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Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport jazz festival is a long-running annual jazz festival that is still around today. During the 1960 festival, there was a series of riots that escalated to the point of the national guard being called in and the festival was canceled the next year before resuming in 1962. -
Nixon-Kennedy Debates
These were the first-ever televised presidential debates. Seeing the debates on tv made people care more about the president's appearance than they did before. People who listened to the debate on the radio thought Nixon won but people who watched on tv thought Kennedy won. -
The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
JFK's assassination came as a shock to the nation. It was unexpected and shocked many people especially since it was recorded on video. -
The Beatles Appear for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show
The Beatles were a popular British band ad their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show allowed them to become one of the most famous bands in America. This led to the massive popularity of British rock bands which is called the British Invasion. Over 70 million people tuned in to watch the performance. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
It was an act passed by Congress that allowed President Johnson to take any means necessary to prevent further aggression in Vietnam. It basically gave him unlimited power over the military in Vietnam. This was not a good thing because the president was able to escalate the war without anyone having the power to stop him or prevent him from making things work. Congress later passed the war powers act to limit the president's power so this doesn't happen again. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was the US bombing campaign in North Vietnam. It didn't go as well as expected though and many considered it to be a failure. -
March on the Pentagon
This was one of the biggest protests against the Vietnam War, it was also the first national protest against it. It showed that the movement against the war was growing and inspired more protests. -
Mai Lai Massacre
While trying to search for Viet Cong soldiers US soldiers found the village of Mai Lai which had no Viet Cong and was instead full of civilians mainly women and children yet the US soldiers attacked and killed 500 people. -
Woodstock
Woodstock was a rock music festival. It symbolized a lot of the counterculture at the time and spread a message of peace. -
Chicago 8 Trial
Following the 1968 riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention trials were held for eight of the participants. One of the participants (Bobby Seale) had his trial held separately though. All of the defendants were charged but then later acquitted. -
The Beatles Break Up
The Beatles were the most influential band of their time and their break up was a very big topic. No reason was given at first and it caused lots of debate. -
Kent State Protest
At Kent State University there were large-scale protests against the Vietnam War and the National Guard was sent. Protests were banned but some students refused to stop and without any warnings, the National Guards shot at them and killed four of the protesters. -
Riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention
In protest of the Vietnam War, roughly 10,000 protesters showed up at the Chicago Democratic Convention. Over 600 protesters were arrested. -
Roe vs. Wade
This was an important supreme court decision that required all states to allow abortion at least until the fetus is viable.