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G.I. Bill
The G.I. Bill, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, was created by Earnest McFarland and was signed into law by President FDR. It was created for returning WWII veterans and provided a range of benefits, including education, loans, unemployment compensation, and job counseling for US soldiers. As a result, there was an increase of college education in soldiers since their tuition was paid for. It is still around today and US soldiers still receive the benefits that it offers. -
Nagasaki Bombing
The US had two atomic bombs, code-named 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man,' which were developed by the Manhattan Project. Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima while Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki. The US gave Japan an opportunity to surrender before they dropped the bombs, but Japan refused. Approximately 39,000-80,000 people were killed since the Fat Man was even more powerful than the Little Boy. After the bombs were dropped, the Soviets declared war on Japan and eventually, Japan surrenders. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Truman Doctrine
This was Truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology. It was meant to stop the spread of communism by helping other countries (anywhere in the world) to fight communism. Truman changed American Foreign Policy to help Greece not fall to communism after the British could no longer afford to keep their troops in Greece. This enabled the US to get involved in European affairs and ended the period of isolationism in America. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was a US plan initiated by the Secretary of State, George Marshall, to aid in the economic recovery of Europe after WWII by offering certain European countries loans to rebuild Western Europe. This plan restored the faith in capitalism and promoted democracy in Europe, thus reinforcing the Truman Doctrine and the policy of containment. However, in order to qualify for the American loans, the countries had to agree to trade freely with America, which benefited the US economy. -
First Episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show"
The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran on CBS and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. The name of the show was originally called "Toast of the Town" but was later changed to "The Ed Sullivan Show." Sullivan's greatest skill was talent scouting--he booked Elvis, the Supremes, the Temptations, Rolling Stones and the Doors. However, Elvis had to be his best hit since he rocketed the show's ratings and broke every single night's rating record. -
Fair Deal
The Fair Deal was a series of domestic reform proposals of the second Truman administration and included civil rights legislation. It was an economic extension of the New Deal that called for higher minimum wage, housing, and full employment. The Fair Deal planned to redistribute income among people of various classes and transfer wealth from the very rich to the very poor. However, it led only to the Housing Act of 1949 and the Social Security Act of 1950 due to many opposition in congress. -
Period: to
1950s
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North Korea Invades South Korea
On this day, 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army poured across the 38th parallel, taking Seoul and marking the beginning of the Korean War. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union (Stalin), while South Korea was supported by the US and western powers. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. American troops joined the war on South Korea's behalf to prevent the Domino Theory, and the war became symbolic to fighting international communism itself. -
Ike Turner's "Rocket 88"
Ike Turner's song "Rocket 88" is known as the first Rock n Roll song. Ike Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer. Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm, sang the song, but the song was released under the name of Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats (Ike Turner's band) and became a number one hit on the R&B charts. The song was later ripped off by white artist, Bill Haley. Bill Haley & the Comets were the ones who made Rock n Roll popular to the white community. -
First Episode of "I Love Lucy"
I Love Lucy was a TV sitcom and the most popular show based on the lives of an ethnically mixed, middle class married couple and their neighbors. Since this show aired in the post-WWII era, this show somewhat challenged the original stereotype of the housewife and other gender stereotypes that have been portrayed on TV. For instance, the main character (Lucy) did not exactly challenge her husband as much as she reacted to him and his overreactions, but she always tried to out-think her husband. -
Polio Vaccine
The world's first safe & effective vaccine against Polio was discovered by Jonas Salk, an American medical researcher and virologist. Salk was very dedicated to finding a vaccine for polio, & after successfully inoculating thousands of monkeys, Salk even injected himself, his wife, & his three sons to test the vaccine. After announcing the vaccine, he instantly became a celebrity. However, he did not patent the vaccine, claiming it belonged to "the people" & that you couldn't "patent the sun." -
Period: to
Civil Rights
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Brown v. Board of Education
This court case was the Supreme Court decision that overturned the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision. The case was led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, & the Court ruled that "separate but equal" schools for blacks were inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. Thurgood Marshall, a future black Associate Justice, argued on Brown's behalf & used psychological evidence for this case. After this, segregation in schools was outlawed, & the decision energized the Civil Rights Movement in the '50s & '60s. -
Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock"
The song "Rock Around the Clock," written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, was recorded by Bill Haley & the Comets. Haley's recording became an anthem for the rebellious 1950s youth and is widely considered to be the song that, more than any other, brought rock and roll into mainstream culture around the world. The song was played in the 1955 film "The Blackboard Jungle" about juvenile delinquency, and after that, many parents began to associate Rock n Roll with crime and disobedience. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old young African American boy from Chicago went to visit family in Mississippi. After allegedly whistling at a white woman, he was kidnapped, brutally beaten, shot, and dumped into the Tallahatchie River by J. W. Milam and Roy Bryant. The two murderers went on trial but were acquitted by an all white jury. For his funeral, Till's mother held an open casket so that everyone could see the reality of Jim Crow. Afterwards, his death helped start the Civil Rights movement. -
Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti"
Tutti Frutti is a song written by Little Richard that became his first major hit record. The song introduced several of rock music's most characteristic musical features, including its loud volume & vocal style emphasizing power, & its distinctive beat & rhythm. This song originally had vulgar lyrics, referencing to his homosexuality, but was modified to be less crude. Ironically, in Little Richard's later years of his career, he quit performing rock to commit himself to recording gospel songs. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
4 months after Emmett Till's death, Rosa Parks boards the back of the bus. When a white man demands her seat, she refuses to give it up and was later arrested. Word began to spread about the boycott, & it became very successful. The former bus-riders started to carpool but were targeted with bombs & attacks. After a year of boycotting, the bus company was ready to go out of business. In the end, the boycott succeeded, & SCOTUS ruled that segregation of public transportation was illegal. -
Elvis' "Hound Dog" Released
Hound Dog is one of Elvis Presley's most popular song & was also one of the best-selling singles of all time. It sold about 10 million copies globally, making it his best-selling song & became an emblem of the rock n roll revolution. However, the song was originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton in 1952, only to be made popular by Elvis 4 years later. The song later became the center of controversies & several lawsuits, including disputes over authorship, royalties, & copyright infringement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
This bill was the first civil rights legislation enacted in the United States since Reconstruction. This law created the Civil Rights Commission, which led to formation of a new "Civil Rights" division in the Justice department & made it a crime to interfere with the rights of voters. It aimed to increase black voter registration & was possibly influenced by Eisenhower's desire to win black votes in the 1956 election. It was a sign that the federal gov't was starting to take the side of blacks. -
Little Rock Nine
Little Rock 9 was a group of black students that enrolled at a formally all-white HS in Little Rock, making them the first group of black students to integrate in that school. Many white citizens of Little Rock were angry about the black students integrating into an all-white school. On the 1st day of school, Governor Orval Faubus called in the state National guard to bar the student's entry into the school. However, Eisenhower eventually sent federal troops to help escort them into the school. -
Sputnik 1 Launched
The Soviet Union surprised the world by launching Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. It stayed in orbit for about a year and did nothing but send signals back to earth. The resulting outcry in the US, especially fears that the Soviets were ahead in both space exploration and military missiles, forced the Eisenhower administration to increase defense spending and accelerate America's space program. It led to the creation of NASA to get back in the running in space race. -
Period: to
1960s
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First Televised Presidential Debate (Nixon v. Kennedy)
Millions of American viewers watched the televised presidential debates between candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. They were the first debates ever to be held between the presidential nominees during the election season. In the end, Kennedy won the presidential debate because he appeared youthful and confident, wearing makeup and having a tan, while Nixon seemed old and nervous since he just recovered from a bad knee accident. This enabled Kennedy to win the televised debate. -
Peace Corps Founded
The Peace Corps were created by Kennedy to help impoverished countries in Africa & Asia, to promote world peace & friendship, & for young volunteers help countries through teaching and technical aid. Kennedy viewed it as an organization that allowed Americans to fulfill their responsibilities to world development and world peace. The main effect of the Peace Corps was that it helped improve the US image abroad, making both parties deem it as good & agree to finance it for the next half century. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was the CIA operation to overthrow Fidel Castro, the Cuban dictator, by landing 1200 Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs. The plan to invade Cuba had been set up by Eisenhower and approved by Kennedy. However, the mission failed miserably because the CIA underestimated the strength of the Cuban armed forces and they did not have support from the people of Cuba. It became a huge embarrassment for Kennedy, and as a result, it pushed Cuba ever further into the arms of the USSR. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was a massive protest march when some 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The event aimed to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans a century after emancipation. It was also the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s now-iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. It was very successful because it led to Kennedy proposing a new civil rights bill on TV. Civil rights was needed to win the cold war. -
Assassination of JFK
JFK was assassinated while traveling through Dallas, TX, in an open-top convertible. He was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, an ex-marine who had communist sympathies. Oswald had defected to the Soviet Union but returned to the US with special permission from the government. 5 shots were made; 2 striked the president and he received a fatal shot to the head. The Texas governor was hit as well. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead within an hour. LBJ was then inaugurated as president. -
Murder of Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald, the man responsible for the assassination of JFK, initially got away from the police after the crime, but he was found hiding in a movie theater, and he claimed he was only a patsy. After being arrested, he was supposed to be taken to the city jail. However, Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub operator approached Oswald from the side of the crowd & shot him once in the abdomen at close range. Oswald died at the same hospital as JFK, & Ruby dies of cancer less than 4 years later. -
Warren Commission
The Warren Commission was a commission (under Chief Justice Warren) made by LBJ after the killing of JFK to investigate if someone was paid for his murder. All of JFK's known enemies were put on the commission to see if they had any involvement in it. The conclusion was that Oswald killed JFK on his own, but many people disbelieved the findings since his final blow looked as if it came from the side & not from behind. Afterwards, many people created many conspiracy theories about his death. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This bill was passed under the Johnson administration and outlawed segregation in public areas, granting the federal government power to fight black disfranchisement. This act also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to prevent discrimination in the work place. This act was the strongest civil rights legislation since Reconstruction and invalidated the Southern Caste System. It was passed after the March on Washington, where the "I Have a Dream" speech took place. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The USS Maddox was attacked on the Gulf of Tonkin. Days later, more attacks on the US ships were reported, but there was no proof of these attacks. LBJ announced these suspected attacks, and the story was printed in newspapers, making the attack seem more serious than it was. As a result, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave Johnson permission to use all necessary steps to stop further aggression. In the late 1960's it was revealed that he second attacks did not happen. -
Airing of Daisy Girl Ad
The Daisy Girl ad was a controversial political advertisement aired on television during the 1964 presidential election by LBJ's campaign. Although it only aired once, it is considered to be an important factor in Johnson's landslide victory over Barry Goldwater and an important turning point in political and advertising history. It made the public fear Goldwater's NATO comments and played to the fear of the Cold War. It remains one of the most controversial political advertisements ever made. -
Medicare Signed Into Law
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance benefits for people who meet certain requirements. It's available to all elderly Americans regardless of need. It's a form of federal welfare assistance and assisted the medical community since the federal gov't paid all fees. The Social Security Act of 1965, signed by LBJ, was responsible for the establishment of both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It was one of the main goals of the Great Society, which had a 65% success rate. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by LBJ, aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state & local levels that prevented black ppl from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution. It was meant to increase the number of people registered to vote where minorities were being discriminated. The Voting Rights Act is considered one of the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in US history. It was a step towards civil rights. -
"Affirmative Action" Signed
Affirmative Action is a series of laws and executive orders designed to help black people find jobs since most jobs discriminated against black people. The term grew from an executive order issued by JFK mandating that projects paid for with federal funds could not discriminate based on race in their hiring practices. It was created to address systemic discrimination in the country. It not only helped black ppl but women as well, but they still faced discrimination regardless of the laws. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Ernesto Miranda was arrested by the police for kidnapping & raping a woman. He was questioned for 2 hours by police w/o a lawyer present. After signing a confession, he was sentenced 20-30 years in prison, but took the case to court. Officers testified in court that they did not inform Miranda of his right to counsel. The issue addressed in this case was the protection of the 5th amendment. SCOTUS sided with Miranda & ruled that if someone was arrested, they have to be read their Miranda Rights. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai massacre was when American soldiers brutally killed women, children and old men in the village of My Lai. More than 500 people were slaughtered, including young girls & women who were raped & mutilated before being killed. US Army officers covered up the carnage for a year before it was reported in the American press, sparking an international outrage. The brutality of the My Lai killings & the official cover-up fueled anti-war sentiment & further divided the US over the Vietnam War. -
