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Disneyland Opens
Disneyland, one day to become one of the most recognizable children's attractions, opens in Anaheim, California. -
Rosa Park Incident Occurs
An African-American woman, Rosa Parks, refuses to give her seat up and go to the back of a passenger bus. She becomes an icon among those pushing for desegregation. -
Federal-Aid Highway Act
The Federal-Aid Highway Act creates the interstate highway system in the United States, allowing for easier transportation between states. -
Explorer I Launched
Explorer I, the first United States satellite to enter space is launched. -
Alaska Becomes 49th State
Alaska becomes the 49th state of the United States. -
Hawaii Becomes 50th State
Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the United States. -
Gary Powers Captured
A United States U-2 Plane piloted by Gary Powers is shot down and he is captured by the Soviet Union. Two years later he would be traded back to the United States in exchange for a Soviet spy. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion into Cuba, led by United States forces, fails and is repulsed by the Cuban military. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis begins, in which the United States and Soviet Union debate heavily for multiple days over the status of nuclear missiles in Cuba. -
March on Washington D.C.
200,000 people march on Washington D.C. for equal rights for African-Americans. Here Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would deliver his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. -
Muhammad Ali wins the World Heavyweight Championship
Muhammad Ali) wins the World Heavyweight Championship in Boxing. -
Battle of Ia Drang Valley
The Battle of Ia Drang Valley occurs as the first major battle involving United States ground forces in Vietnam. -
Medicare Begins
Medicare, the government medical program for elderly citizens, begins. -
First Super Bowl
The first Super Bowl is held in Los Angeles between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated while giving a speech from a motel balcony -
Vietnam Peace Talks Begin
Peace talks between those involved in the Vietnam War begin. -
Kent State University Incident
During a Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in Ohio, 4 students are killed and 9 more injured by National Guardsmen. -
Disney World Opens
Disney World opens to the public in Orlando, Florida. -
Watergate Scandal
he Watergate crisis begins when four men are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office building -
Last U.S. Troops Leave Vietnam
The last of the United States military personnel in Vietnam leave. -
President Nixon Resigns
President Richard Nixon resigns from the office of President, avoiding the impeachment process that was under way. -
Saigon Falls
Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, falls to communist forces, leading to the south's unconditional surrender and the end of the Vietnam War