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Brown V. Broad of Education
Brown v. Board of Education, was a court case against the Topeka, Kansas school board due to denied access to Topeka's white schools. Brown claimed that Topeka's racial segregation violated the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. On May 17, 1954, the Court unanimously ruled that "separate but equal" public schools for blacks and whites were unconstitutional. This case effected education reform everywhere and inspired the black community to challenge segregation in all areas of society. -
Period: to
1945-2000
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Birth of Rock 'n' Roll
One of the most important cultural developments in 1950's America was the birth of rock 'n' Roll. At the top of the list was Elvis Preasly who became a symbol of youthful determination. However their were also a good amount of African American bands and singers which altogether increased the radio recording industry and television. -
Vietnam War
The vietnam war was a war agaisnts communism. The causes of the war rose from American fear that if one country became Communist, others might do the same. Due to this the U.S. decided to take a stand in South Vietnam,
The Vietnam War cost the United States 58,000 lives and 350,000 casualties. It also resulted in between one and two million Vietnamese deaths. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott, was a boycott in which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama due to Rosa Parks refusing to yield her seat to a white man. Later she was arrested and fined and then bailed out my Martin L. King.This is important because it is the start of MLK becoming a prominent national leader and it sparks the civil rights movement. -
Federal Highway Act
The federal Highway Act was was enacted on June 29, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Highway act countinue the collection of tolls,for instance tolls were to be collected, even though the turnpikes have long since been paid for. Ultimately The Interstate Highway System increased the ease of travel for Americans. It also helped transport raw materials and manufactured goods between rural and suburb areas, which caused a cut in costs and time for consumers and producers. -
Sputnik
The Sputnik crisis was a russian satellite, a key Cold War event that began on October 4, 1957. When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the launch and the failure of its first two launch attempts frieghtened the American public. Although Sputnik itself was harmless, its orbiting scared Americans. -
NASA is founded
N.A.S.A ( National Aeronautics and Space Administration) founded on july 28, 1958 is A U.S agency responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. It helped the U.S be the first to land and explore on the moon in caparison to Russia. N.A.S.A also impacts the economy. it gives U.S companies money that can help license NASA innovations and create "spinoffs." ultimately N.A.S.A has made history by being the first to land and expolore on the moon. -
Castro seizes power in Cuba
By Batista seizing power of Cuba in march instead of the election Castro desired that never happened. Castro responded by planning a popular uprising. “From that moment on, I had a clear idea of the struggle ahead,” he said in a 2006 “spoken autobiography.” After the battle Castro arrived in Havana a week later and soon took over as prime minister and then president. The U,S The US never supported Castro but the abandonment of Batista was influential and the U.S countinued expanding. -
The U-2 incident
The U-2 incident was an international diplomatic crisis in May 1960 caused by U.S secretly spying on the soviet union. When the USSR found out they shot down the American U-2 spy plane and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Power. The U-2 spy plane incident raised tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets during the Cold War. It also resulted in the cancellation of the Paris Summit scheduled to discuss the ongoing situation in divided Germany and the possibility of an arms control. -
Election of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is elected 35th president of the U.S after a hard campaign between him and Nixon.For the first time, presidential candidates engaged in televised debates. JFK hoped to pull together key elements of the Roosevelt coalition of the 1930s—urban minorities, ethnic voting blocs, and organized labor. -
Freedom rides
On May 4, 1961, a group of 13 African-American and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in the bus system and other injustices. Recruited by C.O.R.E a civil rioghts group, many black Freedom Riders used “whites-only” restrooms and lunch counters, encountering serve violence from white protestors. Due to this in 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission prohibiting segregation in bus and train nationwide. -
Cesar Chavez
Mexican-American Cesar Chavez was a prominent union leader and labor organizer. Senator Robert F. Kennedy described Cesar Chavez as "one of the heroic figures of our time." In 1962 Cesar founded the National Farm Workers Association. Supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers. Also In 1965 Led a five year strike against California grape growers in demand for higher wages. -
Cuban missile crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. The U.S armed forces were at their highest state and Soviet field commanders in Cuba were prepared to use battlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if it was invaded. However thanks to the bravery of President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev, this was avvoided. -
The Feminine Mystique
The Feminine Mystique is a 1963 book by Betty Friedan which is widely credited with sparking the beginning of second-wave feminism in the United States.It argued that in the postwar era American society expected women only to be devoted housewives and mothers.This book effected women by making them reexamine their lives.The book was liberating as it told women everywhere you are not alone so many other women feel similar and are too afraid to talk about it fearing their alone. -
MLK'S “I Have a Dream” speech
