U.S History Timeline 1950-1990

Joseph McCarthy - McCarthyism

Feb 9, 1950

McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. Thousands of Americans were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers

22th Amendment

Feb 27, 1951

Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution is ratified. Limited the president to two terms.

The Shot Heard 'Round The World

Oct 3, 1951

The game was the first ever televised nationally . New York Giants outfielder and third baseman Bobby Thomson had hit a dramatic 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th to win the pennant.

NFL Pro Bowl

Jan 12, 1952

This was the second annual all-star game. Which featured the league's outstanding performers from the 1951 season.

Hydrogen Bomb

Nov 1, 1952

First hydrogen bomb is detonated by the U.S. on Eniwetok, an atoll in the Marshall Islands. Test gave US a short-lived advantage in the nuclear arms race .

Space Race

Aug 2, 1955

A competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in spaceflight capability.

Martin Luther King

Dec 5, 1955

He was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association . They led a protest until the city met their needs.

Elvis Presley

Mar 23, 1956

He released his first album. One of many to come

Theodor Seuss Geisel 'Dr. Seuss'

Mar 12, 1957

Published Cat In The Hat. The success of The Cat in the Hat cemented Geisel's place in children's literature

Ted Williams

Aug 1, 1957

In 1957 at the age of 39 he was the AL batting champion for the fifth time .

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

Explorer I, first American satellite, is launched . Began the Space War between US and the Soviet Union.

Ted Williams

Sep 28, 1960

It was his last game of his career. He had 3 ab , 1 h . at age 42.

First US Astronaunt

Feb 20, 1962

Lt. Col. John Glenn becomes first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth. He was selected as one of the "Mercury seven" group of military test pilots selected by NASA.

Cesar Chavez

Mar 31, 1962

Co Founded the National Farm Workers Association . Also was a civil rights leader.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 14, 1962

13-day political and military standoff over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba. People feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war

Ernie Davis

May 18, 1963

His only appearance at Cleveland Stadium came during a 1962 pre-season game, in which he ran onto the field as a spotlight followed him. Following his death, the Browns retired his number 45 jersey.

Martin Luther King Jr

Aug 28, 1963

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech before a crowd of 200,000 during the civil rights march on Washington, DC . Change The World For Black People.

JFK Assassination

Nov 22, 1963

Kennedy was fatally shot by a sniper while traveling with his wife. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

Muhammad Ali

Feb 25, 1964

he became the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion. Was stripped of title becuase refusal to join the army.

Texas Western College Team

Mar 19, 1966

First Five African American To Start in a NCAA Championship Game. They won The Championship against Kentucky with only 6 black players.

Miranda v. Arizona

Jun 13, 1966

Miranda v. Arizona: Landmark Supreme Court decision further defines due process clause of Fourteenth Amendment and establishes Miranda rights

25th Amendment

Feb 10, 1967

Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified. Outlining the procedures for filling vacancies in the presidency and vice presidency .

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Assassination

Jun 6, 1968

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles, Calif. After Kennedy defeated Senator Eugene McCarthy in the California presidential primary, he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan.

Neil Armstrong

Jul 21, 1969

He then turned and set his left boot on the surface then spoke the famous words "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Pete Maravich

Mar 31, 1970

All time leading NCAA division 1 scorer with 3667 points, average 44.2 points per game . Still holds the record to this day.

PDR (Pride, Determination, Resilience or Philadelphia Department of Recreation)

May 19, 1971

Ellis formed the PDR swim team which was the first African-American swim team.

26th Amendment

Jul 1, 1971

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified. Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18

Vietnam War

Apr 30, 1975

A war that lasted 20 years until the fall of Saigon . USA helped South vietnam because they believed if they fell to communism other countries will.

Jesse Owens

Jan 1, 1976

Jesse was awarded the highest civilian honor in the United States when President Gerald Ford presented him with the Medal of Freedom.

Kiss first debuted album

Mar 15, 1976

Destoryer was kiss first released album. That started it all for these 4 rockstars.

Jimmy Carter

Sep 7, 1977

Jimmy Carter is the 39th president. President Carter signs treaty (Sept. 7) agreeing to turn control of Panama Canal over to Panama .

Nike Co.

May 30, 1978

Changed its name from blue ribbon sports to Nike.It change the purpose of the brand from importer to manufacturer.

Bob Marley

Jun 15, 1978

In 1978 he received the Peace Medal of the 3rd World from the United Nations.

Herschel Walker

Sep 6, 1980

Herschel Walker scored his first collegiate touchdown. He finished his fresman year with 1616 yards.

Dale Earnhardt

Nov 15, 1980

he won his first NASCAR Winston Cup Championship .

John Lennon's Murder

Dec 8, 1980

He was shot by Mark David Chapman in the archway of the building where he lived, The Dakota, in New York City. Lennon had just returned from Record Plant Studio with his wife.

Ronald Reagan attempted assaissnation

Mar 30, 1981

President Reagan is shot in the chest by John Hinckley, Jr . He didnt die from the bullet wound.

HIV/AIDS

Jun 5, 1981

HIVS/AIDS starts hitting the world heavy . Found in many homosexual men .

Sandra Day O'Connor

Sep 25, 1981

Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in as the first woman Supreme Court justice. Served until her retirement in 2006.

Madonna

Feb 9, 1985

Dominated the 1980s pop scene after releasing her album 'Like a Virgin' Has gone on to sell more than 300 million records worldwide.

Michael Jordan

May 16, 1985

He wins rookie of the year.

Challenger

Jan 28, 1986

Space shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members. It is the worst accident in the history of the U.S. space program.

Andre The Giant

Sep 25, 1987

Andre first movie The Princess Bride was his start as a actor .

The Simpsons

Dec 17, 1987

The Simpsons later debuted as an independent series with the Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"

Mike Tyson

Mar 20, 1988

Michael Tyson holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old.

Michael Jordan Wins First Mvp

Apr 1, 1988

He wins he's first nba mvp. That was one of his five mvps that he won.

Pete Rose

Aug 1, 1989

Three years after he retired as an active player, Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball after he was accused of gambling on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds, including claims that he bet on his own team.

Persian Gulf War Beginning

Aug 2, 1990

Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, leading to the Persian Gulf War. After 42 days of relentless attacks by the allied coalition in the air and on the ground, U.S. President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire