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House-Select Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
Better known as HUAC, the House-Select committee was dedicated to investigating unAmerican propaganda and targeted communist influence both outside and inside the United States' government. The congressional committee investigated individual's past and political associations and created a panel dedicated to protecting citizens from communist influence and created fear in Americans by promoting the idea that communists could be amongst themselves without them knowing, worsening the 2nd Red Scare -
GI Bill
The G.I. Bill, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, offers World War II vets low interest rates on houses and college tuition, money to start businesses and one-year of unemployment compensation. President Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill into law on June 22, 1944 and is still around today for veterans.If you are attending a public school, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay your full tuition directly to the school. You will receive a monthly housing allowance and up to $1000 a year. -
Iron Curtain
"Iron Curtain" is a metaphor used by Winston Churchill that describes the division of Soviet-dominated East Europe and American-dominated West Europe, which interrupted the Warsaw Pact between the countries. This imaginary barrier is used to described free and communists places in Europe after World War Two, and trapped people from seeing the rest of the world. East Europe consisted mainly of East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland. Today, The Iron Curtain still stands today to serve as a reminder -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy that allows the U.S. provide assistance for Greece and Turkey to fight communist influence from the Soviet Union. The Truman administration address was basically a declaration of the Cold War, which outlined the parameters of the Cold War policy, and they believed that in order for the US. to fully stop the communist threat they needed to provide military and economic assistance to any countries that wanted to fight the Soviet Union's influence -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan is a US plan, which was made by the Secretary of State, George Marshall, who offered that European nations should receive funding to rebuild economies after World War II by and also motivated Europeans to restore their faith in democracy. Over next four years, 13 billion dollars were given and sparked the economic recovery of Europe. The Marshall Plan also helped America's economy by opening Western Europeans economy, opening new opportunities for international trade after WW2 -
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Cold War
The Cold War was the geographical, ideological, and economic tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Americans were wary of Soviet communism, while the Soviets resented American refusal to treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community and its delayed entry into WWII. The Cold War dominated international affairs for many decades and gave way to many major events, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Wall, and the Vietnam War. -
Berlin Airlift
To respond to the crisis of the Iron Curtain, Britain and the United States decided to airlift supplies, food, and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in Western Germany. Because of the bombing, the city had been reduced to rubble, shelter and food were, unfortunately, scarce, with several suffering from starvation. The crisis ended on May 12, 1949 when Soviets stopped the blockade of access to Western Berlin. -
Fair Deal
Domestic reform proposals of second Truman administration included civil rights legislation that called for higher minimum wage, housing, and full employment. Housing Act of 1949 and Social Security of 1950 due to opposition in congress. The Fair Deal's only successes raised minimum wage, better public housing, extended old-age insurance to more people. Included civil rights legislation and repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act, but only some of the New Deal's propostions were enacted -
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The 1950s
The 1950s were known as a time of growth for the United States. During this time, the United States was the world's strongest military power, the economy was booming, and there were prosperity in new cars, suburban houses, and consumer goods. Although it was a prosperous time, it was also an era of great conflict, conflicts like the Civil Rights Movement and the fight against communism at home. -
Television - I Love Lucy
Television in the 1950s was an insistently domestic medium, abundant with images of marriage and family. I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom that ran from October 15, 1951 to May 6, 1957 on CBS and portrays these ideals of the 1950s, such as obedience and hard work. It told of how a television program rescued a rocky marriage, creating an emotionally renewed and financially triumphant family. I Love Lucy has become a sensation, even today. -
Ike Turner
Izear Luster "Ike" Turner was an American black musician, songwriter, bandleader, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. He was an early creator of rock and roll and was most known for a song called "Rocket 88," written on March 3rd or 5th, 1951 (accounts differ). "Rocket 88" is most often referred to as the "first rock and roll song." Other than rock and roll, he also created music in genres like R&B, Memphis blues, soul blues, blues rock, and funk. -
Television - Richard Nixon's Checkers Speech
The Checkers Speech was an address made on September 23, 1952 by Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States. Accused of indecencies relating to a fund established by his supporters to reimburse him for his political expenses, Nixon used the television appearance to defend himself against these accusations of his wrong doings. Six weeks later, Nixon defeated the Democrats and became Vice President on January 20th, 1953. -
