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G.I. Bill
Also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, the G.I. Bill of Rights was meant for returning soldiers of WW2 to compensate for their time in servitude. It served to help veterans get an education in order for them to find jobs and live a stable in society outside of the military. -
Fair Deal
Harry Truman was elected as President of the United States and announced his Fair Deal with essentially continued on the FDR's New Deal. This Fair Deal was made to benefit the public through providing Americans with health insurance, raising the minimum wage, and guaranteeing equal rights. Being unpopular to the members of Congress, national health insurance failed to pass although its other points were able to pass. -
Beat Generation
The 1950s was the time for the "beats" or "beatniks." These people started a literary movement influenced by changes in American culture. They're known to reject materialism and the old ways of doing things in favor of exploring the world (they're often seen as "proto-hippies"). They largely participated in counterculture movements. -
Rock 'n' Roll: Ike Turner & Rocket 88
Ike Turner was a popular American musician and songwriter and was considered a pioneer of rock 'n' roll. He started his own band through playing piano and guitar and named his group Kings of Rhythm. His first recording was "Rocket 88," a song he, unfortunately, didn't get credit for. Instead, it was credited to Jackie Brenston and his "Delta Cats." -
TV Shows
With television being America's top entertainment system of the 1950s, television shows were shown in black and white on a small box, which was a step up from the radio generation where one could only listen to their favorite stations. One popular show that captured the attention of the public was "I Love Lucy" which broadcasted on CBS. -
Nixon vs Kennedy
With much of American citizens housing TVs of their own, they watched the Election of 1960 in black and white as two charismatic presidential candidates debated against each other. While Kennedy would have won if America was exclusively listened through the radio, his speech didn't make up for his sweaty appearance on the TV as Richard Nixon wins the crowd with his famous "Checkers" speech while having used makup to look the part of a persident. -
Polio Vaccine: Dr. Jonas Salk
America cheers as they hear through the radio of Dr. Jonas Salk's announcement of a successful vaccine made to cure polio. In the 1950s, polio was a nationwide epidemic, causing about 58k cases of polio in the US. Something that attacks the nervous system then causing paralysis was finally put a stop to Salk's new vaccine, considerably dropping polio cases (especially in children). He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. -
Korean War: Conflict Ends
Finally, after 2 years, an agreement was reached and a truce was signed by the time Dwight D. Eisenhower took his seat as the US president. Unfortunately, the 38th parallel prevails as the truce was only an armistice, not a peace treaty. In the end, South Korea was saved from communism but all sides suffered great losses. -
Vietnam War: Domino Theory
The domino theory was the US's foreign policy that justified their intervention in the Vietnam War. It was the belief that if communism were to gain victory in one nation, a chain reaction will occur, causing neighboring states to also fall under the influence of communism. All of this was stated in President Eisenhower's "domino theory" speech. -
Vietnam War: 17th Parallel
Officially known as the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone since the Geneva Conference, it served as the divide between North Vietnam and South Vietnam as well as the battleground for the Vietnam War. It ran from east-west to the center of present-day Vietnam with much of its zone in the South. -
Vietnam War: French
After Japan left its occupation of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh formed the Viet Ming in order to overthrow the French-educated Emperor Bao Dai. They were able to seize Hanoi while declaring the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Bao was backed by the French, Bao claimed South Vietnam with Saigon as the capital. The treaty of Geneva allowed for the 17th parallel. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
After Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson died, President Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as the next Chief Justice. He will have com across multiple trials, one of them being the Brown v. Board of Education. After overseeing the case, it would have been ruled that the decision at this school didn't abolish segregation in public places nor require desegregation of schools. -
Vietnam War: Gulf of Tonkin
The incident happened at the Gulf of Tonkin when the US destroyer Maddox tangled with North Vietnamese torpedo boats. The same thing happened 2 days later, serving to fire up the public for the Vietnam War. Later, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered air strikes and 180k ground troops into Vietnam. -
Television
Mass production made creating technology easier for new electronics to be available to the masses. TV was one of them as 75% of America's population had them in their homes in the 1950s. Although in black and white, it was revolutionary in the way people viewed the media and politicians who used them to their advantage for campaigning. -
Civil Rights: Emmett Till Tragedy
A black kid by the name of Emmet Till was 14-year old when he was brutally killed 4 days after flirting with a white woman. Those who killed him were the woman's husband and her brother. These people were not indicted, bringing the light the brutality that was Jim Crow. This boosted the black civil rights movement. -
