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Smith Act
Also known as the Alien Registration Act of 1940, it was a federal law passed, making it illegal to advocate a violent overthrowing of the US government. It was drafted out of the fear of anarchist agitation and Nazi or Communist subversion. The Smith Act was repealed and reenacted on September 1, 1948. -
G.I. Bill
Officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, it was made to assist World War II veterans. The act provides financial aid in mortgages, college and trade school tuitions, and hospitals. -
Trinity Test
The Trinity Test was the first successful detonation of the atomic bomb from the Manhattan Project at the Trinity test site located near Alamogordo. This was the product of the United States' attempts in catching up to Germany's advancements in developing nuclear power. -
38th Parallel Established as Border
The latitude 38 that divides North Korea and South Korea. The border was formed by U.S. military planners when World War II ended. The communist U.S.S.R. took the northern area and the south became capitalist. -
Hiroshima
Hiroshima, Japan was the first target of the first deployed atomic bomb known as Little Boy. It immediately killed 80,000 people and thousands later on from the radiation exposure. -
Little Boy
The codename for the atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima, Japan. When detonated, the uranium based explosion released an amount of energy of about 15 kilotons of TNT. -
Fat Man
The codename for the implosion-type nuclear weapon with a solid plutonium core that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Explosion equivalent of 21,00 tons of TNT. -
Nagasaki
Nagasaki was where the second atomic bomb known as Fat Man dropped three days after Little Boy, killing 40,000 people. Afterward, Emperor Hirohito of Japan announced the country's unconditional surrender. -
Iron Curtain
The political, military, and ideological barrier of the Soviet Union to block contact with western Europe and noncommunist countries. Resulted from tensions after Word War II between communist and capitalist countries. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Hollywood 9
During the Red Scare, many actors and high up officials were accused of being communists. Many lost their reputations and were put on blacklists which prevented them from finding work. -
Stalin Closes Border
The Soviet Union blockades Berlin's border, stopping all road and rail traffic from entering and exiting the capital. -
Berlin Airlft
In response to the areas previously occupied by Allies being blockaded from road, rail, and water access, the United States and the United Kingdom airlifted food and supplies to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany. This continued until May 12, 1949 when the blockade was lifted. -
Marshall Plan
After the damage of the World War II, Europe was devastated and needed to recover. The Marshall Plan was proposed by George Marshall as a program for Europe to recover. It channeled 13 billion dollars to finance the recovery. -
Fair Deal
The plan presented by President Harry Truman. It proposed health insurance, increased the minimum wage and pressed for equal employment opportunities. -
Beat Generation
A literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950s. -
Alger Hiss
State Department official Alger Hiss was convicted of Perjury after he was accused of being a soviet spy. He served 4 years in jail and constantly claimed innocence until his death. -
Joseph McCarthy
The Republican senator from Wisconsin that became the symbol of the Red Scare. He spent five years attempting to expose high profile people as communists, which incited fear and distrust in many Americans. -
Period: to
1950's
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North Korea invades South Korea
Communist North Korea invaded the south after having soldiers trained by the Soviet Union. Since China led by Mao Zedong won their war with nationalists, they also supported the North's invasion. -
Period: to
Korean War
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China Enters Korean War
China had recently won their war with the nationalists and Mao Zedong wished to prove his power to the world. Also, the war in Korea was a threat to domestic security so China intervened. -
Ike turner
An American musician and singer. He became popular in the 60's and 70's and involved in the uprising of rock and roll. -
Stalemate Ensues for 2 Years
The US realized that contrary to their beliefs that they could end the war quickly, they would not make any advancements unless they invaded North Korea.To avoid a longer lasting war with the cost of more lives, the US withdrew troops. -
Duck and Cover
With the rise of soviet nuclear technology, the American public was nervous of a possible attack. The Federal Civil Defense Administration was set up to assure and educate the public of how to survive an attack. It would be to duck under a desk and cover the neck and back of head. -
Eisenhower's Election/End of Conflict
In the election of 1952, Eisenhower was the popular nominee for the republican party. Many expected him to fix the government and work toward peace in Korea. -
Fission vs Fusion
Two types of nuclear reactions that produce massive amounts of energy used in nuclear weapons. The atom bomb uses fission reactions, and the hydrogen bomb uses fusion reactions. -
Nikita Khrushchev
Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.He pursued a cooperative relationship with western countries, yet instigated the Cuban Missle Crisis by shipping nuclear missles 90 miles from Florida. Also authorized the construction of the Berlin wall. -
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
A married couple convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage in 1951, are put to death in the electric chair. The execution marked the dramatic finale of the most controversial espionage case of the Cold War. -
Period: to
Civil Rights
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Brown vs Board of Education
One of the most important court cases of the 1900s, it outlawed segregation in public schools as a violation of the 14th amendment. This decision put the interpetation of the constitution on the side of racial equality. -
Dr. Jonas Salk
An American medical researcher and virologist from New York City. In 1947 he became head of the Virus Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. It was there that he studied Polio, and developed the most successful vaccine. -
Little Richard
Little Richard was an American singer, musician, and songwriter who was popular during the 50's and influential to the coming of rock and roll. -