Beats Generation
The Beat Generation composed of artists, novelists, and poets who are called "Beats" or "Beatniks" and were introduced by Jack Kerouac. They rejected American materialism and culture, as well as, home ownership, careers, and marriage and were more into individual freedom and pleasures, like drugs and sex. This generation inspired and laid the foundation for war protests in the 1960s. The NYTimes introduced the Beat Generation to the world on November 16, 1952. -
Polio Vaccine
On March 26th, 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk, an American medical researcher, announces on a national radio show that he has successfully created a vaccine against poliomyelitis, a virus that causes Polio, is a disease that attacks the nervous system and causes paralysis. In 1952, there were 58,000 new cases in the US but Dr. Salk promised to eradicate the disease. Today, Polio cases in the US are extremely rare and the World Health Organization has goals to eradicate it completely all over the world. -
Julius & Ethel Rosenberg
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a married couple, were convicted for committing espionage, more specifically for heading a spy ring that passed top-secret information concerning the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. They were later executed in the electric chair on June 19th, 1953. Some Americans believed that they were victims of a surge of hysterical anticommunist feeling in the U.S. and thought that their death was cruel and unusual. Others thought the Rosenbergs was dealt with justly. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In Topeka, Kansas, 7 year old Linda Brown had to walk more than a mile to get to her school for black students. Her father wanted her to go to a white school that was seven blocks away, but the principal refused. 12 more black parents joined and when the principal refused, a legal case was made. NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall uses psychological evidence to win case and Plessy v. Ferguson was overturned. As a result, separate schools, waiting rooms, restrooms were forced to integrate. -
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets were an American rock and roll band, founded in 1952. Consisting of Bill Haley, Joey D'Ambrosio, and Dick Richards, they were the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to Americans and the rest of the world. "Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers and the most known and successful rendition was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets on May 20th, 1954. -
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Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Movement was all about strategies, groups, and social movements in the United States whose goal was to end discrimination and racial segregation against minority groups, such as women, African American, and the LGBT community. They wanted to equalize their opportunities under the basic privileges and rights of the U.S. citizenship. Some activists used violent means to do so, others used non-violent strategies. -
The Death of Emmett Till
Emmett Louis Till was an African American boy was murdered in Mississippi after he allegedly whistled at a white women. Till was from Chicago Illinois, and was sent to Money, Mississippi to visit his relatives. 4 days after accepting a challenge from his friends to ask 21 year old Carolyn Bryant out, Roy Bryant and John Milam abducted and killed Emmett. His body was found bloated and unrecognizable 3 days after. His death helped transform the Civil Rights movement. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks, a 42 years old seamstress, boards the back of the bus. A white man comes up and demands her seat, but she refuses. This led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama to protest segregated seating. Former riders started to carpool but this led to carpooling areas to be targeted with bombs and attacks. The boycott will last a year and the SCOTUS will rule segregated buses unconstitutional. -
Eisenhower Interstate System
The Interstate Highway System is a system of freeways that was first created by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 was used to pay for its construction. President Eisenhower marveled the Autobahn in Germany so he decides to build a similar system in the United States. This will link cities for multipurpose use, civilian and military. It will be used to evacuate cities in case of any nuclear attacks and mobilization of the military. -
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley, who is known as the "King of Rock and Roll," first became popular when he appeared on The Ed Sullivan show on September 9th, 1956. He caught the attention of millions of fans worldwide through his unique style of music and performance all his own. His music was a combination of country and gospel music and he danced around stage shaking his hips, which surprised many adults. When performing in front of teenagers, he was often asked to dance from his waist up. -
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA was created as a result of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union on July 29th of 1958. They are responsible for scientific and technological achievements in human space flight, aeronautics, space science, and space applications that have had widespread impacts on our nation and the world. One of the most memorable achievements for NASA, was landing a human on the moon for the first time on July 20, 1969. -
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The 1960s
Many Americans believed, at the beginning of the 1960s, it was the start of a golden age, but by the end of the decade, it seemed that the nation was falling apart. The Sixties consisted of inter-related cultural and political trends; the beginning of the decade was defined by the Kennedy assassination and the end was defined by the Watergate scandal. -