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech before a crowd of 200,000 during the civil rights march on Washington, DC. This speech becomes one of the most recognize speeches by him and had an cuturally effect on a signicant amount of people which helped change the world and is still credited to this day for attemting to establish peace in a non-violent way -
Assassination of JFK
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 as he rode in a motorcade through downtown Dallas, Texas by Harvey Lee Oswald. This effected the U.S because it was such a huge tradgedy. Kenndey had great plans but never got to fully carry them out. It is also important because it showed the hate some people hate towards jfk because he wanted change.It also allowed Johnson to become President. -
Election of Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson is elected 36th President after the assination of JFK. His election is effective because many of the programs he introduced like Medicare and Head Start made a lasting impact in the areas of health, education, urban renewal, conservation and civil rights effecting the economy. However, despite this Johnson’s was equally defined by his failure to lead the nation out of the Vietnam War. -
President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act
President Johnson signs the civil rights act on july 2, 1964, a law passed which outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, religious and minorities, aswell as women. This changed the perspective of how blacks and whites saw each other and communicated. All was one, a unity was formed. -
Assasination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X was an was an American Muslim minister and a human rights activist that had an impact throughout the civil rights movement. However in 1965 he was assinated by Islam members of a previous group that he had been apart ofation while speaking at a rally of his organization in New York City. His assination effected many of his followers but ultimately helped to make black people more aware of their identity and realise that they could help. -
Voting rights act
The Voting rights act is federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. This act had an immediate social impact. By the end of 1965, a quarter of a million new black voters had been registered to vote. Eventually only 4 out of the 13 southern states had fewer than 50 percent of African Americans registered to vote. The Voting Rights Act has been called the most effective piece of civil rights legislation ever passed by Congress. -
Black Panthers
The Black Panthers were a party that was founded in 1966 in California by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The main purpose of the party was to patrol black ghettoes and protect the black public from police brutality. They played an important part in the desegregation and acceptance of Blacks by mainstream America. they showed Black Americans what path not to take with contradicting statements like "We'll have white slaves," and showed White/Black Americans that there was a viable alternative. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese. The social effect of the Tet offensive, (though a defeat for the Viet Kong) militarily, gave the impression that the war was far from over to the American Public. As a result, public support dropped drastically for the war. -
Assassination of MLK
Martin L. King was a prominet leader in the civil rights movement who belived in fighting injustice peacefully. MLK was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39.by james Earl ray. For some, MLK'S assassination meant the end of the strategy of non-violence. Others in the movement reaffirmed the need to carry on King's work. Leaders within the SCLC confirmed that they would carry on the Poor People's Campaign that year despite his loss. -
Assination of Robert F. Kennedy
After giving his speech and ending with, "Now on to Chicago, and let's win there!" Kennedy turned and exited the ballroom and Sirhan stepped up to Robert Kennedy and opened fire with his .22 pistol.Ultimatlely Robert Kennedy's assassination later led to Secret Service protection for all future major presidential candidates. He also did'nt get to finish his campaign with high chances of becmoing the next president. -
Election of Richard M. Nixon
Nixon is elected President on Novemebr 1968 Nixon's most celebrated achievements as President was his nuclear arms control agreements with the Soviet Union and the diplomatic opening to China which set the stage for the arms reduction pacts and brought about the end of the Cold War. However his term will be short lived as it is ended by the water gate scandel of 1972 -
Apollo 11
“That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Armstrong). Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans on the Moon. It also confirmed Americas superiority over russia. While fighting the cold war what better way to show superiority and keeping jfk's promise to have a man on the moon and return him. The kennedy space center also becomes more known for launching -
SALT I negotiations begin
Soviet and U.S. negotiators meet in Helsinki to begin the (SALT). The meeting was the hype of discussions between the two nations concerning the means to change the Cold War arms race. There was a Limitation Treaty which increased limits on missiles (ICBMs), submarine missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers. -
Vietnamization
Prposed by Richard Nixon Vietnamization was a plan designed to reduce American Presence in Vietnam by encouraging Southern Vietnamese to take on the responsibility of fighting the war.The cause of Vietnamization was The fall of Sigon, when the communists from North Vietnam took control of the capital of South Vietnam and ended the Vietnam War. -
Nixon visit Beijing China
The week that changed the world," as President Nixon called his historic 1972 visit to China. This is an important step in creating peaceful relations between the United States and China. Due to this many things were accomplished including lots of trade agreements that opened China up for more favorable trade with the United States. -
Water Gate Scandel
The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States in 1972. A group of burglars broke into the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate hotel and were caught. One of these men had a huge amount of money in his bank account that investigators traced to a check from the Committee to Re-Elect the President. This check was one of numerous checks to get nixon re-elected ultimately ending his presidency. -
