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Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was formed
The SDS were largely influential throughout the 1960s. Although it wasn't formed on January 1, 1960, it remained a powerful group throughout the 1960s. The group worked for major changes in the US society and wanted to solve issues of race, poverty, etc. -
The Lunch Counter Sit-ins
On Feburary 1, 1960 in Greensboro, NC and on Feburary 13th in Nashville, TN, black students sat at lunch counters that didn't serve Afrian Americans. White people came and attacked those who participated in this nonviolent act. Black people also got arrested and as more people got arrested, more people came and sat-in. The people that got arrested refused to pay fines and went to jail. 3 weeks later, lunch counters served black people for the first time. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) created
SNCC was created in April 1960 and encouraged by Ella Baker after the sit-ins and led by Robert Moses and Anne Moody. This civil rights organization's goals were mainly to get young African Americans active in the stuggle for civil rights as well as to shift the focus off of church leadership (which broke away from the SCLC). They gave young people a chance to make decisions and were more willing to resort to extreme measures of non-violent protest and civil disobedience. -
Kennedy-Nixon Debate prior to the 1960 Election
People who only heard the debate on the radio thought Nixon won the debate and people that watched the debate on TV believed Kennedy won. Kennedy looked young, looked into the camera and sounded vigorous. Nixon looked sick and had "makeup" melting off. Appearance on television was everything in this debate. -
Democrat John F. Kennedy wins presidential election over Republican Richard Nixon
Kennedy won the election narrowly with no mandate (support from Congress). -
The National Liberation Front is Created
On December 20, 1960, the National Liberation Front is a Vietnamese political organization formed in South Vietnam by the Viet Cong. -
John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
After he takes the oath into Presidency, Kennedy gives his inaugural speech which talks a lot about containing communism, contolling the power of nuclear weapons and involving Americans in his goals. -
John F. Kennedy's New Frontier Domestic Policy
Kennedy's domestic policy spanned from January 20, 1961 to his assasination on November 22, 1963. Kennedy's domestic policy included fixing the economic recession, poverty, Soviets having success in space and civil rights. His accomplishments included raising minium wage, $4.9 billion for urban renewal, outlawing poll tax, the Equal Pay Act, Social Security extended and saw our first man to go to space & orbit Earth. He also accomplished some additional enviornental and social measures. -
The Integration of Ole Miss (University of Mississippi)
African American James Meredith, an air force veteran, was rejected by Ole Miss on Feburary 4, 1961. In September 1962, the Supreme Court ordered Ole Miss to admit Meredith. Gov. Ross Barnett personally blocks the entrance to the admissions office on September 25. 5 days later, Kennedy sends federal marshals to protect Meredith as riots erupted. The army was sent to restore order and Marshalls accompany Meredith to class on October 1. Meredith graduates in August 1963. -
John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps were volunteers that were sent abroad to developing nations that asked for our help. The goal of the Peace Corps was to raise the standard of living in poor areas of the world. There were 750 original volunteers in 14 countries. Today, there's 6,500 volunteers in 84 countries, which proves that this was successful. -
John F. Kennedy proposes Alliance for Progress
Alliance for Progress was a cooperative effort to meet the basic needs of the people in Latin America. The United States pledged $20 billion over a 10 year span. Kennedy's goal was to build stable, democratic nations in Latin America. Latin America questioned the benefits of this program, which never lived up to its expectations. -
The Bay of Pigs Invasion
Under Eisenhower, the United States saw Fidel Castro take power and seize US businesses. The CIA was approved to train Cuban refugees to overthrow Castro. Kennedy approved of it and on April 19th, Castro captured invasion forces and it was a total failure. Castro turns to Soviets for protection and we lose our prestige. -
The Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides began in the spring of 1961. The Freedom Riders were mixed racial groups of nonviolent volunteers who rode on buses through the South to protest the segregation of buses in the South. In the deep South, segregationists firebombed a bus in Anniston, Alabama and klan members attacked the passengers as they disembarked in Birmingham. In Mississippi, police arrested them in Jackson and sentenced them to a maximum security prisons. -
John F. Kennedy raises minimum wage to $1.25
1/5 of the nation was in poverty and raising minimum wage was one of his accomplishments in tackling that. He believed that nobody should work for less than $1.25 an hour and that there would be greater improvement to come. -
Warren Court Decision: Mapp v. Ohio
This "rights of the accused" case was decided on June 19, 1961. Dolly Mapp was a bomb suspect and her house was searched to see any evidence of bombs. Instead, she ended up being arrested and convicted for pornography. The decision of this case was that police must have specific warrants to make arrests and they cannot use evidence gained through any illegal searches, such as in Mapp's case. -
The Berlin Crisis (The day the Berlin Wall was built)
In 1958, the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev demanded that the divison of East and West Germany should be made permanent. He wanted to stop East Germans from escaping into West Germany. Kennedy feared Khrushchev's intentions and increased defense funds by $3 billion, doubled draft quotas & activated reserves, spent $200 million to build fallout shelters and broadcasted on live television. Khrushchev responds by bulding a Berlin Wall around West Berlin. -
