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Berlin Wall
In 1961, a literal wall was built in the center of Berlin, seperating the two halves of the city. East Berlin was communist, West Berlin was Noncommunist. The wall seperated families and friends. It was taken down in 1989, officially ending the Cold War. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
The United States discovers that the Soviet Union has nuclear missile sites in Cuba. This is quickly recognized as a large threat by the US. Luckily, the crisis is peacefully ended within a few weeks. -
Mirranda Rights
The Mirranda Rights were made to ensure that those who are in court under accustition are to be informed of their rights before questioning takes place. -
New Weapons Of War
New technological advances allowed new weapons to be created for the wars. Agent Orange and napal firebombs became a devestation to Vietnamese armies and played a failry large role in the victory of the war. Unfortunately it seems to have had awful side effects that veterans still suffer from. -
Economic Opportunity Act
At the time, the US had a large some of people in poverty. THe Economic Opportunity Act helped to create several antipoverty meassures, These meassures include VISTA and Project Head Start. As a result, the nations poverty levels dropped to nearly half of what they were the previous years. -
Americanization
The Vietnam War rapidly became an American conflict when Americanization started. Americanization was when the US sent ground troops to fight in the war -
Rock N' Roll
Rock N' Roll became a popular, new genre of music amungst teens in the late 60's. Older generations saw this music as being 'evil' because it was partially derived from African American cultural music. -
New Federalism
President Nixon, inaugurated in 1969, was determined to reduce the power of the federal government and give the states more power. This decision allowed Revenue Sharing, the states spended collected tax money in different areas as needed. -
Popuation Changes
After the baby boom, less children were being born. Life expentacies grew higher and therefore led to the aging population of the US. Along with this, many people moved from the Rustbelt to the Sunbelt in the south. -
Earth Day
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. It is a day where we take a moment and appreciated the nature around us. People spend time doing little things to clean up their environment on Earth Day and just take in the natural beauty of things. Eart Day was orignally celebrated around the spring Equinox, but is now celebrated in March of every year. -
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Nixon created OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to ensure that all work places were sanitary and safe places to work in. OSHA created standards for workplace saftey and trained, educated and assisted in making sure the standards were met.OSHA is still in act today. -
Three Mile Island Accident
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania was the home to a nuclear powerplant. In early 1979, the plant had a partial nuclear meltdown and released small amounts of radioactive gasses and iodine into the surroundign environment. Many residents of nearby towns were afraid of radioactivity, and moved to safer places, some just for the time being. The Three Mile Island accident is to this day America's worst nuclear incident. -
Reagan Doctrine
The Reagan Doctrine was to oppsoe the global influence of the USSR during the final few years of the cold war. Although it lasted less than a decade, it was a very important part of the United States foreign policy from the early 80's to 1991. -
Nuclear Freeze Movement
Randal Forrberg begun the nuclear freeze movement in order to avoid a nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union. This movement was widely popular with peace groups across the nations and helped calm the nerves of Americans. The movement called for all prodcution and testing of nucleaer weapons to cease. -
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
An agreement between the US and what was then the Soviet Union. This trweaty caused the number of nuclear missels in Europe to decline. Political and Economical issues also declines and it eventually led to the end pof the Cold War and the Societ Union. -
George H. W . Bush
George H. W. Bush was elected president in 1988. He promised no tax raises and the expanson of the economy.He later raised taxes in order to colelct sufficient funds to pay of major debts. -
Bill Clintoln
Clinton was first inaugurated as the Democratic president on Januray 20th, 1993. A legacy of Clinton's is wellfare, but because he failed to enact universal health care, he was impeached (but not removed from office) during his second term of presidency. The following two presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama contiued to struggle to meet domestic policy goals. -
Building Democracies
The US began to help various countries build up deomocracies within themselves. Theses countries include Iraq and Afghanastan. Although it was indirect, it also helped support the Arab Spring uprising, which is a wave of various protests and wars occuring in the Arab world. -
Fighting Terrorists
On September 11th, 2001, the Twin Towers were targeted by terrorist-held planes and hundreds of innocent people died. This quickly was realized to be a large threat to the US. This event eventually led to changes in Visa requirements. Although they wanted to be sure to keep terrorists out, they also wanted to preserve America to be the land of opportunity.