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program ran by the United States government. Their primary mission is to promote world peace and friendship with three goals: "helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, promoting a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans." -
Freedom Rides
A group of 13 African American and white civil rights activists created the freedom rides and traveled on interstate buses together into Deep South while challenging Southern resistance to SCOTUS cases. They wanted Southerners to violently clash with them, forcing the government to do something. Over the next few months, several hundred Freedom Riders engaged in violent protests. On September 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued regulations prohibiting segregation in transportation. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, Fidel Castro made an alliance with the communists and the Soviets began installing nuclear missiles in Cuba. An American U-2 spy plane saw the missile installations in Cuba which triggered the crisis. JFK decided to place Cuba under a naval quarantine. Kennedy and Khrushchev came to an agreement by which the Soviets would dismantle its missiles. This was the closest that the U.S. and the Soviets came to nuclear war during the Cold War. -
Feminism
Feminism are movements and ideologies aimed at equal rights for women. In 1963, Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique became the voice of feminism during the time. The expose broke the new ground by exploring the idea of women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles. She also helped advance the women's rights movement as one of the founders of the National Organization for Women. She is now remembered as a pioneer of feminism and escalated this movement in the 60s. -
"I Have A Dream" Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. helped organize the "March on Washington" in 1963. 250,000 people attended this march to show the importance of civil rights legislation. It was at this march where King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Given over a crowd from Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, he states "that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed." This speech has become one of the most famous speeches in history and the march was a great success. -
Birmingham Bombing
The Birmingham Bombing was when a bomb was hurled inside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham 2 weeks after Martin Luther King's march which resulted in the death of 4 teen girls. It was founded that the Ku Klux Klan was behind the bombing due to the fact that they were upset about the MLK's march. However, the men who were responsible were never put on trial for the actual bombing until after A.D. 2000. Some of the men are still in jail today, but others died in jail. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
The JFK assassination tragically brought the presidency of John F. Kennedy to an untimely end. It took place on November 22nd, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. The President and his wife Jacqueline were traveling in a presidential motorcade to attend a luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart. He was fatally hit with two bullets, one in the head and one in the neck and was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lee Harvey Oswald was a former marine who killed JFK. -
Warren Commission
The Warren Commission was set up by President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 22, 1963 to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's enemies were on the commission. They came to the conclusion that Oswald acted alone with no one else but many disbelieve these findings of the commission. The finding was that Kennedy's final blow looked as if it came from the side and not from behind. In conclusion, most believe it to be a conspiracy from the findings. -
Lee Harvey Oswald's Death
Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy on November 22nd, 1963 and was caught less than two hours after the event occurred. He was apprehended at Texas Theater and interrogated at Dallas Police Headquarters. Two days later on November 24th, 1963, Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby while being led through the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The bill was called by President John F. Kennedy in his civil rights speech where he asked for legislation to give all Americans the equal rights in public places and a greater protection for the right to vote. He delivered this speech following the aftermath of Birmingham campaign and growing number of protests throughout the South. -
Daisy Girl Ad
The Daisy Girl was a controversial political ad that was aired on television during the United States presidential election of 1964 for President Lyndon B. Johnson's campaign. The ad showed a three year old girl standing in the meadow with birds, picking daisy petals while counting. When she reached 9, a male voice is heard saying 10 and a nuclear explosion could be seen in the pupil of the girl's eyes. Although this ad was played once, it was an important factor in Johnson's landslide victory. -
Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater was the Republican who ran against Lyndon B. Johnson, Democrat, in the Election of 1964. He was an Arizona Senator, very conservative, and wanted to get rid of the New Deal and Great Society. Despite losing the election by a landslide, Goldwater was most often credited for sparking the resurgence of the American conservative political movement in the 60s. He also had a big impact on the libertarian movement. -
The Great Society
The Great Society was a bundle of domestic programs created by President Lyndon B. Johnson for the United States. Its main goal was to eliminate poverty and racial injustice. The programs included funding in education, medical care, urban problems, rural poverty, and transportation and were promoted by him and his fellow Democrats in Congress. The Great Society resembled the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide or LSD, a hallucination, was famous for its role in the 60's counterculture movement. It is colorless, odorless, and slightly bitter. During the counterculture movement, 'hippies' used these drugs and explored their inner selves. However, the drug became illegal on October 6th, 1966 in California because of its effects. -
