Moments in American History

Dred Scott Decision

Mar 13, 1857

http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/dred.htm
In March of 1857, Scott lost the decision as seven out of nine Justices on the Supreme Court declared no slave or descendant of a slave could be a U.S. citizen. It also ruled that the Missuri compramise was unconsitutional

Lincon Assasination

Apr 14, 1865

http://www.history.com/topics/abraham-lincoln-assassination
John Wilkes Booth,fatally shot President Lincoln at a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The attack came only five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his effectively ending the American Civil War.

Brown vs. Board of Education

Dec 1, 1952

http://www.nps.gov/brvb/historyculture/index.htm
This court case challanged the segregation in oublic school as unconstitutional. And it was actually five different cases all filed under one name.

McCarthy Hearings

Apr 13, 1954

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1769.html
In the fall of 1953, McCarthy conducted an investigation of the Army Signal Corps. The Army later released a report saying that McCarthy and his aide, Roy Cohn, had pressured the Army to give favored treatment. The senate decided to look into these accusations in a series of hearings

Gideon vs. Wainwright

Jan 1, 1963

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_gideon.html
This was the case that rulecd that the constitution required states to provide attorneys for those convicted. The case began with the arrest of Nicholas Gideon in 1961. Gideon appealed his case to the US Senate and they review it in 1963

Civil Rights Act of 1965

Jul 2, 1964

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=97
The Civil Rights Act of 1965 was enacted by president Lyndon Johnson in July of 1964. The Act prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal

Watergate Affair

Jun 17, 1972

http://www.history.com/topics/watergate
several burglars were arrested inside the office of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), located in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. The prowlers were connected to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign, and they had been caught while attempting to wiretap phones and steal secret documents

Reagan's "Tear Down this Wall" speeach

Jun 12, 1987

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm
This speech by President Ronald Reagan to the people of West Berlin contains one of the most memorable lines spoken during his presidency: "Tear Down this Wall"

Clintons Impeachment

Dec 18, 1998

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/clinton.htm
After the lewinsky affair Clinton lied under oath about having any sexual relations with Miss. Lewinsky. Clinton was charged with pergury and obstruction of justice. He was not convicted

9/11

Sep 11, 2001

http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks
On September 11, 200 al-Qaeda members hijacked four airliners. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon. This changed national security forever