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SNCC formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee is founded by young people to take nonviolent, but direct action during the civil rights movement. -
First televised Presidential debate
The first televised presidential debate between Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy was held on September 26th where an estimated 60 to 70 million viewers tuned in to the first series of debates. It's said that Kennedy's good looks compared to Nixon helped make him a more popular candidate. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
The Flintstones broadcast on ABC, making it the first animated series with a prime-time spot on television. The series would then go on to become a pop culture phenomenon for decades to come. -
President Kennedy is elected
The 1960 presidential election ends with Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy defeating Vice President Richard Nixon. -
Russians send the first man into space
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to be sent into space. His vesicle circled Earth at 27,400 kilometers per hour in 108 minutes. This put the U.S. behind in what became known as the "space race". -
Berlin Wall is constructed
The Berlin Wall is built as a border between East and West Berlin as a means to end the massive departures to West Berlin. The wall was a result of the decree passed by the East German Volkskammer to establish power and document in sovereignty to the outside world. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth’s single season home run record
Roger Maris hits his 61st home-run on the final game of the season, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
A political manifesto from a student activist society known as Students for a Democratic Society is released. The statement was 25,700 pages long and expressed the idea that citizens could make decisions that determined the quality of their life. -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe dies on August 4th inside her home in Los Angles, California. She passed away at the age of 36 due to a barbiturate overdose -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith becomes the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. He was guarded 24-hours a day by deputy marshals and army troops but was still met with verbal harassment from some students. Two bystanders were killed in a confrontation between a white mob and the marshals protecting Meredith with 206 of them being wounded. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Starts
An American U-2 plane photographs nuculear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union in Cuba. Kennedy, trying to avoid the Soviet Union finding out they discovered the missiles, met with his advisors for the next few days to discuss further actions. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Ends
After thirteen days of the crisis, Nikita Khrushchev issued a statement that the Soviet missiles would be dismantled and removed from Cuba. Eventually the Soviets also agreed to remove their IL-28 bombers ending the U.S. quarantine. -
“Dr. No” the first James Bond movie premiers
Dr.No premiers at the London Pavilion. The movie was based off the novel by Ian Fleming and marked the first film in the James Bond franchise that continues to this day. -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. gives a public speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial calling for civil and economic rights. The speech would go on to become a famous moment in the Civil Rights movement and an iconic speech in American history. -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
President Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding through Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was pronounced dead 30 minutes later leaving Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson to be sworn in as president. -
The Beatles arrive in the United States
The British rock band arrives at Kennedy Airport kicking off what would become known as "Beatlemania". -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
In what would be their first of many appearances, The Beatles appear as guest stars on The Ed Sullivan Show marking their first performance for an American audience. -
New York World’s Fair begins
The New York World's Fair begins, acting as a showcase of mid-twentieth century American culture and technology. More than 51 million attended and there were 140 pavilions representing 80 nations, 24 states, and 45 corporations. -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
Johnson defeats Goldwater in the 1964 election winning over 61% of the popular vote and securing a full term after taking office following Kennedy's assassination. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X, a popular figure during the Civil Rights movement is shot multiple times in Manhattan on February 21st and passed away at the age of 39. -
Watts race riots begin
A series of violent confrontations between Los Angeles police and residents of Watts and other African American neighborhoods begin following the the arrest of Marquette Frye who was suspected of drunk driving. -
Watts race riots end
After six days, the Watts race riots end after the National Guard instated a curfew. -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
The original Star Trek series premiers on NBC. The show starred William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy and would gain popularity reruns garnering a cult following. The series went on to kick off a pop culture phenomenon spanning multiple TV series and films. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
The first NFL World Championship Game was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10. -
Boxer Muhammed Ali refuses military service
World heavyweight boxing champion refused to serve in the United States military during the height of the Vietnam War due to his religious beliefs and opposition to war. -
The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s album
The Beatles release their eighth studio album that went on to have generational impact as it had elements of culture, drugs, mysticism, optimism, empowerment, and fashion that resonated with the youth at the time. -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” begins
A social phenomenon present throughout the summer of 1967 where young people started sporting hippie fashions and behavior. It was mostly present in San Francisco and revolved around music, drugs, and an anti-war movement. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
President Johnson was nominated as the first African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
LSD, a drug with powerful effects is declared illegal by the U.S. government. -
Tet Offensive Starts
North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong forces begin to launch a coordinated attack against targets in South Vietnam causing the U.S. and South Vietnamese militaries to sustain heavy losses. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel while he stood on the second-floor balcony. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Presidential candidate and brother of President John F Kennedy is shot and mortally wounded at the Ambassador Hotel. The event occurred five years after John F Kennedy's assassination. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention begin
A series of protests against the U.S. involvement in Vietnam begins prior to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago where protesters clashed with police for seven days. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention end
After seven days, the Democratic National Convention protests end. The result of the protests resulted in the Democratic Party to fall apart due to internal disagreements about involvement in Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive Ends
The Tet offensive ends after the communists and Viet Cong failed to keep their captures territory. -
Richard Nixon is elected
Nixon defeats Hubert Humphrey in the 1968 election less than one percentage point in the popular vote. Nixon went on to end involvement in Vietnam in 1973. -
Stonewall riots begin
A gay bar in New York is raided by police causing patrons and a growing crowd to respond by fighting back. -
Stonewall riots end
After five days the riots end, new LGBT+ organizations are founded following the event. -
American Astronauts Land on the Moon
Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first men to walk on the Moon after the Apollo 11 lands successfully on the surface. The event was broadcasted throughout the country. -
Woodstock concert begins
One of the largest music festivals in history is held on a Dairy Farm in New York and lasted three days. Nearly 500,000 people attended the event. -
Woodstock concert ends
The Woodstock concert comes to an end after three days celebrating peace, love and rock music. -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
During the final show of their American tour, the Rolling Stones hosted the Altamont music festival hoping to recreate the success of Woodstock. However, the counterculture rock concert ended in disaster as the crowd became violent resulting in stabbings, death, car accidents, and numerous injuries.