Black Panther Party
Founded on October 15, 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California, the Black Panther Party or Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. They considered themselves the heirs of Malcolm X, and they recruited most of their members from poor urban communities across the nation. Black Panthers believed revolution was necessary in the US and urged AA's to arm themselves and confront white society in order to force whites to grant them equal rights. -
My Lai Massacre
During the Vietnam War, a company of American soldiers, called Charlie Company, brutally killed unarmed civilians - primarily old men, women, children, and babies - in My Lai, 1 of 9 hamlets grouped near Song My village. These soldiers participated in acts of rape and torture towards these villagers. The killings were stopped by an American helicopter pilot and the US Army tried covering it up but eventually 26 soldiers were charged. This incident then became known as the My Lai Massacre. -
Death of Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr. was an civil rights activists and American clergyman who was fatally shot standing on the balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968 by James Earl Ray, a fugitive from Missouri State Penitentiary. After being hit, King was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His assassination led to anger among African Americans and a period of national mourning. -
The Stonewall Riot
The Stonewall Riots were a series of violent conflicts between homosexuals and police officers in New York City. The riot began on June 27th, 1969 outside of Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village. Stonewall is considered the start of a modern gay rights movement in the Untied States and worldwide and was the first time any significant body of gays resisted arrest. Gay Americans during this time faced an anti-gay legal system that still is an issue today. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the first mission, organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA, to send people to the moon. Launched on July 16, 1969, it carried three astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. On July 20th of the same year, Armstrong and Aldrin successfully landed on the moon, becoming the first humans to do so; Collins flew above them. Apollo 11 fulfilled John F. Kennedy's challenge to land a man on the moon. -
Hippies
Hippies were the counterculture of the 60s. They rejected middle class values, renounced material possession, used drugs, such as LSD & Heroin, and explored their inner selves. Some lived in separate communities, rejected cars, suburban homes, and the average jobs their parents had. Hippies were all about peace and living the moment without inhibition and attended festivals such as Woodstock in the New York, which highlighted these two aspects. The first festival took place on August 15, 1969. -
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The 1970s
The 1970s was in a way a continuation of the 1960s. The fight for equality for women, African Americans, Native Americans, the LBGT community, and other minority groups still continued and many Americans joined the protest against the ongoing war in Vietnam. However, the 1970s were also a rejection of 60s ideas. The 70s showed defense of political conservatism and traditional family roles, but President Nixon's actions undermined people's faith in the federal government. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v Wade was a lawsuit in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruling recognized abortion as a constitutional right, over-turning individual states' laws against abortion. In March 1970 in Texas, a pregnant women, using the name Jane Roe, sued Texas for its anti-abortion laws, claiming the laws go against the Amendments of the Constitution. They ruled that the right to an abortion fell under the right of privacy. Under Roe, states can pass laws regulating 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would guarantee equal rides under the law regardless of sex. It was mainly designed to invalidate many state and federal laws that discriminate against women. Congress passes it in 1972 and goes to states for ratification, but fails by 3 states in 1979. Phyllis Schlafly was instrumental in defeating the amendment and organizes movement of conservative women. -
Watergate
On June 17, 1972, security caught 5 "plumbers" stealing campaign information inside the Watergate Hotel. The FBI reported that the Watergate break-in was a way to help President Nixon win the re-election. It is revealed that the White House paid a bribe to keep "plumbers" quiet and that Nixon used taping systems to record his conversations. When he was demanded to turn over the tapes, he gives over edited version of the tapes. But on August 5, he released unedited versions and soon resigns. -
Title IX
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. It is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Signed by President Nixon, it applies to schools that receive federal financial assistance, including state and local educational agencies. It is part of the 1972 Education Act and allows for more teams and sports for female athletes. -
Heritage Foundation
Signed on February 16, 1973 by Paul Weyrich, Edwin Feulner, and Joseph Coors, the Heritage Foundation, a non-profit lobbying group, promotes conservative policies. These policies include free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and strong national defense. Heritage have significantly influence the U.S. public policy making and is considered one of the most influential conservative research organizations in the United States. -
