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Vietnam War
A long costly war that involved the regime of the Northern Vietnamese and its southern allies the Vietcong against Southern Vietnam and United States. Although never being officially declared a war by the United States, it stretched on for over 20 years resulting in 3 million deaths and destruction of most of Vietnam. The communism stretched into the south after the US pulled out troops. -
Elvis Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show
Elvis Presley preforms “Hound Dog” on the Ed Sullivan show bringing in huge ratings. With his performance brought large controversy with claims such as corrupting the youth and his negative influence. Elvis’s popularity exploded from that night on with the support of millions of teenagers, eventually earning the name “The King”. -
Sputnik Launched Into Orbit
The first artificial Earth satellite named
Sputnik was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union.
Sputnik reported valuable information to scientists, but it was thought by Americans to spy on the US. The launch of sputnik came with heighted cold war relations and the start of the space race. -
Paul "Bear" Bryant Becomes Football Head Coach at University Of Alabama
Paul “Bear” Bryant in 1958 starts his career as head coach of The University of Alabama, going on to become one of if not the best football coaches in history. His accomplishments include 323 total wins, six national titles, 15 conference championships and was named College Football Coach of the Year three times. With his success he revolutionized the game of football and secured Alabama as “The Football School”. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
An invasion known as the Bay of Pigs Invasions is an US attempt to overthrow the communist government of Fidel Castro in Cuba. US forces are defeated extremely quickly, within three days. The Invasion is a major embarrassment to US foreign policy and leads Cuba to create ties with the USSR. -
JFK Assasinated
While on a political outing in Dallas, Texas riding in the back of a convertible, along with his wife and Governor John Connally and his wife. The car turned off Main Street at Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m. As it was passing the Texas School Book Depository, gunfire erupted leaving the president dead and others injured. Lyndon B. Johnson, the vice president was sworn in as the new President and a man named Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested as the suspected gunman. -
Apollo 11
The US puts the first people to be on the moon marking one of the greatest human achievements in history.Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are the first to ever step foot on the moon.During the “Space-Race” between the Soviet Union and United States, the United States had fallen short to the Soviets in almost every aspect. Apollo 11 is what Won the “Space-Race” for the US surpassing the Soviet Union in technological supremacy. -
Governer George Wallace Attempted Assassination
George Wallace was a governor from the state of Alabama that was running for the presidential election. During a campaign rally in Laurel, Maryland George Wallace is shot four times at close range by a man named Arthur Bremer, there is thought to be no clear motive behind the attempted assassination. Wallace survives but becomes paralyzed from the waist down and loses the presidential election. -
S.A.L.T. 1 Signed
The Strategic Arms Limitations Talks/Treaty was between the Soviet Union and the United States. The purpose of the treaty was to limit the number of nuclear missiles in their arsenals to assure that both were safe of mutual destruction. The Treaty was the first time that the US and Soviet Union had come together and agreed on something that benefited the both of them and somewhat helped relations. -
Watergate Scandal
A major political scandal that ultimately resulted in the resigning of President Richard Nixon. In attempt to gain an edge on political opponents, documents and other materials were stolen from the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. Nixon was to be impeached if he was not to resign when he did. The scandal left a sour taste with the American voters ruining the trust they had with politicians. -
Death of John Lennon
John Lennon after returning home from the Record Plant studio with his life, is shot and killed by a man named Mark David Chapman. Lennon was shot four times two in the left back and two in the left shoulder. Mark David Chapman was claimed to be the local “screwball” and after trying to file an insanity plea he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years to life. -
Berlin Wall Demolition
The Berlin Wall engineered by the Soviet Union separated West and East Berlin. The wall kept in the people of East Berlin who constantly looked for escape to the free world of West Berlin. With the fall of the wall came the reunion of Germany and the fall of the Soviet Union.