John F. Kennedy created the Green Berets
On October 12, 1961 Kennedy created the Green Berets, who were elite special forces sent to Vietnam. -
The Albany Movement
On November 17, 1961, black people were sent to sit in segregated bus terminals to protest segregation in the South (in general). Mass arrests of people were unplanned and people were sent to jails that were far away. Laurie Pritchett, the Albany police chief, bailed Martin Luther King out of jail because he knew that he would draw attention by being in jail. This event taught civil rights organizations to focus on a target and pin point it, rather than to focus on segregation as a whole. -
Kennedy announces his intention to increase military advisors in Vietnam
On December 14, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announces that he will be increasing military advisors in South Vietnam, which increases our aid to South Vietnam and expands United States commitment there. He increases advisors to 16,000 by 1963. -
The United Farm Workers (UFW) is Created
In 1962 (not Jan 1), Cesar Chavez and other leaders founded the United Farm Workers. They worked for equal rights for workers and better working conditions and more pay. They often boycotted, told the public to stop buying grapes and lettuce, and led marches. They resulted in recieving better working conditions and a law passed in California which allowed for collective bargaining between union workers and growers. -
Warren Court Decision: Baker v. Carr
This voting rights case was decided on March 26, 1962. Tennessee voting districts apportioned (divided) based on land area. Population growth in cities made unequal voting power. The decision made in court was that voting districts must be based on population, not land ("one person, one vote") and that there must be required redistricting after each census. This helped growing minority populations in cities to have a voice. -
Warren Court Decision: Engel v. Vitale
This was argued on April 3, 1962 and decided on June 25, 1962. This case was about New York students who had to recite a prayer each day at school. The decision was that the state prayer violated "separation of church and state." -
Silent Spring is published
Silent Spring was written by Rachel Carson and published on September 27, 1962. Silent Spring talked about the harmful effects of pesticides and pollution in the enviornment, especially on birds. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
On October 22, 1962, Kennedy broadcasted on television that there were Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba. Kennedy chose a naval blockade or a "quarantine" around Cuba to stop anymore ships with missiles from coming in. Thankfully, Khrushchev agreed to take his missiles out of Cuba in exchange for the United States' promise not to invade Cuba and to secretly remove our missiles that were stationed in Turkey. -
Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" was published
"The Feminine Mystique" was a book written by Betty Friedan in 1963 which shows the unhappiness of mid-20th century women and the idealized image that women had to conform to in her time period. -
Warren Court Decision: Abington v. Schempp
This case was argued Feburary 27-28 of 1963 and decided on June 17, 1963. Bible verses were read each morning as a part of daily announcements in the school district of Abington Township. The decision was similar to Engel v. Vitale, where it violated separation of church and state. -
Warren Court Decision: Gideon v. Wainwright
This "rights of the accused" case was decided on March 18, 1963. Gideon was accused of breaking into a pool hall and theft. He couldn't afford a lawyer and had to represent himself in court. The decision was that all suspects have a right to an attorney, which is provided by the state if they can't afford one. -
The Birmingham Confrontation
Because Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities at the time, SCLC organized a movement there. Martin Luther King was arrested for trying to organize the movement and when he was released, he gathered young children for a movement. Children got arrested, sprayed with water hoses and attacked by police dogs. There was ultimate media coverage of this and 8 days after marching, lunch counters were desegregated and also agreed to hire blacks. -
A Hotline is Established Between the Soviet Union and the United States
The United States and the Soviet Union agreed on establishing a hotline between each other prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was a 24 hour a day communication link which would serve its purpose in fast communication in the event of an emergency and in preventing an accidental nuclear war. -
The Limited Test Ban Treaty was Signed
Prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis, this treaty was signed with the Soviet Union and a few other countries which banned above-ground nuclear testing. This was an effort to create a peaceful co-existence between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. -
The March on Washington
On August 28, 1963, civil rights activists organized a nonviolent march in Washington, DC to support the civil rights bill and Kennedy. Over 200,000 interracial people attended the nonviolent march. John Lewis and Martin Luther King make several speeches, including King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Kennedy found this to be positive support for the bill. -
The 16th Street Church Bombing
On September 15, 1963 children met at the 16th Street Church before the march at Birmingham. A bomb exploded at the church which killed 4 children and injured 15. This event shook the movement due to the death of yonng children and was considered a "turning point" in the movement because voting rights was recognized as a new goal, rather than segregation in general. Blacks wanted to have the right to protect their children which meant the right to vote. -
