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22nd Amendment Ratified
What started as a tradition established by George Washington, violated only be Franklin Roosevelt, this amendment limited the president to two full terms, or up to ten years (in case of vice-presidential succession). MORE -
Oliver Hill makes arguments in Davis v. Prince Edward Co School Board (VUS.14a)
Oliver Hill – the NAACP legal defense team in Virginia – made arguments in this case that would later be joined with Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas and argued before the Supreme Court. -
Eisenhower Takes Office
“Ike” was a hero from World War 2; the architect of D-Day, he was credited with defeating Hitler. During his campaign in 1952, he pledges “I will go to Korea” – a promise to pursue peace. He would be President as Cuba turned communist, as American schools were integrated, and the Soviets jumpstarted the Space Race. Eisenhower’s policy of “massive retaliation” would help shape foreign policy. MORE -
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration
“Ike” was a hero from World War 2; the architect of D-Day, he was credited with defeating Hitler. During his campaign in 1952, he pledges “I will go to Korea” – a promise to pursue peace. He would be President as Cuba turned communist, as American schools were integrated, and the Soviets jumpstarted the Space Race. Eisenhower’s policy of “massive retaliation” would help shape foreign policy. -
Soviet Leader Josef Stalin pronounced dead
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Armistice announced in Korea (VUS.13b)
Korea remained divided along the 38th Parallel. After two years of brutal fighting in a stalemate, armistice was announced. Korea remains divided to this day, North Korea still communist and considered a threat to America and its allies in Asia. -
Earl Warren appointed as Supreme Court Chief Justice (VUS.15)
Under the “Warren Court”, the Supreme Court would take a greater role in public policy and increasing protections of individual rights. This illustrates greater “judicial activism”. -
Arms Race Alert! (VUS.13b)
Eisenhower announces that the Soviets have detonated a hydrogen bomb! Eisenhower’s ideas of “massive retaliation” would take on much more severe realities as mutual annihilation now seemed more likely, and Americans would live with the threat of complete nuclear war. -
Dulles Announces Massive Retaliation
This notion of “massive retaliation” was used to prevent a Soviet nuclear attack. Using the threat of complete nuclear attack this philosophy would serve as a deterrent to Cold War confrontation. -
Polio Vaccine Trials Begin (VUS.15c)
Developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, this would nearly eradicate the horrific and debilitating disease of polio. Considered a major medical breakthrough, further advancements in science and medicine would continue to improve the health of America. -
France surrenders at Dien Bien Phu to the Vietminh (VUS.13b)
France had held on to its colonies in Southeast Asia (Indochina included Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos). The communist Vietminh, under direction of Ho Chi Minh, had been fighting for freedom from the French. This battle marked the end of the French – and the beginning of American responsibility to contain communism in the former French colony, and the Vietnam War! MORE -
Brown v Board of Education (VUS.14a)
In this landmark court case, the Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal” must not apply to education, and schools must integrate with all reasonable speed. Southern states would resist through “massive resistance” techniques, but this is the beginning of the end of Jim Crow laws in the South. NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall made the arguments for Brown. MORE -
Joseph McCarthy is Censured (VUS.13b)
Realizing the dangerous threat to liberty presented by McCarthyism, the Senate voted to punish McCarthy for his tactics – though much damage had already been done. This brings an end to the bullying antics in the reckless hunt for communists. MORE -
Warsaw Pact
In response to the formation of NATO, the Soviet Union combined with its communist satellite nations, claiming an aggressive act against any would be considered an attack on all. This formally divided the world into two heavily “armed camps” – leading to greater stress during the Cold War. MORE -
Rosa Parks is Arrested (VUS.14a)
In Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus, this action kicked off the bus boycott and the civil rights career of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The boycott finally succeeded about a year later, as Montgomery integrated its bus lines. MORE -
Federal Aid Interstate Highway Act (VUS.13b)
Eisenhower signs a bill to create the interstate highway system. The largest domestic building project to date, this law would facilitate commerce, transportation, and even be considered a Cold War policy as it would increase the ability for the American military to mobilize in case of emergency. -
Eisenhower is re-elected
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Southern Christian Leadership Council forms (VUS.14b)
Martin Luther King, Jr. is selected to be the president of this council that would focus on non-violent protest, and encourage Civil Rights advancement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957 (VUS.14a)
Primarily a voting rights act, this was first Civil Rights bill since Reconstruction. It was designed to protect voting rights of the 15th Amendment for Presidential and Congressional elections. MORE -
Little Rock Nine (VUS.14a)
Eisenhower ordered federal troops to escort 9 African-American students to school to integrate Central High, in Little Rock, Arkansas. This action demonstrated the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. MORe -
Soviet Union launches Sputnik (VUS.13c)
The Soviets gained the lead in the Space Race as they successfully launched a satellite into orbit. Fear gripped the United States – the threat of nuclear weapons falling from space was now present, and the US was officially behind when it came to technology[ MORE](http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sputnik-launched) -
The National Defense Education Act (VUS.13b)
This bill would provide federal money to schools in order to promote the teaching of science and math, in hopes of catching the Soviet Union when it came to technology. MORE -
Castro’s Revolution in Cuba (VUS.13b)
Fidel Castro led a violent overthrow of the corrupt Batista government, and Cuba would become America’s closest communist neighbor. This was considered an embarrassing and dangerous blow to American foreign policy. Thousands of Cubans fled to the United States – many settling in Florida. Later, some would attempt to overthrow Castro in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. -
Hawaii becomes the 50th State
Alaska had become the 49th state earlier (July 7, 1958). -
The Kitchen Debate (VUS.13b)
Vice-President Richard Nixon and Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev debate the merits of American and Soviet policies and development in Moscow. MORE -
The Greensboro Sit-ins (VUS.14b)
Civil Rights non-violent protest occur in Greensboro, NC as four African-Americans sit at a “whites only” lunch counter in Woolworth’s Drug Store. MORE -
Televised Presidential Debates (VUS.13c)
For the first time ever, presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, debated live on television. This would mark a change in American politics, as television would become a dominant medium in elections. MORE -
Kennedy Defeats Nixon (VUS.13c)
In a very close presidential race, John F. Kennedy wins the presidency. MORE
