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The Stormy Sixties
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Presidency of John F. Kennedy
This youthful loving Democrat introduced "New Frontier" and was most known for dealiing with Steel companies, Cuba and intensifying the Vietnam War. -
The Invasion of the Bay of Pigs
Building on the US Containment Policy, Kennedy planned to topple Cuban tyrant Fidel Castro by trainning Cuban Exiles and invading the Bay of Pigs, The invasion failed because Kennedy refused to provide air support against Castro's troops and the invaders were captured and jailed. This caused Castro to become even more Communistic and surprisingly, increased Kennedy's popularity. -
Berlin Crisis and the Berlin Wall
Angered by the illegal immigration of East Berliners, new Soviet Premier Khrushchev began the contruction of the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the split between East and West Europe on what Winston Churchill called the Iron Curtain. -
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The Cuban Missile Crisis
When aerial photos revealed nuclear missiles in Cuba, Americans( especially Floridians) was put in a state of fear and anxiety.Kennedy imposed a naval blockade in an attempt to persuade Khrushchev to remove the missiles but he refused. As nuclear tensions reached its highest, Khrushchev finally removed his missile in exchange that the US would the same in Turkey. -
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I have a dream"
On his March on Washington, MLK led 200000 black and white demonstrators in support of a new civil rights legislature that would eliminate racial discrimination. -
Assassination of John F Kennedy
While touring through Dallas Texas, JFK was shot and killed allegedly by Lee Harvey Oswald stunning the nation. Oswald himself was killed two days later by Jack Ruby. -
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The Presidency of Lyndon Blaine Johnson.
Entering office unexpectedly, LBJ was known for his Great Society pograms such as the HUD and War on Poverty. He reached new heights in civil rights with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He was also known for escalating the war in Vietnam. -
Ratification of the twenty-fourth Amendment
It eliminated poll taxes which helped diversify voting -
Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1964
This landmark bill outlawed the major forms of discrimination and outlawed segregation in schools, the workplace and other public facilities. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
As two US warships had attacked the North Vietnamese, congress virtually abdicated their war declaring powers and gave Johnson a "blank check" for any return action in Vietnam. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
A charismatic black leader,he pushed for black separatism and a more violent approach than Dr. King. He was inspired by the Nation of Islam and when he moved towards mainstream Islam he was shot down by a Nation of Islam gunman -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A part of LBJ's policy of escalation, President Johnson called for an all-out bombing of North Vietnam as he sent around 400000 troops during the year. This is seen by many as the starting point of the Vietnam War. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This outlawed literacy test and other discriminatory voting practices. It also sent federal voting registrars into several souther states. -
President Johnson orders the CIA to Spy on Antiwar Activist
As Vietnam quickly became the nation's most unpopular war, LBJ turned the CIA and FBI against the peace movement by spying on them and making them look like communist sympathizers to perserve his foreign goals. -
The Tet Offensive
This was a critical event in US involvement in Vietnam. The north had launched massive attack on southern cities and while the US stopped the attack, it made the US realize the emotional and physical toll of the war and the fact that the end was still many years away. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
While marching through Memphis, MLK was shot and killed by a sniper at the age of 39. His death caused an outrage across America as forty additional lives were taken. King became a martyr for justice as Blacks made history is the polls and the classrooms. -
The Six Day War
As the United States shifted its focus on Vietnam, Israel shocked the world by defeating USSR backed Egypt while gaining the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, and the West Bank of the Jordan River. As tensions grew between the Palestinians and the Israelis, the Middle East was quickly turning into a ticking time bomb -
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The Presidency of Richard Nixon
This republican entered office amidst stagflation and the height of the Vietnam War. He is known for his Vietnamization policies, his foreign relation policies and the infamous Watergate Scandal. -
The US Puts the First Man on the Moon
A momentous moment in human history as well as the era's Space Race, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon. After the USSR sent Spunik, the US was determined to reestablish its reputation by launching NASA. When this unthinkable goal was accomplished, it boosted the morale of the US as a world leader. -
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The Stalemated Seventies
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Kent State and Jackson State Incident
As the Vietnam War deepened, it was discovered that the Vietcong were using Cambodia to transfer troops and supplies in which the US responded by adding their own. This sparked outrage as Cambodia was neutral. These protest turned violent and at these two colleges, guardsmen were sent to silence protester which resulted in a total of 6 deaths and 9 injuries. -
The Ratification of the Twenty-sixth Amendment
This lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 to appease those who protested the draft -
Nixon visits China and USSR
China and USSR were arguing over the true meanings of Communism and President Nixon used this opportunity to relax tensions(detente) between the two sides. Nixons visit to the USSR resulted in arms agreements and a grain deal while his visit to China was seen as symbolic. -
ABM and SALT I
America and the Soviets agreed to an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) reduction and to a string of "Strategic Arms Limitations Talks" (SALT) as a result of detente.These agreements were hallow and weak but it provided for a good foundation for future relations. -
Title IX
It prohibited sex discrimination in any federally-funded educational program This was an iconic moment in the Femenist Movement of the 70's and it gave girls the opportunity of sports at the collegiate and professional level. -
The Endangered Species Act
This act listed animals as endangered or threatened. It was a part of the environmental movement in the 70's. Other important contributions to this movement included the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Health and Safety Admin. and the Clean Air Act. -
Roe Vs. Wade
This controversial decision was made by the Burger court to legalize abortion. This case contrasted the predominately conservative mindset of the Burger court and proved that president appointed justices don't always heed to the presidents demands -
Last remaining US troops pull out of Vietnam
As Nixon was reelected, he ramped up his bombs to pressure the North into negotiating a treaty. He was successful but his treaty rather cease-fire was weak. The US would withdraw, the draft would end and the South could still recieve supplies from the North but the North still kept 145000 troops in the South while occupying 30% of the territory. -
The Arab- Israeli War and Arab oil Embargo
Unhappy with their defeat to Israel in the Six Day War, Syria and Egypt invaded Israel in an attempt regain their lost land.The United States assisted the Israelis and this angered the Arab nations. They imposed an oil embargo on the US and this caused oil prices to skyrocket. -
Saturday Night Massacre
On this day , Nixon caused the resignation Watergate investigators and the attorney generals after Archibald Cox issued a subpoena for relevant tapes and other documents from the White House in which Nixon sought to fire. This continued the downward spiral for Nixon's political status. -
War Powers Act
In july 1973, it was discovered that Nixon had conducted secret bombings of Cambodia. The credibility gap widened and to prevent a repeat of Tonkin Gulf, congress passed, despite Nixon's veto, the War Powers Act. It said that the president must report to Congress within 48 hours of putting troops in harms way in a foreign country and that there would be a 60 to 90 day limit. -
The Watergate Scandal
During the campaign of 72, five men from the Committee to Reelect the President were caught breaking into the Democratic Watergate Hotel. Nixon denied allegations but an investigation by the Senate led John Dean to accuse him of a cover-up. .When it was discovered that Nixon indeed did order a cover-up, impeachment was inenvitable but Nixon resigned. -
International Energy Agency Formed
This was created as a response to OPEC and rising oil prices.It was created to help those affected by oil disruptions. -
Milliken v. Bradley
Race was still very much a problem in the seventies. In this decision, Supreme Court ruled that desegregation plans could not force students move across school-district lines. This meant that schools could stay largely segregated, especially when "white flight" sped up. -
Nixon Resigns
In loom of impeachment due to the Watergate Scandal, President Nixon became the first president to resign presidential office. He was succeeded by Gerald Ford. -
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The Presidency of Gerald Ford
He was the first un-elected president and during his short term, he was known for his foreign relations and his controversial pardoning of Nixon which hurt his bid for reelection. -
North Vietnam seize control of Saigon and the Vietnam War ends
This marked the end of the Vietnam War as the North overran the South. This took a tool of American confidence as a world leader as it was the first foreign war they ever lost. -
Helsinki Accords
These were agreements between the US and USSR.The boundaries of eastern Europe were agreed upon, agreements were made on traveling from the U.S. and U.S.S.R., and agreements were made on the definition of human rights. -
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The Presidency of Jimmy Carter
This outsider Democrat was known devout Christian who emphasized human rights. He created the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. He was known for his humanitarian and foreign efforts with the Middle East, Panama and the Soviet Union, -
The Camp David Accords
These were agreements made between Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli president Menachem Begin with the help of the humanitarian efforts of President Carter. Israelwould withdraw fromm all territory gained in the Six Day War while Egypt would respect Israeli boundary -
The Iranian Revolution
Led by militant Muslim radicals, they demanded the return of their exiled shah who had came to US for medical treatments. They were anti- American and accused the US of masterminding an attack the city of Mecca. They stormed the US embassy and took 51 hostages and this conflict would continue into the 80's after failed sanctions and rescue operations. -
Work Cited
Kennedy, David, Lizabeth Cohen and Thomas Bailey. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic. Boston; Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.911-12. Print
"Endangered Species Act | Overview." US Fish & Wildlife Service. N.p., 08 May 2013. Web. 27 May 2013. http://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/.
*All pictures used are from Wikimedia Commons and/or in the public domain.
