U.S EVENTS PROJECT

American History Events

Period: Jan 1, 1950 to Dec 31, 1990

McCarthyism

May 19, 1950

McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means "the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism."

Detroit Lions

Dec 26, 1953

NFL Championship Game, Rote threw for four touchdowns and ran in another as the Lions routed Cleveland 59-14 and claimed their third championship in six years.

Rocky Marciano vs Ezzard Charles

Sep 17, 1954

Fight Of The Year . 15 round fight . Rocky Won

McDonalds

Apr 15, 1955

Ray Kroc opens a McDonald's fast food restaurant and, after purchasing the franchise from its original owners, oversees its national (and later, worldwide) expansion

$64,000 Questions Debut

Jun 7, 1955

The $64,000 Question premieres on CBS television, with Hal March as the host.

Start of Bus Boycott

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Parls along with other African Americans were arrested for not giving up their seat on the bus for white riders.

U.S MOTTO "In God We Trust"

Jul 30, 1956

"In God we Trust" adopted as national motto

End of Bus Boycott

Dec 20, 1956

When a federal ruling, Browder v. Gayle, took effect, and led to a United States Supreme Court decision that declared the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses to be unconstitutional

Harvey Gantt

Jan 28, 1963

African American student Harvey Gantt enters Clemson University in South Carolina, the last U.S. state to hold out against racial integration.

King Released

Apr 20, 1963

King posted bail and began to plan more demonstrations (Children’s Crusade)

ZIP CODES

Jul 1, 1963

ZIP codes are introduced in the U.S.

NASA Syncom

Jul 26, 1963

– NASA launches Syncom, the world's first geostationary (synchronous) satellite.

JFK Assasination

Nov 22, 1963

Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested that afternoon and charged with the crime that night

Vietnam War (U.S VS VEITNAM)

Feb 6, 1965

Viet Cong guerrillas attack the U.S. military compound at Pleiku in the Central Highlands, killing eight Americans, wounding 126 and destroying ten aircraft.

Superbowl

Jan 15, 1967

The first Super Bowl is played, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10.

Tornadoe Catastrophe

Apr 21, 1967

An outbreak of tornadoes strikes the upper Midwest section of the United States (in particular the Chicago area, including the suburbs of Belvidere and Oak Lawn, Illinois, where 33 people are killed and 500 injured).

Muhammad Ali

Apr 28, 1967

In Houston, boxer Muhammad Ali refuses military service.

MLK ASSASINATED

Apr 4, 1968

April 4, 1968, a shot rang out as King stood on the motel's second-floor balcony. The bullet entered through his right cheek, smashing his jaw, then traveled down his spinal cord before lodging in his shoulder

United States presidential election

Nov 5, 1968

United States presidential election, 1968 (Richard Nixon elected president)

Armstrong on the Moon

Jul 21, 1969

He then turned and set his left boot on the surface at 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969,[80] then spoke the famous words "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Wheel Of Fortune

Jan 6, 1975

Debut Of Wheel Of Fortune on NBC

Super Bowl IX

Jan 12, 1975

Super Bowl IX: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16–6 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

U.S State Department Bombed

Jan 29, 1975

The Weather Underground bombs the U.S. State Department main office in Washington, D.C..

Trade Center Tragedy

Feb 13, 1975

Fire breaks out in the World Trade Center.

Soul Survivor Again

Sep 22, 1975

U.S. President Gerald Ford survives a second assassination attempt, this time by Sara Jane Moore in San Francisco.

Happy Meals

Jun 3, 1979

McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal.

"Off the wall"

Aug 10, 1979

Michael Jackson releases his first breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7x platinum album.

Gay March

Oct 14, 1979

A major gay rights march in the United States takes place in Washington, D.C., involving many tens of thousands of people.

Star Trek

Dec 6, 1979

The world premiere for Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

wwe debut

Feb 21, 1980

World Wrestling Entertainment Debut

AIDS

May 15, 1983

In 1983, scientists discovered the virus that causes AIDS.

Whitney Houston

Feb 14, 1985

21-year-old female singer Whitney Houston releases her first album

AIDS Blood Test

Mar 4, 1985

The Food and Drug Administration approves a blood test for AIDS, used since then to screen all blood donations in the United States.

Mike Tyson

Mar 6, 1985

Mike Tyson makes his professional debut in Albany, New York, a match which he wins by a first round knockout.

Wrestlemaina Madison Square Garden

Mar 31, 1985

WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden.

Coca Colaaaaa

Apr 23, 1985

Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke. (The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.)

Windows 1.0

Nov 20, 1985

Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.

Jack Nicklaus Oldest Masters winner

Apr 10, 1986

Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the most Masters victories, winning the tournament six times during his career. Nicklaus is also the oldest winner of the Masters: he was 46 years 82 days old when he won in 1986. Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods co-hold the record for most consecutive victories with two.

The Simpsons debuts

Dec 17, 1989

The animated comedy The Simpsons Debuts