Bus Boycott: Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks sat quietly in her seat on a bus in Montgomery. The seats nearer the front were for whites once a bus becomes full. When she refused to stand from her seat so that a white man could sit down, she was put into jail, riling the public about what happened in her case. Black civil rights movements included the Mongomery Bus Boycott after her arrest. -
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Civil Rights: Montgomery Bus Boycott
Started by Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat for a white man, the public was in an uproar, starting the Montgomery Bus Boycotts where blacks refused to ride city buses in Montgomery. They instead walked or car-pulled and will continue to do so for a year and 15 days. These buses, in turn, lost revinue. -
Rock 'n' Roll: Elvis
Elvis Presley was a famous American singer and actor in the 20th century. He was often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" and was known for his suggestive dancing. He especially gained fame most notably amongst teens with his first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel." His first hit set the standards for future Rock 'n' Roll music. -
Rock 'n' Roll: Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman, or Little Richard, was a well-known American musician and songwriter, especially when it came to rock 'n' roll. He was popular for genres like soul and funk as well and is no stranger to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His career was kickstarted with his firest alum being "Directly From My Heart to You." -
Interstate Highway System
Officially known as the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, Eisenhower signed the bill so that trafficking would be less congested. It also served to to speed up traffic and therefore permitting quick evacuation of targeted areas. -
Little Rock 9: Orval Faubus
The incident at Little Rock 9 included 9 black students who wished to enroll in the white school as it was near. On their first day of class, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called the National Guard to keep these black students from their entry into the school in an attempt to keep segregation alive. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was a voting rights bill in support of the Court's decision on the Brown v. Board case which led to the integration of public schools. It ensured that blacks could vote without discrimination, prosecuting those denying another citizen's right to vote. -
Little Rock 9: Eisenhower Intervention
President Eisenhower resorted to the use of deploying federal troops to Little Rock 9 so that they could safeguard the black kids trying to enroll in the school. He forcefully desegregated the School under what was ruled during the Brown v. Board case. -
Space Race: Sputnik
The Space Race began with the launch of Sputnik I by the Soviet Union. Being the size of a beachball, it was the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth in an elliptical path. It was seen as a major technological achievement, catching America off-guard and made them believe that the Soviets were technologically more advanced (although all Sputnik did was beep). -
Polio Vaccine: Albert Sabin
The development of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk wasn't its last. Dr. Albert Sabin ingeniously came up with an oral vaccine that replaced Salk's. This vaccine soon came into commercial use for the public to use after its development. It was deemed most effective in dealing with polio. Dr. Sabin was elected into the Polio Hall of Fame. -
Counterculture
The counterculture was a period during the 1960s where Americans broke away from long-held values and behaviors. Young civilians became political activists that drove for civil rights and antiwar movements. Sexuality was explored and women openly protested their roles in society. It was rebellious period full of hippies. -
New Frontier
The Democratic National Convention publicizes an excerpt from Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy's speech which came to be known as "The New Frontier." It labeled his administration's programs; his plan in office. It went over his dream for the space program as well as improving the economy. -
Peace Corps
During John F. Kennedy's administration, he established the Executive Order 10924, effectively establishing the Peace Corps within the Department of State. The volunteer program served to provide technical assistance and helping foreigners outside the US understand American culture. Thousands of young Americans worked together in different nations to help build things like water systems and schools under the Peace Corps. -
To the Moon: John Glenn
NASA astronaut John Glenn has the opportunity to be on of America's first group of astronauts to orbit the Earth. Before him, Soviet cosmonauts already orbited the Earth including Yuri Gagarin as the first man in space. Glenn's spacecraft was named "Friendship 7" and made 3 orbits in 5 hrs before returning. -
To the Moon: Kennedy's Moon Speech
At Rice Stadium, President John. F. Kennedy makes his announcement to the public on his wish to land America on the moon first, making it a national effort to get a man to the Moon and back safely. The US refused to fall behind the Soviets in their race to space. -
March on Washington
As the site for Martin Luther King's "I Have a Deam" speech, over 200k Americans gathers in Washington DC making the rally known as the March on Washington for civil rights. This highlighted America's struggle for their rights as a US citizen as discrimination continue to rage across the nation against the protests of many. -
Birmingham Bombing
A black congregation, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, was bombed killing 4 young girls and injury many others. This was caused by racial relations in the South where violence between whites and blacks were prominent. The violence demonstrated the struggle for blacks to gain civil rights. -
JFK Killed: Lee Harvey Oswald