Assassination of MLK
MLK was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. It became an event that shocked the world. King had led the civil rights movement since the mid-1950s, using nonviolent protests to fight segregation and achieve civil-rights advances for African Americans. His assassination led to an outpouring of anger among black Americans, as well as a period of national mourning that helped speed the way for an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era. -
Stonewall Riots
On this day, NYC police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City. Although the police were legally justified, the gay community had grown weary of the police targeting gay clubs. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents, leading to 6 days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar, in neighboring streets, and in a nearby park. This served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. -
Apollo 11 Launch Date
The Apollo 11 was very significant because it was the mission that put the US ahead in the space race. On this mission, the US succeeded in putting people on the moon & safely returning them back to Earth. Neil Armstrong was the mission commander, Mike Collins was the command module pilot, & Buzz Aldrin was the lunar module pilot. Armstrong was officially the first man to walk on the moon. They departed from Florida, spent about 8 days in space, and returned near Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. -
Woodstock Festival
The Woodstock Festival was a 1969 music festival attended by four hundred thousand young people to celebrate their vision of freedom and harmony. Hippies gathered at the concert for a three-day party that involved sex, drugs, and rock and roll. This festival was held in upstate New York on a dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur. It was founded by Michael Lang, John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, and Arty Kornfield, and its original purpose was to raise enough money to open a recording studio in Woodstock. -
PBS Founded
Also known as the Public Broadcasting Service, PBS is an American public broadcaster and television program distributor. It is a non-profit organization and is the most prominent provider of government-funded educational television programming to public television stations in the United States. PBS was advocated by President Johnson as a part of his Great Society. It was a way to educate the public through a widespread method, television, which was starting to become very popular in this era. -
Period: to
1970s
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Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an administrative agency made to coordinate the implementation and enforcement of the federal environmental protection laws. The EPA is one of the largest federal agencies and was created by an executive order to control pollution in the areas of air, water, solid waste, pesticides, radiation, and toxic substances. This organization was created by President Nixon, and its main objective is to enforce federal laws having to do with the environment. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment is a constitutional amendment originally introduced and passed by Congress, stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." Some found it necessary bc it would express a permanent, uniform, & national standard for eliminating sex discrimination by the govt at all levels. Despite public support, it failed to acquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state legislatures. -
Watergate Scandal
Watergate is the events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel, which led to the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement. Nixon's spies, "plumbers," were caught trying to bug the room, but Nixon denied any involvement in the situation. He tried to hide the evidence but was ordered to release the tapes. When he released the tapes, it led to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment. -
Title IX
Title IX is a law that prohibits exclusion from participation in any federally funded program for education on the basis of sex. Its purpose is to outlaw against discrimination on the basis of sex in the United States. Under this, men & women would be treated equally under any education program or activity receiving Federal Financial Assistance. It was effective at every school, not explicitly intended for sports. Linda Carpenter and Vivian Acosta were two of the most popular advocates of this. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade was a landmark legal decision in which the SCOTUS struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, effectively legalizing the procedure across the US. It occurred when Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe) sued Texas for the right to privacy when she wanted to abort her baby. The court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment. Prior to the case, abortion had been illegal throughout much of the country since the late 19th century. -
Endangered Species Act
The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to protect & recover imperiled species & the ecosystems upon which they depend. It is administered by the fish and wildlife services. Wildlife was being killed off by industrialization and poison in the environment. Under the ESA, species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. after they were listed as endangered, steps were taken to protect them from extinction. It is still one of the most contentious environmental policies in the US. -
Steve Job's Apple 1
