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U.S. Joins Vietnam War
The United States government agrees to train South Vietnamese troops, Signaling the unofficial start of involvement. -
Rosa Parks Refuses
Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, prompting a boycott that would lead to the declaration that bus segregation laws were unconstitutional by a federal court. -
Eisenhower Reelected
Eisenhower is reelected as the 34th President of the United States in 1957 -
Civil Rights Bill Reconstructed
U.S. Congress approves the first civil rights bill since reconstruction with additional protection of voting rights. -
U.S. gains more states
January 3, 1959, Alaska is admitted to the United States as the 49th state to be followed on August 21 by Hawaii. -
New Cuban President
The United States recognizes the new Cuban government under rebel leader Fidel Castro. Castro becomes the President of Cuba on February 16. -
New U.S. Flag
The fifty star flag of the United States is debuted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reflecting the admission of Hawaii into the union in 1959. -
Kennedy Elected
John F. Kennedy is elected and inaugurated as the 35th President of the United states of America. -
Bay Of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba is repulsed by Cuban forces in an attempt by Cuban exiles under the direction of the United States government to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro. -
Berlin Wall Constructed
The construction of the Berlin Wall begins by the Soviet bloc, segregating the German city, previously held in four sectors by Allied forces, including the United States. The wall would last for twenty-eight years. -
Vietnam Conflict Begins
The first sign of the Vietnam conflict emerges when President Kennedy admits that the military advisors already in Vietnam would engage the enemy if fired upon. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crises begins. In response to the Soviet Union building offensive missiles in Cuba, President John F. Kennedy orders a naval and air blockade of military equipment to the island. -
Johnson Becomes President
Lyndon B. Johnson is inaugurated as the 36th President of the United states of America. -
Bible Outlawed From Public Schools
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the case of Abington School District vs. Schempp that laws requiring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or Bible verses in public schools is unconstitutional. -
Civil Rights March
The Civil Rights march on Washington, D.C. for Jobs and Freedom culminates with Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. -
Kennedy Assassinated
John F. Kennedy is Assassinated in Dallas, Texas -
Bill of Rights Passed
An omnibus legislation in the U.S. Congress on Civil Rights is passed. It banned discrimination in jobs, voting and accommodations. -
Johnson Reelected
Lyndon B. Johnson is reelected and inaugurated as the 36th President of the United states of America. -
Vietnam Bombings Order
President Lyndon B. Johnson orders the continuous bombing of North Vietnam below the 20th parallel. -
Hanoi Bombing Begins
United States warplanes begin their bombing raids of Hanoi and Haiphong, North Vietnam. -
Nixon Elected
Richard M. Nixon is reelected and inaugurated as the 37th President of the United states of America. -
Vietnam Peace Talks Begin
Four-party Vietnam war peace talks begin. In April, U.S. troops in the war reached its zenith at 543,400 and would begin their withdrawal on July 8. -
26th Amendment Ratified
The Senate approves a Constitutional Amendment, the 26th, that would lower the voting age from 21 to 18. -
Pentagon Papers
The United States Supreme Court upholds the right of the New York Times and the Washington Post to publish classified Pentagon papers about the Vietnam War, under the articles of the First Amendment to the Constitution. -
Watergate Crisis Starts
The Watergate crisis begins when four men are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office building in Washington, D.C. on the same day that Okinawa is returned from U.S. control back to Japan. -
Nixon Reelected
Richard M. Nixon is reelected and inaugurated as the 37th President of the United states of America. -
Abortions Allowed
The United States Supreme Court rules in Roe vs. Wade that a woman can not be prevented by a state in having an abortion during the first six months of pregnancy. -
Paris Peace Accords
Four part Vietnam peace pacts, the Paris Peace Accords, were signed in Paris, France. The announcement of the military draft ending also occurred on that date. The last U.S. military troops would leave the war zone on March 29. -
Ford Elected
Gerald R. Ford is elected an inaugurated as the 38th President of the United States. -
Nixon Impeached
Richard Nixon resigns from presidency rather than being impeached.