While riding a motorcade in Dealey Plaza, President John F. Kennedy was shot by a sniper while with his wife, Jacqueline, by Lee Harvey Oswald from the 6th floor of a building. There was no absolute proof that he acted alone, nor was there proof that Jack Ruby acted alone when he killed him in turn. It was thought that he suffered from "psychomotor epilepsy," but he was definitely proven guilty. -
JKF Killed: Jack Ruby
Lee Harvey Oswald was being held in the Dallas Police Headquarters when he shot to death by Jack Ruby when he was going to be relocated to a different jail. Ruby shot him using a concealed .38 revolver and was immediately detained, therefore charged with 1st-degree murder. He was a Dallas nightclub owner and it was never proven that he acted alone. -
JKF Killed: Warren Commission
President Lyndon B. Johnson takes the seat after JFK's death. He establishes the what was known as the Warren Commission to investigate Kennedy's death. They have come to the conclusion that it was only Oswald who shot him on a whim, effectively acting alone. This commission came to this firm conclusion but that didn't stop the case from becomming controversal amongst the public. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Years of civil rights moment led to Lyndon B. Johnson passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which ended segregation in public places as well as banning discrimination when employing Americans. Obviously, this act faced opposition in the South where police brutality on blacks raged, but it was still considered a crowning moment of the legislation. -
Daisy Girl Ad
The "Daisy Girl" ad aired only once during the Election of 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson and was important to him winning most popular votes against Goldwater. The ad capitalized on the threat of nuclear bombs and how they shouldn't be used whereas Goldwater believed that it should be acceptable during moments most would find unacceptable. It was the most controversal political ad shown on TV. -
Election of 1964: Barry Goldwater
Lyndon B. Johnson had at it against Republican presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater. It was obvious that Johson won against Goldwater by a landslide, making this the 6th-most lopsided election of US history. Lyndon advocated for medicare and War on Poverty while Goldwater planned to abolish social welfare programs. -
Great Society
The Great Society was President Johnson's name for his version Democratic reform. During his administration, Congress passed measures such as Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal funding of education. These domestic programs helped the towards the War on poverty as well as advance civil rights. -
Selma March
Martin Luther King Jr.'s SCLC focused on Selma, Alabama to register black voters. As he lead the march, their group faced violent opposition by state and local authorities. The world watched as they continued their march for 3 days, greatly raising awareness for the need to pass the Voting Rights Act. -
Vietnam War: Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was named after the Lunar New Year, Tet. The North and South went at each other in a series of attacks on over 100 cities in South Vietnam. The South, with US help, was able to defend themselves against the Communists. Back in America, news about the Tet Offensive shocked the public, further eroding their support for the war. -
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Warren Burger Supreme Court
Warren Earl Burger was elected as the Chief Justice of the united States and oversaw countless conservative decisions as well as liberal ones such as cases on abortion, capital punishment, religion, and desegregation. During Nixon's Watergate scandal, he was the one who urged Nixon to resign to avoid impeachment on July 24, 1974. -
Stagflation
Stagflation is the persistence of high inflation along with the slowing of economic growth while unemployment rates steadily increase. The term was used to describe the state of the US's economy in the 1970s when oil prices were high along with inflation, unemployment, and recession. -
Environmental Protection Agency
President Richard Nixon established the EPA in an effort tot protect public welfare as well as the environment through enforcing regulations. Its HQ is located in Washington DC where research is done on the environment. It was responsible for enforcing national standards under new environmental laws. -
Nixo's Presidency: Watergate Scandal
5 "plumbers" connected to Nixon's reelection campaign broke into the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate building. There was no proof that Nixon knew bout the plan before the break in, but he was proven guilty when it was found that he was involved in their cover up, leading to his impeachment. The public lost a great amount of trust in the government after that, especially after Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford, his successor. -
Nixon's Presidency: Title IX
Title IX is a public law stating that no American citizen is to be denied of any education program under federal funding on the basis of discrimination. This included sports and other extracurriculars as well as women's participation in sports. -
Nixon's Presidency: Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade was a Supreme Court case that rules over the legality of abortion. Before, state laws regulation abortions which will send women to illegal medical centers which were a dangerous practice. Roe won in her case as the court ruled abortion to be legal, furthering women's rights. -
Endangered Species Act
As one of the dozens of US environmental laws that passed under President Richard Nixon, the Endangered Species Act served to protect species from becoming endangered so that its environment would remain some stability. It was put in place in hopes of reversing the effects humans have toward spiecies extinction. -