Endangered Species Act of 1973
The Endangered Species Act (ESA), also known as the Endangered Species Conservation Act, provides programs to conserve threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they live in. The main federal agencies that promote and implement ESA are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. This act was signed by Richard Nixon on December 28th, 1973. -
Nixon's Resignation
As the Watergate Scandal escalated, it costed President Nixon his political support due to his administration attempting to cover-up its involvement in the scandal. When the scandal was investigated by the Congress, his administration's resisted an examination which led to a constitutional crisis. On August 8th, 1974, he decided to resign from office and after his resignation, he was issued a pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford. Nixon was the first president to resign from office. -
Camp David Accords
Camp David Accords was a peace treaty signed on September 17, 1978 between Israel and Egypt at Camp David. This was agreed during the 12 days of talks between the Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat, Israeli Prime Minster Menachem Begin and the host of the talks President Jimmy Carter. Israel and Egypt had been enemies for decades and Carter has the broker of the peace treaty referred it as a great success. It was the first step to achieving peace in the Middle East. -
Three Mile Island
Due to a series of mechanical and human errors, on March 28th, 1979 at 4 a.m., the most serious nuclear reactor accident occurred in the United States at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant outside Middletown, Pennsylvania. A malfunction caused part of the core to melt in the #2 reactor and the TMI-2 reactor was destroyed. Radioactive gas was released a couple of days after the accident. Luckily, there was no injuries or adverse health effects from the the Three Mile Island accident. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
This crisis was what followed the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and was when a group of Iranian students seized the embassy; 90 occupants of the embassy were held and the 66 Americans were made prisoners. The hostage taking was a dramatic way for the students to declare a break with Iran's past and an end to American interference in its affairs. The students set their hostages free 444 days after the crisis began. The hostage crisis costed Jimmy Carter his second term. -
Robert L. Johnson
Robert L. Johnson is an entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist, and investor and is also the first African American billionaire. He is the founder of the Black Entertainment Television, BET, which launched on January 25th, 1980 and was sold to Viacom in 2001. BET is an American basic cable and satellite television channel and is the most prominent television network for African American audiences. -
Election of 1980
Election of 1980 was between Ronald Reagan for the Republican Party, and Jimmy Carter for the Democratic Party. Reagan was a former governor for California, former actor in the 40s and 50s, and testified before HUAC about communism. Carter was incumbent, haunted by a bad economy, and the hostage crisis in Iran will bring down his popularity. Therefore, Reagan will defeat Carter and Ayatollah Khomeini, who spites Carter, releases American hostages after Reagan is sworn in. -
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The 1980s
Due to the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War, uncertainty in the Middle East, and the economic crisis at home in the 70s undermined Americans' confidence in their fellow citizens and their government. In the 80s, Americans embraced conservatism in social, economic, and political life, characterized by the policies of President Ronald Reagan. Remembered for its materialism and consumerism, the 80s also saw the rise of the "yuppie," blockbuster movies, cable networks like MTV, and iconic artists -
Space Shuttle Program
The Space Shuttle program was the United States government's manned launched vehicle program from 1981 to 2011, administered by NASA. The program evolves when the 1st space shuttle launched in April 1981 in Columbia, exactly 20 years after the first manned space flight. It involved astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen and the STS-1 Space Shuttle. It lifted off from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, at the Kennedy Space Center. -
Music Television (MTV)
MTV, or Music Television, is an American cable television channel owned by the Viacom Media Networks. When it launched on August 1st, 1981, it showed music videos introduced by video jockeys and it targeted primarily young adults. Today, its demographic changed to mainly teens and it shows reality TV, comedy and drama programming, and other off-network programs and films. MTV went on to revolutionize the music industry and is now an influence source of pop culture and entertainment everywhere. -
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor, born in El Paso, Texas, was elected to two terms in the Arizona state senate. She then was appointed into the U.S. Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan on September 25th, 1981 and became the first woman justice to serve on the nation's highest court. She received unanimous Senate approval, was a moderate conservative, and was known for her dispassionate and meticulously researched opinions. She served from 1981 to 2006. -
AIDS Epidemic
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and started in the 1930s in Saharan, Africa but made its way to the United States as early as the 1960s. However, it was first noticed when doctors found clusters of Kaposi's sarcoma and pneumocystis pneumonia in young gay men in Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco in 1981. AIDS started affecting thousands of homosexuals and spreads to heterosexual community through blood transfusions due to the rise of the gay community in the 80s. -
Strategic Defense Initiative - Star Wars
