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Kent State Shootings
During a protest by students, Ohio guardsmen fire upon the protestors, killing 4 students. Further turns the nation against the Vietnam War and the government. -
United States Environmental Protection Agency formed
Richard Nixon oversaw the creation of the EPA which exists to this day. However, the actions of the EPA end up contradicting the agency's intentions. -
Twenty-sixth amendment ratified
The 26th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified which gave 18 year olds the right to vote. This created a national age requirement for voting. -
SALT 1 Accords signed
The United States and the Soviet Union signed an accord which limited the number of Strategic Arms (Nukes and anti nukes). -
Watergate Break-in
Five men tied to the Nixon administration were caught after a break-in of the Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. -
Richard Nixon Reelected
Richard Nixon won a landslide reelection in the midst of the begining of the Watergate Scandal. He ran against George McGovern. -
United States and North Vietnam sign truce
The United States and North Vietnam sign the Paris Peace Accords of 1973, which ended hostilities in Vietnam between the two nations. America began a period of withdrawal and by 1975, the last of the American forces leave Vietnam. -
Egypt and Syria invade Isreal
Egypt and Syria invaded Isreal, which starts a war that lasts no more than a month. Isreal ends up being victorious against the superior Egyptian and Syrian forces. -
Richard Nixon resigned presidency
Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency after the Watergate Scandal caused Congress to consider impeachment charges against the president. He was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. -
Jimmy Carter elected
Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the presidential election. Gerald Ford was only president due to the resignation of Richard Nixon. -
United States and Soviet Union sign a SALT 2 agreement
The United States and the Soviet Union sign another agreement about limiting strategic arms. The Senate never ratifies the agreement due in part to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Armed militants take over an American Embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran. 52 Americans are then held hostage for 444 days, after which, they are released. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan with the goal of supporting the communist government. This invasion lasts for 9 years and 50 days. -
Ronald Reagan elected
Ronald Reagan is elected to be president after defeating the Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter and an independent named John B. Anderson. -
PATCO strikes
The Professional Airt Traffic Controllers Organization was a union that went on strike in 1981. The president, in response to the strike, simply fired the strikers and hired new ones unconditionally. -
Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first woman on the Supreme Court
Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan. She then became the first woman to be on the Supreme Court, which until then, had only men. -
F-117 Nighthawk Introduced
The F-117 Nighthawk was introduced as the worlds first stealth fighter. The technology would later lead to other expensive toys for the military like the B-2 stealth bomber. -
Operation Urgent Fury
United States military forces invade Grenada in the Carribbean. The invasion was triggered by a military coup in the country. The end result was a victory for the American forces and the removal of the government of the nation, in favor of another one. -
Ronald Reagan reelected
Ronald Reagan was reelected for a second presidential term. He defeated the Democratic candidate Walter Mondale -
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after launch. All astronauts aboard are killed. This disaster halts further actions by NASA for 2 years.