Gerald Ford’s Presidency
Geral Ford, Richard Nixon's vice-president, took over as president after his resignation after the Watergate scandal. He was the guy who'll pardon Nixon of his crimes, causing controversy to stir in his name. His foreign policy failed to convince Congress to aid South Vietnam, but he did manage to reduce tensions with Soviets through the signing of the Helsinki Accords. -
Video Home System
First developed in Japan, the VHS comes to America in 1977 bringing with it the ability to watch tape cassettes on the TV, contributing largely to the industry and also leading to commercialized VTRs. The 1980s and 1990s were the peaks of its popularity, taking up 60% of America's market. -
Carter's Presidency: Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords was the groundwork for a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt after years of fighting. Negotiation started at President Jimmy Carter's Camp David retreat in Maryland, where the first peace agreement will be signed between the warring nations. -
Satellite Entertainment
As television continues to be America's #1 source of entertainment, technology catches up to the ages and television begins to air by satellite instead of cable. One such company that utilizes satellite around the time it was becoming a thing was Warner-Amex Satellit Entertainment with their Star Channel which began by satellite. -
Carter's Presidency: Three-Mile Island
Fear of radiation along with the distrust of nukes makes people sensitive to every accident there is involving radiation. One such accident was at the 3-Mile Island Plant in Pennsylvania where equipment failure caused a partial meltdown leading to a release of a bit of radioactive gas. No one died but the incident still caused quite a stir in the general public (leading to the shut down of several plants). -
Entertainment: Robert L. Johnson
Robert Johnson was a black entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded Black Entertainment Television (BET). He became the first black American billionaire with the most successful business. BET was the first television program geared towards young black Americans with its first network airing on Jan. 25, 1980. -
Reagan's Presidency: Reaganomics
Reaganomics was Ronald Reagon's campaign for the 1980s election. The claimed that the nation was burdened with taxes and an overpowered government along with a great amount of social spending. He called for what's known as trickle-down economics. Using Reaganomics, he successfully cut the nation's taxes through slashing government programs but caused the nation to triple in debt. -
Entertainment: MTV
With both television and music being popular sources of entertainment, Music Television (MTV) was aired for the first time starting itself off with music videos featuring rock 'n' roll. It revolutionized the music industry and had much influence on pop culture worldwide. -
Sandra Day O’Connor
55Sandra Day O’Connor was well known for being the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, pioneering for future women of the Supreme Court. She helped guide the Court through many decisions, leading to her being rewarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama. -
Reagan's Presidency: SDI
Also known as Star Wars, the Strategic Defense Initiative was program proposed on TV by Ronald Reagan that the US should build a defense system that'll be based in space. This system would shoot down enemy missiles which would win the Cold War in America's favor, although it would be very expensive. Such a device was never completed, especially after the breakup of the Soviet Union. -
Reagan's Presidency: Reagan Doctrine
Ronald Reagon announces his foreign policy, something that'll be known as the "Reagan Doctrine" as it'll heighten support for military assistance to "freedom fighters" worldwide. It opposed global influence of the Soviets & stated that the US provide aid to anti-communist movements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. -
Reagan's Presidency: Iran Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra scandal occurred during the second term of Ronald Reagon's administration when senior administration secretly sold weapons to Iran in hopes that American hostages would be released. Millions of dollars were made with the exchange of weapons for hostages, but Iran ordered the captured of more hostages after the release of the initial ones, rendering future exchanges futile. -
Challenger Explosion
The NASA shuttle orbiter mission meant to send 7 astronauts into space, one of them being a teacher, tragically exploded 73 seconds after liftoff thanks to 2 rubber O-rings failing due to cold temperatures. The explosion was given extensive media coverage, devastating the public as well as suspending future shuttle missions. -
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Persian Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War, or 1st Iraq War, was a foreign conflict that the US intervened under George HW Bush's administration. Iraq was fighting Kuwait until the US underwent an air offensive called Operation Desert Storm. The conflict was practically onesided and a cease-fire was called on by Bush. Critics say he wanted to protect Kuwait's oil production, but it mainly served to simmer conflict for a second war. -
Balkan Crisis
The crisis was a series of ethnically-based wars between Bosnian Muslims, Serbs, and Croats, all wanting independence. Bill Clinton eventually was forced to intervene by sending US forces along with those from NATO to launch a massive air raid on Serbia. The wars ended through peace accords, allowing recognition of new states. -
Rodney King Incident
Rodney Glen King was a black taxi driver who was pulled over by the 4 cops that were on a high-speed care chase. He was forced out of his vehicle and was beaten brutally. George Holliday captures the beating on video where it was sent to KTLA (a local news station). Its airing raised awareness of police brutality. A jury was held and the officers were acquitted only to be convicted later of violating the man's civil rights. -
Clinton Presidency: World Trade Center Bombed
A terrorist attack had a truck bomb detonate at the World Trade Center. It initially was meant to take down the North tower, sending it into the South tower, but failed, killing only 6 people but injured over 1k. Those who planned the attack were related to Al-Qaeda. -
Clinton's Presidency: Don't Ask Don't Tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was Clinton's military policy for the US's administration of homosexuals into the military. It made it illegal for discriminating/harassing homos in military service. It also prohibited anyone from disclosing their sexuality or even speaking of any homosexual realtionship. -
Clinton Presidency: Health Care Reform
Clinton's health care plan was known as the Health Security Act, which was what much of his campaign revolved around, albeit somewhat controversial as its goal was to provide universal health care for Americans. The plan was proposed to have employers provide health insurance to all their employees. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
During Bill Clinton's presidency, NAFTA was signed by Canada, Mexico, and the US in hopes of getting nations to cooperate, allowing free trade to happen between the 3 without paying tariffs or other forms of taxes. Trade restrictions were lifted and was considered to be Clinton's 1st major victory in office as a Democratic president. -
Clinton Presidency: Contract with America
The Contract with America was released by the Republican Party written by Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey. It detailed actions Republicans promises to take if they're to be the dominant party in the House of Representatives. It was seen as revolutionary with specific voting legislation. -
Clinton's Presidency: Defense of Marriage Act
This was a US federal law that defined marriage as a union between a man & woman, allowing states to refuse same-sex marriages which wouldn't be allowed federal marriage benefits. Otherwise, they would be constrained from benefits. DOMA will later be truck down by the case United States v. Windsor. -
Lewinsky Affair
Bill Clinton's (49 years old) Grand Jury testimony was released to the public after having been under suspicion that he's been having an inappropriate affair with a former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. (22 years old). Clinton spoke on TV claiming innocence, only to be found gulty later with his license to practice law suspended and a 90k dollar fine. -
Election of 2k: Bush v. Gore
Bush apparently emerges as victorious in the Election of 2k, which was too close to call it an election. SCOTUS steps in telling Florida to recount their ballots for the presidency just for the recount to be dismissed, giving Bush the presidency much to the dismay of Gore supporters. -
Bush's Presidency: Compassionate Conservatism
Compassionate conservatism uses conservative techniques for improving the general welfare of society and was heavily associated with George W. Bush's presidency. Essentially, it meant that America will compassionately help citizens and conserve results. -
Bush Presidency: 9/11 Attacks
9/11 consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center by al-Qaeda. Casualties include 2,996 killed and 6k injured with $10 billion in property damages. The event triggered the US to take initiative and led to Operation Enduring Freedom which had Amerian's after the Taliban in Afghanistan as well as destroy Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. -
Patriot Act
In response to 9/11, President George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act (a federal anti-terrorism law). It was meant to strengthen the government in order to enhance penalties on terrorists and their allies. The powers of the FBI increased so they could access the personal info of anyone. -
Bush's Precidency: No Child Left Behind Education Act
This was proposed by President George W. Bush 3 days after his inauguration before it was actually signed into law a years later. The law requires public schools under federal funding to require standardized tests to all students annually. This was the government's way of seeing which schools needed improvement. -
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Bush's Presidency: 2nd Iraq War
The 2nd Iraq War, or Second Persian Gulf War, were made of 2 phases where the 1st part consisted of the US & Great Britain invading Iraq. Troops stayed in Iraq, which was obviously opposed by an insurgency. The US began to gradually reduce military presence after the conflict began dying down until complete withdrawal in Dec. 2011. -
Bush's Precidency: Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of Mexic, bringing with it 100-140 mile per hour wind. The storm itself was damaging, but the aftermath was worse, leaving 80% of St. Bernard and Ninth Ward underwater. The government was slow on the uptake, taking days for the FEMA to establish operations in New Orleans. -
Obama Presidency: Sonya Sotomayor
Sonya Sotomayer was announced by Barack Obama to be the first Latina Supreme Court Justice after David Souter's retirement with a vote of 68-31. She made quite the impression in the criminal justice system especially on issues of race gender, and ethnicity. -
Obama's Presidency: Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama. It was meant to ensure all Americans have access to affordable health insurance using discounts on clinics sponsored by the government. It also expanded Medicaid to the poor. -
Obama Presidency: Undoing of DOMA
During Obama's presidency, the Defense of Marriage Act was overturned after the court case United States v. Windsor. It was a win for Windsor. The Act was deemed unconstitutional under the 5th amendment (justice).