The Apple 1 was a desktop computer released by the Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.). It was designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak. Wozniak's friend Steve Jobs had the idea of selling the computer, becoming Apple's first product. Not having enough money to finance the machine, Jobs sold his car and Wozniak sold his calculator for money. The computer was later discontinued after the introduction of its successor, the Apple II. Apple now is one of the biggest companies in the whole world. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were the peace accords signed by Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat to finally end the Israeli-Egyptian disputes. This meeting lasted 13 days, attempting to find a middle ground between Sadat's desires for a comprehensive settlement and recognition of Palestinian rights and Begin's uncompromising stand on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This engagement of nonstop discussions led to the achievement by Carter, and is considered to be one of his greatest achievements in office. -
Three Mile Island Accident
The Three Mile Island was a nuclear power plant, & on this day, a cooling malfunction occurred at the power plant, causing the temperature to rise. As a result, there was a partial meltdown due to the overheating of the fuel rods. The EPA was the one to respond to the incident, & they implemented more regulations & the cost of safety regulations increased. Nuclear radiation leaked out into a nearby town, & Americans became weary of nuclear power. This was the worst nuclear accident in the US. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
A group of Iranians stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 60 American hostages. This was bc of Carter’s decision to allow Iran’s deposed Shah, a brutal, pro-Western autocrat, to come to the US for cancer treatment. Ayatollah Khomeini was in charged of this Islamic revolutions and greatly mistrusted the US. The hostages were set free 444 days after the crisis began right after Reagan was inaugurated. Many historians believe that hostage crisis cost Carter a 2nd term as president. -
Period: to
1980s
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Founded
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a nonprofit organization in the United States and Canada that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and strive for stricter impaired driving policy, whether that impairment is caused by alcohol or any other drug. This organization was founded by Candace Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver. There is at least one MADD office in every state of the United States. -
Ronald Reagan's Inauguration
Ronald Reagan, a former governor of California and a former actor in the 40s and 50s, was a Republican candidate during the 1980 presidential election. His opponent, Jimmy Carter (Democrat) was the president before him, running for his second term. However, due to Carter's bad reputation with the Iran Hostage Crisis, Reagan defeats Carter, and a few hours after his inauguration, Ayatollah Khomeini releases the hostages. Shortly after his inauguration, an assassination attempt was made on him. -
Ronald Reagan's Assassination Attempt
As Reagan was leaving a Hilton Hotel in Washington, shots rang out and hit press secretary James Brady, a police officer, & a Secret Service agent. The final shot hit Reagan’s limo & ricocheted into the President’s chest. Reagan was fortunately saved by a Secret Service agent who pushed him down. Instead of hitting his head, the bullet hit his armpit. The attempt was made by John Hinckley in order to impress the actress Jodie Foster. Hinckley was later not found not guilty by reason of insanity. -
First MTV Airing
MTV (Music Television Station) was launched in 1981 for music TV. It started in a small market of New Jersey on cable and became a sensation. An entire generation of kids grew up watching music videos, which ultimately started the careers of several famous musicians. The success of MTV and other forms of niche marketing contributed to the fragmentation of public culture. The American public was no longer watching the same shows because of so many shows to choose from. MTV is still around today! -
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Conner was the 1s5 female Supreme Court Justice, nominated by Reagan. Her unanimous confirmation by the Senate in 1981 was supported by most conservatives, led by Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, & liberals. She was a moderate but tended to side w/ conservatives of the court. But later on, she begins to side w/ liberals. She was an Associate Justice from 1981 to 2006, retiring due to her husband's declining health. Samuel Alito was nominated to take her seat and joined the court. -
SDI ("Star Wars")
SDI was Reagan's intent to pursue a high technology missile defense system, AKA Star Wars. They had satellites with lasers and intended to give the Soviets the same technology in hopes that they would go bankrupt in pursuing it. SDI ultimately failed for the US, but the Soviets did, indeed, take the challenge but spent more resources developing it. As a result, Soviets started to resent communism because the gov't was spending money on something impossible while there were people starving. -
First Sam's Club Opened
The first Sam's Club opened in Oklahoma, & it is an American chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned & operated by Walmart, named after Walmart founder Sam Walton. Walton created a chain of stores (Walmart) and was known for his large variety of products at such low prices. He created unique corporate culture, anti-union policies, price-slashing, extended trends that had long been underway. He was mainly responsible for the rise of great corporations, embodying the american dream. -
Nintendo Entertainment System Released
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit home video game console that was developed & manufactured by Nintendo. It was initially released in Japan as a family computer but made its way to New York City in 1985. This console became very popular in American culture, especially by the youth in this time period. This is the era where home video games were becoming big, & the Japanese company largely profited from American consumerism. Nintendo still makes popular games and consoles to this day! -
