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Dwight D. Eisemhower
Eisenhower defeated democrat, Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 election. Eisenhower won by a landlside defeating Stevenson 442 to 89 in electoral votes. Eisenhower became famous through his miliatry accomplishments. He was most famous for his success at D-Day in Normandy, France that sparked the end of World War II. -
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW)
Eisenhower consolidated the administration of the welfare programs by creating the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. This program ran under Oveta Culp Hobby (first woman in the Republican cabinet). -
Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu was in North Vietnam. France was pushed back and asked for American intervention. However, Eisenhower declined. The French were defeated and Garrison surrendered. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The Brown vs. Board of Education case was five cases under 1 name. Warren's court, under Supreme Court Justice Warren, unanimously decided that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This desegregated schools and claimed the segregation of schools was illegal. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted until December 20, 1956. It began when famous civil rights activist, Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white man. MLK Jr. led peaceful public bus boycotts where they walked to all of their locations and carpooled if they owned a car. This was a very peaceful revolt. -
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
The Highway Act was enacted in 1956. Eisenhower authorized construction of 42,000 miles of interstate highways linking all of the nation's major cities. U.S. became a model for the rest of the world. This provided jobs, promoted the trucking industry, and allowed quick transportation of nuclear weapons. This was one of Eisenhower's famous domestic policies. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower takes on his second term in 1957. He defeats Adlai Stevenson again in the 1956 election. During his second term, Eisenhower did tremendous works for the civil rights of African Americans. -
Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis of 1957
Nine African American students (Little Rock 9) were denied entrance to the high school. Governor Orval Faubus used police force to keep them out. Eisenhower used U.S. Army's 101st Airborne division to escort students into the school.
Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis of 1957 -
"Sit-In" Movement
The "Sit-In" movementconsisted of 4 college kids in North Carolina who tried to be served at the lunch counter and were refused. In a preceful revolt, they decied to just sit there. There was a gradual increase in involvement of people. The "sit-in" wave surged across the nation in a peaceful protest against segregation. -
John F. Kennedy
JFK beat Richard Nixon in a very close election. His appearance and charm persuaded the Americans to vote for him. JFK is the youngest person to ever be elected into the presidency. -
Robert Kennedy attacks Organized Crime
John F. Kennedy's younger brother, Robert Kennedy, attorney general, launched an attack on organized crime.In 1961, there had been 4 organized crime convictions which increased greatly to 373 in 1963. -
Attack on Steel Industry
Kennedy attacked Big Steel forcing roll back of price increases which he declared unfair. Eventually the disagreeing companies loweed prices to maintain fairness. -
Children's Crusade
This was not an economic crusade because the children had no economic liabilities. More than 2,000 children skipped school and gathered at 6th Street Baptist Church and peacefully marched. Bull Connor told the police to use firehoses, dogs, and force to remove the children.
The Children's Crusade -
March on Washington
The March on Washington consisted of an estimated 200,000 black and white demonstrators. A. Philip Randolph had planned a similar march in 1941 and this march finally occurred in 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech on the Lincoln Memorial during this march. -
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
The KKK placed bombs under the starewell of the 16th Street Baptist Church killing 4 little girls and injuring many others. Mistrials pushed convictions until 2000.
Church Bombing -
John F. Kennedy's Assassination
Although JFK had not formally announced that he would be running for his second term, it was expected by many. Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK during a procession in Texas. The country was devastated because he was a much loved president.
JFK -
Lyndon B. Johnson
LBJ demanded that he be on Air Force One for he now was president. LBJ took the Oath of Office administered by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Hughes, the first woman to swore in a president into presidency. -
The Great Society
LBJ created the "Great Society" as a continuation of New Deal types of programs. The "Great Society" sought to improve four big areas including education, medical care, immigration reform, and voting rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned racial discrimination in most private facilities open to the public. This law strengthened federal government power to end segregation in public places and created federal, equal employment opportunity commission to eliminate discrimination when being hired. Conservatives tried to crush this bill but their pursuit failed and the bill was passed, -
Civil Rights Legislation
Under LBJ, both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were passed. These laws were monumental for the path towards equality for African Americans. LBJ followed Kennedy regarding his outlook on civil rights. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
At the the Gulf of Tonkin, 2 U.S. warships had been attacked by the North Vietnamese. Two days later there was an alleged attack that was never proven. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed by Congress and essentially gave President LBJ the authority to assist any South East Asian government who's government was considered to be under communist control. A blank check was given to the president for open warfare. -
Lyndon B. Johnson
LBJ won the election in 1964 beating Barry Goldwater. LBJ had the widest popular margin in American history. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by Lyndon B. Johnson. This outlawed tests and sent federal voter registrars into southern states. They did this because devices like poll tax, literacy tests, and intimidation barred blacks from voting. -
Watt's Riots
5 days after the Voting Act of 1965, peaceful protests turned militant in Watt's, California. Blacks became violent due to the explotion in Los Angeles. The Blacks were frustrated with racial discrimination and became fed-up to the point where they became violent.
Watt's Riots -
"Tet Offensive"
The "Tet Offensive" was the breaking point of the Vietnam War. North Vietnam launched a "Tet Offensive" against southern cities. The U.S. stopped the attack, but it showed that the enemy was not all-but-done and that they had plenty of years of fighting left in them. -
LBJ announcement regarding Vitenam War
<a
href='http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/680331.asp' >LBJ</a> announces on television that he would scale back the bombings and send no more troops. This allowed a compromise between the "hawks" and the "doves" of the time period. North Vietnam agreed to negotiate in Paris. Nixon also announces he will not run agaain. -
Richard Nixon
Republican, Richard Nixon defeated both Democrat, Hubert Humphrey and Independent, George Wallace. He is well known for his foreign affairs. Presidents after him consulted him regarding foreign policy. -
New Federalism
At the beginning of his presidency, Nixon's domestic policy of "New Federalism" emerged. Congress approved of giving local governments 30 billion dollars in block grants over five years to address local needs as they saw fit. This shifted the responsibility to the local level. -
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Nixon resigns
Nixon</a> resigns as President after the Watergate Scandal erupted. Nixon was the first and only president to resign from presidency. Gerald Ford later pardons him. -
Gerald Ford
Ford was the only Vice President to be solely chosen by Congress after Nixon's Vice President resigned. When Nixon resigned, it was Ford's opportunity to take presidency and lead America. -
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