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World War II Concludes
The Postwar Era in the United States began on September 2, 1945, when Germany and Japan had finally surrendered to the Allied Forces. Nazi Germany had long been crumbling throughout 1945, as Adolf Hitler departed the Nazi Regime in April 1945 and Japan had surrendered to the Allied Forces in August 1945. The stronghold of Nazi Germany collapsed in May 1945, bringing an end to the Eurpopean conflict. Treaties between Germany and the Allies were immediately discussed between the nations. -
The Cold War Begins
Long-standing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union exploded into the Cold War. The alliance of the U.S.A. and the USSR that formed in WWII had broke, as Communists had gained control of Poland and were planning to convert Germany, Turkey, and Greece into Communist countries. The Soviet Union and its allies battled with the U.S. and its allies for 24 years until the election of Mikhail Gorbachev led to the decreasing of the tensions and the collapse of the USSR in 1991. -
The Desegregation of the Military
On July 26, 1948, United States President Harry S. Truman signed in Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the U.S. army after hundreds of years of segregation. This order also prevented racial discrimination from occurring within all military factions. The integration of the military allowed various different ethnicities an opportunity to enroll in the military. For African-Americans, it broke the long-standing barrier of around 172 years of segregation and racial mistreatment by the military. -
The Korean War Begins
Likewise to the Cold War, the Korean War ballooned from tensions between North Korea and South Korea. The war was fought between North Korea and its allies Russia and China, and between South Korea and 21 United Nations combatants including the U.S. and Australia. The tensions were a result of an invasion from NK into SK to take control and unite SK under one Communist Korea, which was heavily opposed to by the Allied nations. -
The U.S. Joins the Vietnam War
While the Vietnam War had truly began in December 1946 between France and the North Vietnamese group Viet Minh, the United States began operations on this day in order to send aid to France's troops. This bloody battle soon went from appreciated to abhorred by the nation's citizens. Protests against the U.S.'s involvement began when the war took a drastically bloody turn in the mid 1960s. Eventually, the war became impossible to win, and the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam in 1969. -
The Korean War Ceasefire Begins
An attack by the Chinese on July 27, 1953 in South Korea's hilltops ended with the Allies pushing back the Chinese forces and the Korean Armistice Agreement being implemented. This agreement led to the cease of warfare in the area, and that it would prevent North Korea from enacting warfare on South Korea until a treaty would be signed. The agreement was signed on behalf of the United States, the People's Republic of China, and the United Nations, ending all warfare in Korea between the nations. -
President Kennedy is Elected
The national election for President was held between the Democratic John F. Kennedy and the Republican Richard Nixon. Winning in a landslide victory, Kennedy was elected into office. In his inaugurational speech, President Kennedy promised that an era of change would begin this decade, as he is still the youngest president to be elected in office. He recited his quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for country", changing the direction of the U.S. forever. -
The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
On this day, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by a lone gunman in a presidential motorcade in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald, the perpetrator, aimed his gun at the 36th President's head and neck, and fired. The vehicle Kennedy was in immediately headed to Parkland Memorial Hospital. Unfortunately, President Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00 PM. -
Lyndon B. Johnson Sworn Into Office
The same day of Kennedy's assassination, vice president Lyndon B. Johnson was aboard Air Force One, the aircraft ready to depart with Kennedy's body aboard. Johnson was immediately sworn into office in the cabin of the aircraft by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Hughes. Because President Kennedy was assassinated before he could conclude his term, and Johnson was only the vice president, Johnson had to finish Kennedy's term without a vice president. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King, Jr. was in Tennesse for a peace march that was to occur the next day when James Earl Ray shot Dr. King in the right jaw, the bullet lodging in his shoulder. He was found lying on his hotel room's deck when paramedics arrived. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital, where resuscitation attempts failed. Riots broke out all accross the country in outrage of King's assassination. Dr. King's assassin was captured at Heathrow Airport, and imprisoned, eventually dying in 1998.