Challenger Explosion
The NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded seconds after liftoff, bringing a devastating end to the spacecraft’s 10th mission. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire who would have been the first civilian in space. It was later determined that a malfunction occurred due to cold temperatures. The tragedy and its aftermath received extensive media coverage & prompted NASA to temporarily suspend all shuttle missions. -
The AIDS Memorial Quilt
The AIDS Memorial Quilt is an enormous quilt made as a memorial to celebrate the lives of people who have died of AIDS-related causes. It is the largest piece of community folk art in the world as of 2016. The goal of the Quilt is to bring awareness to how massive the AIDS pandemic really is, and to bring support and healing to those affected by it. Another goal is to raise funds for community based AIDS service organizations, to increase their funding for AIDS prevention and education. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
In East Germany, the government began to ease the restrictions on travel between East and West Germany. However, a mistaken official told the East German press that people could travel freely to the West. As a result, thousands flocked to the Berlin wall to celebrate. Some crossed freely into West Berlin, while others brought hammers and picks and began to chip away at the wall itself. The Soviet leader, Gorbachev, did not interfere. The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the fall of communism. -
Period: to
1990s
-
Persian Gulf War
When Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invades and occupies Kuwait for refusing to forgive their debt, this alarmed fellow Arab powers, who called on the Western powers to intervene. Afterwards, Bush ordered Operation Desert shield, deploying many troops to Saudi Arabia. This was authorized by the UN since Hussein defied the UN's demands to withdraw from Kuwait. The US began bombing Iraqi installations and defeated Iraqi forces inside Kuwait. This conflict left to the Second Gulf War (the Iraq War). -
Rodney King Incident
On this day, Rodney King led police on a high-speed chase through the streets of LA County before eventually surrendering. Intoxicated & uncooperative, King resisted arrest & was brutally beaten by police officers. Unknown to the police, a citizen was filming the arrest & caught the police beating King with their batons and kicking him long after he was capable of resistance. The video, released to the press, caused outrage around the country & triggered a national debate on police brutality. -
Inauguration of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton (Democrat) was a former governor of Arkansas. He was unknown to many but was very charismatic and understanding. His opponent, George HW Bush (previous president) lost the election since Ross Perot from the Independent Party took votes away from Bush. During Clinton's presidency, he worked toward getting healthcare reforms passed. He even gave the task to his wife, Hillary. However, his healthcare reform fails until 2009. Clinton later gets impeached due to the Lewinsky Affair. -
World Trade Center Attack
Terrorists drove a rental van into a parking garage under the World Trade Center’s twin towers & lit the fuses on a homemade bomb stuffed inside. 6 people died & more than 1,000 were injured in the massive explosion. At the time, it was one of the worst terrorist attacks ever to occur on US soil. 4 men were convicted of carrying out the bombing. The charges included conspiracy, explosive destruction of property, & interstate transportation of explosives. Two more men were later convicted. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAFTA is a trade agreement between North America that reduce tariffs, eliminate trade barriers, create a common market, and increase trade/investment. It involves the three North American countries: Canada, the US, and Mexico. A benefit of NAFTA is that Canada, United States, and Mexico can trade more easily. It also stopped Mexican knock-off products. However, a disadvantage to NAFTA is that many Americans lost their jobs from this. Today, President Trump is attempting to get rid of it. -
Motorola's StarTAC Phone Released
The 1990s was an important time in the development of telephone technology. From the introduction of more portable cell phones, to a shift from analog to digital technology, owning a cell phone became much more popular during this time period. The Motorola StarTAC is a clamshell mobile phone manufactured by Motorola. It was the first ever clamshell/flip mobile phone. The StarTAC was among the first mobile phones to gain widespread consumer adoption; approximately 60 million StarTACs were sold. -
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act (also known as DOMA) was signed into law President Clinton. The act defines marriage as an act as only legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife. The law also allows states not to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states & prohibits same-sex couples who are legally married from collecting any federal benefits that married couples get. The amendment failed to garner congressional support although conservatives still support it. -
"Contract With America" Published
The Contract with America was a document released by the US Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. It was written by Newt Gingrich & Dick Armey. The Contract detailed the actions the Republicans promised to take if they became the majority party in the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. It proposed a sweeping reduction in the role & activities of the federal gov't. Congress, however, passed few of the contract's proposals, or Clinton vetoed them. -
Lewinsky Affair
President Clinton was accused of having an affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. She had told a civil servant in confidence, who ends up being a spy for Kenneth Starr, a lawyer & prosecutor. The media eventually gets the story, and Clinton soon denies the affair. He testifies to Starr that he did no wrong. However, with evidence from Lewinsky, Clinton gets impeached for lying under oath and for obstruction of justice. Fortunately for him, he did not get the 2/3 vote for impeachment. -
NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia
After Yugoslavia broke up after the fall of communism in 1991, civil war broke out between Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia. It was divided between Christians and Muslims. Serbian forces (Christian) murder thousands of Muslim Bosnians. As a result, NATO (mainly the US) brought in troops to try to stop the war. In an attempt to stop the genocide, NATO began to bomb sites. The US claims that they intervened to show commitment to human rights, and afterwards, peace keepers were placed in Bosnia. -
Period: to
Contemporary
-
Bush v. Gore
The candidates for the Election of 2000 were Al Gore (Democrat), George W. Bush (Republican), & Ralph Nader (Independent/Green). This was one of the closest elections in American history, & it even created controversy since no one can decide who won the vote for the state of Florida. Eventually, they announce Bush as the winner, but Gore takes it to SCOTUS bc he wanted a recount. SCOTUS decides by a 5 to 4 vote that Bush won the election & ruled that judges couldn't be told how to count votes. -
Inauguration of George W. Bush
Bush, having won the electoral college vote, was now the new president of the US. He was a former governor of Texas and was very popular with party leaders, conservatives, etc. During Bush's presidency, he had to deal with many foreign affairs, such as the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan, & the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Bush Doctrine authorized use of force against any nation that harbored terrorists to prevent further attacks on the US. This later became known as the "War on Terror." -
September 11 Attacks
19 al-Qaeda members hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the US. 2 of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, a 3rd plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, DC, and the 4th plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania since the passengers were able to subdue the terrorists. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the attacks, which triggered major US initiatives to combat terrorism & defined the presidency of George W. Bush. -
Patriot Act
The Patriot Act, signed into law by President Bush in response to 9/11, was made to expand the government's law enforcement powers. It was intended to prevent terrorist attacks & focused on reinforcing neglection of weapons & military equipment. This act allows for the FBI to search cell phone data & history for suspected terrorists & gave the NSA power to access private information of US citizens. Critics of this act say that it is unconstitutional and that it threatened individual liberties. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was a law passed by President George W. Bush meant to try to help students in minority heavy schools succeed. It was a revision of the The Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Its purpose was to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with fair, equal opportunity to obtain a high quality education. It also requires testing to ensure that all students meet standards with a goal of 100% proficiency. It does not challenge gifted and talents students. -
2nd Iraq War
Saddam Hussein was accused of having weapons of mass destruction in the middle east. Bush claimed Saddam had terror links with al-Qaeda & convinced Congress to declare war on the dictator. During the war, the US bombed Iraq several times as their "Shock & Awe" method. Iraq fell soon after and the Iraqi Army was told to stand down. Within a few weeks the dictator was overthrown and executed but an insurgent war started that lasted until 2011. -
Hurricane Katrina Destruction
Hurricane Katrina (category 5) struck the Gulf Coast of the US, causing a great deal of damage, but its aftermath was even more catastrophic. Levee breaches led to massive flooding, & many people charged that the fed gov't was slow to meet the needs of the people affected by the storm. Hundreds of thousands of people from LA, MS, & AL were displaced from their homes, & experts estimate that Katrina caused more than $100 billion in damage. It became the largest & 3rd strongest hurricane ever. -
Inauguration of Barack Obama
The democratic nominee for the 2008 election was Barack Obama, alongside the experienced Joe Biden as his vice president. The Republicans nominated John McCain as their nominee. Obama won against McCain in a 364-174 electoral vote and won by 7,000,000 in the popular vote. Obama also won Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia which were previously republican. The democrats also started to regain control of the house and the senate. He became the first black president of the United States. -
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor was the first Hispanic-American & the third woman in Supreme Court. She was previously appointed by President HW Bush to become a US District Court judge in NYC & a judge in the US Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton. Most significantly, she was appointed as a US Supreme Justice by President Obama. She was influenced by Perry Mason (a TV lawyer) since he defended lots of people. She received her education with full scholarships at Princeton University & Yale Law School. -
Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")
The ACA is a law consisting of two pieces of legislation that are collectively referred to as "Healthcare Reform" or "Obamacare." The two laws are: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. Its main objective is to expand health insurance coverage to an estimated 32 million uninsured Americans & strengthen existing coverage. It was passed by Obama but has many adversaries because they think it intrudes the private lives of individuals.