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI or Star Wars) was a program initiated on March 23rd, 1983 by President Ronald Reagan, first proposed on nationwide television address. This U.S. strategic defensive system's goal is to prevent potential nuclear attacks - as originally conceived, from the Soviet Union. In other words, the program wanted to develop an anti-ballistic missile system in order to prevent missile attacks from other countries, specifically the Soviet Union. -
Reagan Doctrine
The Reagan Doctrine was announced in his State of the Union address and defines some of the key concepts of his foreign policy. It served as the foundation for the Reagan administration's support of "freedom fighters" around the globe. It opposed the global influence of the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War and the U.S. now provides overt and covert aid to the anti-communist guerrillas and resistance movements. It also opens the door for capitalism. -
Iran Contra Affair
The Iran Contra Affair was when President Reagan's administration supplied weapons to Iran, an enemy, in hopes of securing the release of American hostages held in Lebanon by Hezbollah terrorists loyal to the Ayotollah Khomeini, Iran's leader. It was rooted in the Iran Hostage Crisis. The scandal affected Reagan's administration and further strained the public's faith in the government. 11 members of his administration will eventually be convicted of a several charges relating to this scandal. -
Challenger Explosion
The American shuttle orbiter Challenger broke up 73 seconds after liftoff, ending the spacecraft's 10th mission. The disaster killed 7 astronauts aboard: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik. It was revealed later that 2 rubber O-rings used to separate the sections of the rocket booster failed due to the cold temperatures. The event received much media coverage making NASA to temporarily suspend all shuttle missions. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided East Berlin and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. In 1987, President Reagan gave a speech in Berlin where he asked Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, to tear down the wall. Around that time, the Soviet Union was beginning to collapse as well, which eventually led to the decision to break down the wall. Finally on November 9 of 1989, the borders were opened and people celebrated the end of a divided Germany. On October 3, 1990 Germany was reunified. -
Persian Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War was fought between Iraq and a coalition of nations that include Kuwait, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, and more. The war was initiated when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq resisted U.N. demands to leave Kuwait, so the U.S. and coalition forces attacked to remove them and to protect Saudi Arabia. It ended with a cease fire on February 28, 1991 and a decisive victory for Americans and the coalition forces. -
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The 1990s
The 1990s were a decade characterized by the rise of multiculturalism and alternative media. There will be movements such as grunge, the rave scene, and hip hop and will be aided by 'new' technology such as cable television and the World Wide Web. Politically, the 1990s were defined by a movement towards the white wing and it was the end of the Cold War. -
Rodney King Incident
On March 3rd, 1991, Rodney King, an African American man, was caught by the Los Angeles police after a 78 mile high-speed chase. The officers aggressively pulled King out of the car and beat him brutally, while a cameraman George Holliday caught it all on video tape. This causes a riot that will last for four days; Asian shops will be looted by black and Latino residents because they were angry for Asians not hiring people of color. -
Internet
The Internet starts in the military bases in the 1960s to exchange data. In the 80s, supercomputers allow communications on college campuses. But in the 1990s, tens of millions of homes had internet and used American Online (AOL). It was contributed by the World Wide Web that was introduced to the public on August 6th, 1991. In 1994, there will be 6 million users, and in 2001, there will be 130 million users. -
Election of 1992
The Election of 1992 was between William "Bill" Jefferson Clinton for the Democratic Party, George H.W. Bush for the Republican Party, and Ross Perot for the Independent Party. Clinton was the governor of Arkansas and it was unknown he was running; he was also charismatic and understanding. Bush was incumbent who was popular for the Persian Gulf War and Perot was a successful businessman. Clinton wins 43% of the vote; Perot took the votes away from Bush. -
1993 World Trade Center Attack
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing was the first terrorist attack on the World Trade center. A truck bomb detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on February 26, 1993. It was intended to bring down both towers and kill tens of thousands of people. However, it failed but still left a six story hole in the ground and killed six people and injured over a thousand. The attack was planned by a group of terrorists but was quickly forgotten. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was Bill Clinton's policy on military service by gays, bisexuals, and lesbians instituted on February 28th, 1994. The act prohibits any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. -
Contract With America
Bill Clinton's plan to provide universal health care to all Americans was defeated by Republican Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America" movement. Gingrich, during the 1994 congressional elections, had Republican candidates sign a document in which they pledged their support for such things as a balanced budget amendment, term limits for members of Congress, and a middle-class tax cut. Ultimately, it promised transparency and small government. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade block in North America. It will knock down trade barriers and rules will be put in place for several industries, specifically industries in agriculture and technology. Americans will lose jobs from NAFTA and it will stop Mexican knock-off products. Ultimately, it will lay the foundations for strong economic growth and rising prosperity in the 3 countries. -
