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The Domino Theory is First Presented
President Eisenhower gives a speech in which he presents the domino theory. This theory, which says if one country falls to communism, the rest will soon follow, allows Americans to except the reasoning behind the Vietnam War. *History.com Editors. (2017, September 13). Vietnam War Timeline. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-timeline. -
Geneva Accords
On July 21, 1954 the Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam, setting the groundwork for the Vietnam War. It also states that elections will be held in two years to reunite the country. Vietnam war Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/list/vietnam-war-timeline -
Gov. Faubus Stopped the Little Rock Nine from Entering School
On September 4, 1957, nine African American students were supposed to start high school at Little Rock Central High School, but Governor Orval Faubus called in the Arkansas National Guard to to block them from entering. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
Soviet Union Launches Sputnik
The Soviet Union launched a satellite named Sputnik on October 4, 1957. This became the first human-made object in space and started the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. *Space Race Timeline PDF (in class) -
Soviet Union Launches Sputnik 2
On November 3, 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, barely a month after launching the first Sputnik. This time, the satellite carried a stray dog named Laika into space, making it the first living organism in space. Sadly, Laika died due to overheating on the fourth orbit around Earth. *Space Race Timeline PDF (in class) -
NASA is Created
President Dwight D. Eisenhower created NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in response to the Soviet Union launching Sputnik. *NASA Website - The Birth of NASA -
SDS Is Formed
An organization within the New Left called the Students for a Democratic Society, or SDS, was formed. They protested the Vietnam War, campus regulations, and racism. *Students and the Counterculture PPT Notes (in class) -
Beginning of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
North Vietnamese begin to build a supply route that tuns through Laos and Cambodia in order to support guerrilla attacks against Diem’s government. They would name this the Ho Chi Minh Trail. *History.com Editors. (2017, September 13). Vietnam War Timeline. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-timeline. -
Kennedy Inauguration
John F Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States, which made him the first Catholic president. *1960 Election Notes -
Kennedy Issues Executive Order 10914
Kennedy issued Executive Order 10914. which doubled the amount of surplus food that was given to needy families. *1960 Election Notes -
First Televised Presidential News Conference
Kennedy held his first news briefing on live television, making televised news briefing more popular. *1960 Election Notes/GovInfo -
First Humanoid Animal In Space
On the Mercury-Redstone 2 on January 31, 1961, the US launched a chimpanzee named Ham into space. He went into sub-orbital flight around the moon and returned safely. *The Right Stuff Movie (in class) -
Kennedy Orders Surplus for Cuban Refugees
Kennedy orders a surplus of food and money that is worth $4 million for Cuban refugees. *1960 Election Notes -
Kennedy Establishes the Peace Corps
JFK organized a public service group called the Peace Corps, who are still around today. *1960 Election Notes -
Kennedy Congratulates Soviet Union
The Soviet Union launched Yuri Gagarin in orbit, making him the first human being in space. Kennedy sent a message of congratulations to to the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. *1960 Election Notes -
Yuri Gagarin Becomes First Man in Space
On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a cosmonaut from the Soviet Union, became the first man in space. He successfully orbited the Earth and was in space for 98 minutes. This was a major blow the US, who had planned their first space flight for May of 1961. *The Right Stuff Movie (in class) -
Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion
The CIA advised President Kennedy to invade communist Cuba using CIA-trained and equipped Cuban refugees. However, this invasion failed because the trained Cubans surrendered when the Americans didn't send the backup airstrike they had planned. *1960 Election Notes/History Extra -
Freedom Rides Began
The Freedom Riders were a group of civil rights activists who rode national bus lines into the deep south to test a decision the Supreme Court made in 1960 to integrate bus lines. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
Alan Shepard Goes Into Space
On May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American to enter space. This was a huge accomplishment for the United States. *The Right Stuff Movie (in class) -
Kennedy Congratulates Alan Shepard
The day after Alan Shepard became the first American in outer space, President Kennedy congratulated him in person in his achievement. *1960 Election Notes -
Kennedy Makes Commitment to Moon Landing
Not long after the first American traveled to outer space, President Kennedy gave a speech about getting a man to the moon. *1960 Election Notes -
Kennedy Challenges Soviet Union to "Peace Race"
When JFK was making a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, he challenges the Soviet Union to a "Peace Race" in an effort to stop the Cold War. *1960 Election Notes -
Andy Warhol Paints Marilyn Monroe
Andy Warhol was a famous painter in the 1960's who created pop art. He painted one of his most famous paintings of Marilyn Monroe in 1962. He painted her because society viewed celebrities as otherworldly and he wanted to paint her beauty. *Museum of Modern Art Website -
SDS Defines Its Views
The SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) spelled out if views in the Port Huron Statement, published in 1962. It called for people to stop accepting a country that is run by big corporations and big governments. *Students and the Counterculture PPT Notes (in class) -
Operation Ranch Hand Begins