Rosa Parks
A Civil Rights Activist from Tuskegee, Alabama. She inspired the initiation of the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. This eventually sparked boycott of the buses led by leaders of the black community. -
Elvis Presley
An American singer and songwriter that is known as the "King of Rock and Roll." He took the traditional influences of blues, country, and bluegrass and modernized them for more youthful audiences. He was known for voice, charisma, and movements while performing. -
Eisenhower Interstate System
Interstate highway system running throughout the states. Was built during the Cold War in order to more effectively evacuate citizens and transport weapons in case of a ballistic attack. -
Bill Haley and the Comets
An American rock and roll band that was popular in the 50's. One of the earliest groups of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of the world. -
Intercontinental Ballistic Missles
Land-based, nuclear-armed ballistic missile with a range of more than 3,500 miles (5,600 km) -
Orval Faubus
Governor of Arkansas for six consecutive terms. Known for attempting to block the federal ruling of the desegregation of Litlle Rock Central High School using state troops. -
Sputnik
The first man-made satellite to be launched into orbit by the Soviet Union. it was a metal sphere 58 centimeters long with antennas to broadcast a beeping noise back to earth. -
NASA
As a part of the space race, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created to advance research and technology to compete with the Soviet Union. This administration led to many advances in space education and technology. -
Albert Sabin
A polish American medical researcher. He played a key role along with doctor Salk in eradicating the polio disease when he developed the oral vaccine. -
New Frontier
Term used to describe liberal democratic President John F Kennedy's plans for economic and social programs to deal with new problems -
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
An important organization during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's. Large organization that worked towards anti-racism, civil rights, and equal democracy using pacifism. -
Period: to
1960's
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U-2 Missile Site Findings
An international diplomatic crisis that occurred when the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 spy plane and captured its pilot. He was convicted and sent to prison until he was exchanged for a capptured soviet spy. -
OPEC
An intergovernmental organization created in 1960. It was founded in Baghdad by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and is headquartered in Vienna. It was created to coordinate and unite petroleum transporting countries. -
Bay of Pigs
An invasion of Cuba in an attempt to remove Fidel Castro from power. The invasion failed when they were outnumbered by castros troops and surrendered after 24 hours -
John Glenn
United States Senator and astronaut. Became the first American to successfully be put into the Earth's orbit, circling three times. -
Kennedy's Speech at Rice University
A speech given by President Kennedy delivered at the Rice Stadium in Houston. It was his attempt to persuade the public to provide national support in landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth. -
naval quarintine
A conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War when missles were discovered being transported to Cuba, nearby Florida. The US did a naval quarentine until mssles were extracted. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Resolution
In October, the soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev made a deal with the United States to end the Cuban Missle Crisis. In exchange for the removal of the missiles, The US promised not to invade Cuba and removed missiles from Turkey. -
Apollo 11
The spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the moon. Mission Commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the lunar module called Eagle. -
Stagflation
Stagflation is persistent high inflation combined with high unemployment and stagnant demand in a country's economy. During the 70's the common theory was that inflation would decrease unemployment and increase economic productivity. However, they were wrong. -
Period: to
1970's
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Robert Johnson
An American musician and blues singer from Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Johnson iis considered to be one of the best blues singers of all time, but only became well known after his death. -
Period: to
1980's
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Election of 1980
In the election of 1980, the main contest was between the republican nominee Ronald Reagan and the incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan won the popular vote by a landslide and was inaugurated on January 20. -
Music Television
The first television channel that promoted music and rock and roll. The channel later revolutionized the music industry and became a source of pop culture and entertainment throughout the world. -
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
The Strategic Defense Initiative also called "Star Wars", was a program put into action by Ronald Reagan as an anti-ballistic defense system to protect against possible missile attacks. It was ultimately set aside do to budget setbacks. -
Reagan Doctrine
The Reagan Doctrine was the foundation of the Reagan administration's support for "Freedom Fighters" around the world. The policy allowed supporting the Contras in their attacks on the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. -
Challenger Explosion
On January 28, 1986, the American shuttle orbiter Challenger exploded shortly after taking off. The disaster killed all seven boarded astronauts. The explosion was found to be caused by the cold temperatures causing O rings to fail. -
Iran Contra Affair
An affair when Ronald Reagan's administration illegally sold weapons to the Iran-Contra in hopes of recovering American hostages. Eventually the arms were exchanged and the hostages were released. The affair was exposed to the public in 1986. -
Period: to
1990's
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Bill Clinton
The 42nd president elected in 1993 and served two terms until 2001. The House of Representatives impeached him due to the Monica Lewinsky affair, but he was aquitted by the Senate. -
Period: to
Contemporary
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Fallout Shelters
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War. -
Vietnam War
