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The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite, into orbit.
The successful launch of Sputnik was the first major achievement in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. This event put pressure on the United States to accelerate its progress in the space race -
NASA is established
After Sputnik’s successful launch the pressure was on the United States to accelerate development and as a result, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established to assist the United States to win the space race and conducting vital research about space. -
Fidel Castro becomes Prime Minister of Cuba
As a result of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro became the prime minister of Cuba which overthrew the U.S.-backed dictatorship of president Fulgencio Batista -
John F. Kennedy becomes the 35th president of the United States
43-year-old John F. Kennedy becomes the youngest man and first Roman Catholic elected president. The Massachusetts Senator defeats Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency by about 100,000 votes -
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly in space, orbiting the earth once before making a safe landing. This showed the world that at the time the Soviet Union was winning the space race, which further increased pressure on NASA to accelerate development -
failed Bay of Pigs invasion
In an attempt to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro, some 1,500 Cuban exiles trained by the CIA invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. Cuban forces capture 1,179 of the men and kill the remaining 274 due to a lack of support from the local population -
The Berlin Wall is built
East Germany seals off the border between Berlin’s eastern and western sectors to halt the flight of refugees escaping to the west to look for a better life under a democratic government -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
President Kennedy imposes an air and naval blockade of Cuba in response to the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the island, and after private negotiations between Kennedy and Khrushchev, they agree to take the missiles out of Cuba for the United States to remove their missiles in Turkey. -
Kennedy is assassinated
President John F. Kennedy is shot in the head as he rides in a motorcade in an open-top car through the streets of Dallas, Texas. He dies shortly thereafter. To this day debate exists on his assassination and whether it was a lone gunman or if it was a conspiracy of a group of people -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. receives the Nobel Peace Prize
Martin Luther King Jr. earned the Nobel peace through his leadership of the Civil Rights movement and commitment to achieving racial justice through nonviolent action -
Apollo 11 moon landing
Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew that landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, and became the first men to walk on the moon -
the Watergate Scandal
A June 1972 break-in to the Democratic National Committee headquarters led to an investigation that revealed multiple abuses of power by Nixon, which ultimately led to his resignation as President of the United States