John F. Kennedy was Assasinated
Kennedy was assasinated in his motorcade at the Dealey Plaza while campaigning in Dallas, Texas. He was shot by the lone shooter Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald was shot (eventually died at the hospital) by Jack Ruby. Kennedy's assasination had multiple conspiracy theories and caused a lot of controversy which is still debated about today. -
Lyndon Baines Johnson becomes President
Johnson, Kennedy's Vice President, was quickly sworn in on Air Force One following Kennedy's assasination. -
Johnson's Great Society
Johnson's Great Society was his domestic program which lasted until the end of his Presidency (although distracted by the Vietnam War). His Great Society included making equal rights, solving poverty, making America safer, advancing in medicine and education and more. Johnson was able to get a lot passed and worked well with Congress to make his program a success. -
The Warren Commission was Created
After Kennedy's Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson assumed presidency following Kennedy's assasination, he created a high-level committee known as the Warren Commission, who were going to investigate Kennedy's assasination. The Commission was headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren. They reported that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in shooting President Kennedy, there were 3 shots fired from where Oswald was standing in the Book Depository, and that the 3rd bullet killed Kennedy. -
The Free Speech Movement
The Free Speech Movement took place between 1964-1965, and not on January 1 of 1964. U.C. Berkeley forbid students to distribute civil rights pamphlets and students resisted on the grounds of free spech. Faculty and students when on strike to protest. Similar protests at other universities popped up such as Columbia University, where restrictions on students' rights were challenged. -
The 24th Amendment is Ratified
The 24th Amendment is ratified on January 23, 1964 which ends poll tax when voting. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act was passed on Feburary 10, 1964. It banned the use of different voter registration standards for blacks and whites. It prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and allowed the withholding of federal funds from public/private programs which practiced discrimination. Lastly, it banned discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin by employers and unions, and also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). -
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was a statewide effort that was launched in June of 1964 to get blacks in Mississippi to register to vote. Blacks outnumbered whites 4:1 and still couldn't vote, as well as literacy tests were still mandatory for them to vote. 60,000 blacks registered to the MFDP (Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party) to vote. During Freedom Summer, 2 white and 1 black college students went missing after a run in with the police. A nationwide search by Johnson found their bodies dead in a ditch. -
Warren Court Decision: Escobedo v. Illinois
This "rights of the accused" case was decided on June 22, 1964. Escobedo was arrested for murder and during questioning, he requested an attorney but was denied. The decision made in this court case was that all suspects have the right to an attorney during questioning. -
The 1964 Democratic National Convention
In August (not August 1) of 1964, the MFDP challenged the white democratic party of Mississippi at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, NJ. Messages came in from across the country in support of MFDP, which Johnson cut off because he was worried the Democratic party would fall apart and didn't want public attention of this. MFDP was then offered 2 votes/seats, which they turned down. They proved that they were all or nothing and wouldn't settle for less. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
In August 1964, President Lyndon Johnson announces that United States ships have been attacked by the North Vietnam. Otherwise known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, this event gave Johnson full control over the events in Vietnam. This is the start of the escalation of the war. -
Malcom X is Assasinated
In 1952, Malcom X was active in the Nation of Islam and disagreed with the tactics and goals of Martin Luther King. He left them in 1964 and formed the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and often agreed with King at this time. On Feburary 21, 1965, Malcom X was assasinated by 3 members of Nation of Islam. -
The Selma March
In response to the death of a church deacon Jimmie Lee Jackson (killed by Alabama state trooper to protect his Mom), King proposed a 54 mile march in Selma. The march was unauthorized by Gov. Wallace. Alabama State Troopers ordered to stop the march and marchers were beaten and tear gased. The ABC network interupted a movie to show the violence at the march. Viewers were outraged at the violence and Johnson acknowledges this and orders the construction of the voting bill. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act was passed by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965. The Act said that there shall be uniform standards for registering voters, equal rights to vote, removal of obstacles (literacy tests) to vote, federal agents at voting establishments and ultimately, that you cannot be stopped from voting once you are registered. -
The Watts Riots
Because of the Defacto Segregation issue in the North, riots broke out due to the poverty in cities. The most violent riot occured in Watts, Los Angelos after a DUI arrest went badly. 34 people died and over 1,000 were injured. Similar riots occured in Detroit and Newark. The Kerner Commission was formed to investigate this in 1968 and reinforced the threat of defacto segregation. -
"Unsafe at Any Speed" published
Written by Ralph Nader, "Unsafe at Any Speed" was published in 1965 and included car manufacturers' reluctance to spend money on safety features in vehicles and improving safety in general on the roads. -
The Teach-in Movement
It didn't quite start on January 1 of 1965, but teach-ins were popular in this year because they involved discussions of the United States' involvement in Vietnam. Teach-ins were faculty planned strikes to protest the war, where they organized night sessions which discussed issues about the Vietnam War. -
The "Black Power" Movement Begins
Influenced by Malcom X, SNCC leader Stokely Carmichael begins to preach something new called "black power". Some civil rights leaders were frustrated with the lack of change using methods of civil disobedience and nonviolence. They used guns for self defense and used the motto "We shall overrun!" which mocked the civil rights motto "We shall overcome!". -
Warren Court Decision: Miranda v. Arizona
This "rights of the accused" case was decided on June 13, 1966. Miranda was arrested for kidnapping and rape. He confessed and was convicted, although he wasn't told of his right to remain silent. The decision of this case was that suspects that are arrested must be informed of their rights upon their arrest (Miranda rights). This especially helps those that are in the minority, uneducated or poor. -
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was Passed
On September 9, 1966, President Johnson signs the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This bill made the government responsible for creating and enforcing safety standards for vehicles and roads. -
The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded
In 1966 (Not October 1), the National Organization for Women was founded. They worked to pressure the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), favored fair pay, equal job opportunities, balance in marriages and looked down upon false media images. -
The Black Panthers are Formed
In October of 1966 (not October 1), a new political party called the Black Panthers are created. It was formed by militants who wanted African Americans to lead their own communities and demanded compensation for discrimination in the ghettos. Sometimes they included violent encounters with the police but still had a softer side such as supporting daycares. They included their own 10-point program and were a major split in the Civil Rights Movement. -
The Wholesome Meat Act is Passed
On Feburary 16, 1967, President Johnson decided to motify the previous Meat Inspection Act of 1907. On an unknown date, the Wholesome Meat Act is Passed which regulates federal meat inspection. -
The Tet Offensive
Launched on January 30, 1968, the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong made surprise attacks on major cities and towns, breaking the ceasefire that had been called for the Vietnamese holiday (Tet, the lunar new year). -
The My Lai Massacre
On March 16, 1968 U.S. soldiers rounded up old men, women and children of small Vietnamese hamlet My Lai and killed them. The newspapers and TV stories described how the soldiers raped and beat women prior to shooting them and how they also shot babies in the head. The public's reaction to the massacre was disbelief and originally, the army and the government both covered up the incident. -
Johnson announces that he won't run for reelection
Becoming seemingly unpopular, Johnson publicly announces that he will not run for President again in the upcoming election. Public support was rapidly declining for Johnson due to the Vietnam War because many people blamed him for its escalation. -
Martin Luther King is Assasinated
On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King JR was assasinated. His assasination sparked violence and the poor people campaign. His assasination ultimately ended faith in nonviolent change. -
The American Indian Movement (AIM) Began
The American Indian Movement (AIM) began in the summer of 1968 (not June 1). Leaders such as Dennis Banks and George Mitchell practiced self government (otherwise known as Autonomy) and wanted the 13 acre rock under term of Fort Caramie Treaty of 1968. -
Robert Kennedy is Assasinated
On June 6, 1968 Robert Kennedy was assasinated. Bobby Kennedy was running for President and his assasination ended hopes for an inspirational leader who was in support of Civil Rights. -
Richard Nixon becomes President
On November 5, 1968, Richard Nixon becomes President, beating Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey. -
Nixon begins Vietnamization and the war spreads to neighboring countries
(Not on January 1) In 1969 when Nixon takes office, he begins the process of Vietnamization. Vietnamization is taking American soldiers out of Vietnam and replacing them with South Vietnamese soldiers. Simultaneously, he was still bombing Vietnam. He began spreading the war into neighboring countries Cambodia in Laos to cut off the Ho Chi Minh trail. This upset the public because the war looked to be expanding when he was supposed to be ending it. -
The Santa Barbara Oil Spill
On Janurary 28, 1969, the Santa Barbara Oil Spill occured. More than 3 million gallons of oil spilled into the water from cracks in the bottom of the Santa Barbara Channel. This disaster was considered to be a great impact on the enviornmental laws today. -
Woodstock
From August 15-18 1969, the Woodstock music & art festival occured in Bethel, New York. It had an audience of approximately 400,000 young people, which widely contained the counter culture. Some musicians sung about the Vietnam War and other controversial topics during the 1960s. -
The Occupation of Alcatraz
Although it extends to 1971, beginning on November 20, 1969 the occupation of Alcatraz Island was taken place by American Indians. It was a 19 month occupation, which ended in the removal of the Indians off the Island.