Roe V. Wade
Roe. V Wade was a supreme court's case in 1973 where a pregnant single woman challenged the constitutionality of the Texas abortion laws. These laws made it a crime to obtain or attempt an abortion except on medical advice to save the life of the mother. This effected the U.S because a new therory was created first seen in the court case "right to privacy" allowing women to have abortions before offically entering "first trimester" -
Election of Genrald Ford
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First Apple Computer
Steve Jobs had worked during the summer at an apple farm, and admired the Beatles' record label, Apple. He also believed Apples to be the most perfect fruit which lead to the name. on April 1, 1976, Apple Computer, Inc. was born and the first computer was made july 1, 1976. This is important because it is the first deveolpent of new technology which would become popular in the future. -
Election of Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter is elected January 1, 1977 -
Panama Canal Treaties signed
The treaty, signed by President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos, contained two parts; one promised an end to U.S. control of the canal beginning in 2000; Panama was to take over operation and defense of the canal. The neutrality aspect of the treaty gave the U.S. permanent authority to defend the canal if it were placed under threat as a neutral water passage. -
Three miles island nuclear accident
The Three Mile Island nuclear accident was an accident where radio active gases were released by accident that greatly affected the utility industry. Although the health effects were not serious, the accident heightened public fears and led to the shutdown of several plants. In addition, a licensing of all new reactors was temporarily imposed, significantly slowing the industry for several years. -
Ronald Regan
Ronald Regan is elected president on January 20, 1981. Regans presidency led to a recession from 1987 until 1994 due to his "Borrow and Spend" methods. -
Reagan wins tax and budget cuts
In the New york Times 1981 newpaper they state "In a decisive victory for President Reagan, the House of Representatives today approved the Administration's tax cut bill." -
AiDS
June 5, 1981 first identified AIDS which socially effected many people. -
Serve Recession
The U.S goes into recession in the early 1980 and ends November 1982. One cause was the Federal Reserve's contractionary monetary policy that created high inflation. -
U.S bombs Liyba
The U.S attack was carried out by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps by air strikes, in response to the 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing. There were 40 reported Libyan casualties, and one US plane was shot down, resulting in the death of two airmen. -
Election of George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush is elected President -
Iraq invades Kuwait
Iraqi forces invade Kuwait, Iraq’s tiny, oil-rich neighbor. Kuwait’s defense forces were rapidly overwhelmed, and those that were not destroyed retreated to Saudi Arabia. -
Rodney king Beating
Rodney King was severely beaten by the police on March 3, 1991.The police attempted to pull him over, He led the police on a short chase due to his parole for a prior robbery. The police claimed that he was resisting arrest once he was pulled over The police proceeded to beat Rodney King severely. This later sparks the L.A riots -
L.A race riots
The LA Riots were mostly caused by the beating by police of Rodney King and Murder of Latasha Harlins, a young girl wrongly accused of shop lifting and killed. These riots happened quickly. Liquor stores, chain stores, fast-food places, were the targets of looting, fire, and violence, mainly against white and korean people. -
Election of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton is Elected president on January 20 1993 with his greatest accomplishment being economic globalization establishing several new regimes of free trade, with NAFTA and GATT. -
New York World Trade Center bombing
The World Trade Center bombing occurred on February 26, 1993, when a car bomb was set off below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. It failed to achieve its plan but did kill six people and injured 1,042. This effected the U.S and citzens were now aware of threat of terrorism. -
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
The NAPTA is the largest free trade region in the world, providing economic growth and helping to raise the standard of living for the people of all three member countries. The NAFTA has proven to be a solid foundation for building Canada’s prosperity and has set a valuable ex.
The NAFTA has created jobs for American workers by expanding access to U.S. goods and services in the Mexican and Canadian markets. -
bombing of Oklahoma City
A truck-bomb explosion outside A Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, left 168 people dead and hundreds more injured. The blast was set off by anti-government militant Timothy McVeigh, who in 2001 was executed for his crimes.This cause the Clinton administration to pass a series of anti-terrorism bills. -
O.J. Simpson Case
OJ Simpson was a football player and actor. However was convicted and tried on two counts of murder after the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and waiter Ronald Lyle Goldman, in June 1994. Simpson hired a high-profile defense team and although their was a huge amount of evidence that he was gulity he was later found not guilty mainly due to how evidence was ultilized and his "dream team" (defense team) This created the misconcption that if your famous you can get away with crime. -
USS Cole Bombing
October 12, 2000, while refueling at a port the U.S. Navy Cole was attacked by a two suicide bombers navigating a small motorboat full of explosives. The explosion killed 17 crew members and wounding 39 others. One of the attacks attributed to al Qaeda prior to 9/11.The U.S lack to respond to the cole attack effected family of sailors “I just felt, for sure, you know, they’re not going to go ahead and just kiss off the lives of 17 U.Sohn Clodfelter, who lost his son, Kenneth, in the attack. -
Election of George W. Bush
President George W. Bush is elected President.