Welfare Reform
President Bill Clinton's welfare reform included the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 or PRWORA. Clinton signed it into law on August 22nd, 1996, fulfilling his 1992 campaign promise to "end welfare as we have come to know it." It instituted Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training program. Clinton's reforms welfare also limited the time single mothers could stay on it. -
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), formed on September 21st, 1996 is a federal law that defines marriage between a man and a woman. It made it illegal for states to recognize the legality of same-sex marriages and these states don't have to except gay marriages of other states. In 2011, the federal court will rule DOMA as unconstitutional and the justice department does not defend legal challenges to the law. -
Election of 2000
The Election of 2000 was between Al Gore for the Democratic Party, George W. Bush for the Republican Party, and Ralph Nader for the Independent/Green Party. Al Gore was Clinton's Vice President, an environmentalist, and wanted to save the new government surplus for Social Security. Bush was the Governor of Texas and Nader was a former consumer rights advocate. This was one of the closest elections in American history with the win of Bush. -
Period: to
Contemporary
The Contemporary period is the period of time starting from the year 2000 to today's present times. The growth of the internet led to the globalization during this time, which allowed for faster communications among people. The economic growth had important social, environmental, and mass extinction consequences which raised demands for energy resources. There was also the War on Terror and the War in Afghanistan. The nation also made history with the first African American president. -
War on Terror
The War on Terror, also known as the War in Afghanistan, started in October of 2001 as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The phrase was used to describe the threat of terrorism in the world. Bush announced his intention to initially target al-Queda, but went on to say that the War on Terror will not end until all terrorist groups are defeated. The War targets terrorists who commit violent acts of both Domestic and International Terrorism. -
USA PATRIOT Act
The act stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. It was signed into law by President George W. Bush due to 9/11. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies allowed to conduct wide-sweeping searches and surveillance; they could detain immigrants, monitor bank accounts, and wiretap suspected callers without warrant. Many opposed it because it threatened individual liberties and invaded personal privacy. -
9/11 Attacks
On September 11, 2001, the US was attacked by an Islamic terrorist group called al-Qaeda; 19 terrorists were involved and were led by Osama bin Laden. They hijacked 4 passenger planes and crashed them into buildings. 2 of the planes crashed into the Twin Towers in NYC while the other hit the Pentagon. The fourth crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after the passengers attempted to retake control of the plane. Almost 3,000 people were killed and President Bush retaliated with the War on Terror. -
No Child Left Behind Education Act
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed by President George W. Bush on January 8th, 2002. Because of the reports of declining schools across the country, Bush sends the bill through Congress. The law is a authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; under the law, states are required to test students in reading and math in grades 3-8 and once in high school. Other than revamping standards, it also links federal funding to student performances on these standardized tests. -
Hurricane Katrina
On August 29th, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the US; it was a Category 3 rating, sustained winds of 100-140 mph and stretched 400 miles across. Although the storm went through Mississippi & Alabama, New Orleans was the worse. The Levee system failed to hold the storm surge in the city and 80% flooded. The storm resulted in more than $100 billion in damage and many blamed the government because it was slow to meet the people's needs. Hundreds of people were forced to move. -
The Great Recession
The Great Recession was a period of sharp decline in economic activity during the late 2000s, which is considered the largest downturn since the Great Depression. There were falling home prices, poor lending habits by banks, and risky investments that lead to massive foreclosures. The government were forced to bail out failing banks, brokerage houses, and insurance companies. -
Sonia Sotomayor
On May 26, 2009, President Barack Obama announces that he nominates Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice. His nomination will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August of that year by a vote of 61 to 31. She will make history by becoming the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history. She is also the first justice of the Hispanic heritage, the nation's third female justice, and its twelfth Roman Catholic justice. -
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama is an American politician who served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He is the first African American president, as well as the first president to be born outside of the United States. Before becoming president, he served in the United States Senate representing Illinois. He will accomplish many things during his presidency, such as the nominating the first Hispanic Justice, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009, and Obamacare.
