AIDS, but the ideological disagreements of presidents prevented this. AIDS timeline. -
Essential Question