The US military begins Operation Ranch Hand, a defoliation program in Vietnam that would reduce vegetation by spraying Agent Orange over jungles. This was important because the jungles gave the enemy cover. *The U.S. Military and the Herbicide Program in Vietnam. Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236347/#:~:text=1962%20to%201971.-,Operation%20Ranch%20Hand,communication%20(MACV%2C%201968) -
John Glenn Becomes First Man to Orbit the Earth
On February 20, 1962, John Glenn boarded the Friendship 7 and became the first man to orbit the Earth. He circled the Earth three times. *The Right Stuff Movie (in class) -
The Feminine Mystique is Published
Betty Friedan's book "The Feminine Mystique" is published on February 19, 1963. This book is credited with starting second-wave feminism in America and sold 3 million copies. *Muñoz, J. (2021, February 04). The powerful, complicated legacy of Betty Friedan's 'THE FEMININE Mystique'. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/powerful-complicated-legacy-betty-friedans-feminine-mystique-180976931/ -
The Beatles Release an Album in the US
The Beatles were a famous band from England. They released an album called Please Please Me in 1963 in the US, which started "beatlemania" in the US (Beatlemania was enthusiasm over The Beatles and their music in the 60s). This is important because The Beatles became a classic group that are still listened to today. *History.com/Beatlemania Sweep the US -
MLK Wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
While Martin Luther King Jr. was serving his sentence in the Birmingham city jail, he wrote a letter directed at the clergy of Alabama. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
Equal Pay Act
In 1963, the Equal Pay Act was put into action, giving men and women equal pay for the same job. This was one of the first bills in the U.S. that acted against gender discrimination. *History.com Editors. (2017, November 30). Equal pay act. Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://www.history.com/topics/womens-rights/equal-pay-act -
First Woman in Space
Aboard the Vostok 6, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. After 3 days in space, she completed 48 orbits before returning safely home. *Britannica -
MLK's I Have a Dream Speech
During the famous March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr gave a speech that inspired African Americans across the country, and continues to inspire to this day. *I Have A Dream Speech PDF -
March on Washington
To support JFK's civil rights bill, more than 250,000 people, black and white alike, traveled to the nation's capitol. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
Ngo Dinh Diem is Assassinated
Diem, leader of South Vietnam, is assassinated on November 2, which throws his country into turmoil. This leads the US to become more involved in Vietnam as they try to stabilize their government. *A&E Television Networks. (2009, November 13). Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated in South Vietnam. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ngo-dinh-diem-assassinated-in-south-vietnam. -
The Beginning of Freedom Summer
The summer of 1964 was known as the Freedom Summer, where organizations like CORE and SNCC attempted to register as many African Americans as they could to vote. *Freedom Summer PDF (in class) -
G.I. Joe was Invented
G.I. Joe was an action soldier toy created in 1964. This was important because the toy became a well-known name in American households for decades. *Britannica -
Free Speech Movement Begins
The Free Speech Movement is started by Mario Savio on the Berkeley campus in the University of California. The students protested because the college took away their right to distribute literature or recruit volunteers for political movements on campus. *Students and the Counterculture PPT Notes (in class) -
Johnson Creates Job Corps
During the sixties, half of the men in Job Corps would work on conservation projects while the other half received job training. This helped many men and their families get out of poverty. *History.com Editors. (2017, November 17). Great Society. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/great-society. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnam began a series of attacks in South Vietnam on the important holiday of Tet. These attacks were meant to convince American leaders to back out of South Vietnam. *History.com Editors. (2009, October 29). Tet Offensive. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Lyndon B Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned discrimination in public facilities and employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The US warship Maddox engaged in fire with North Vietnamese boats. This incident led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave President Johnson the authority to wage war against North Vietnam. *Greenspan, J. (2014, August 1). The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 50 Years Ago. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/the-gulf-of-tonkin-incident-50-years-ago. -
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat
On a bus in Montgomery Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. Rosa was then arrested. This was the event that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. *Civil Rights Heros PDF (in class) -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days, until the law segregating buses was finally proved unconstitutional. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
Hippy Movement
The hippy movement were people who wanted a freer society filled with full of love, empathy, tolerance, and cooperation. Their style was characterized by long hair, secondhand clothes, long dresses, the use of drugs, and folk music. *Students and the Counterculture PPT Notes (in class) -
Communes Became Popular
Communes were places where hippies lived together. They could be rural or crowded apartments and they were characterized by the use of drugs. *Students and the Counterculture PPT (in class) -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
On March 2, an American bombing campaign against North Vietnam began. This campaign was meant to destroy communist supply lines and to wear down North Vietnam's morale. It lasted three years. *History.com Editors. (2010, February 24). Operation Rolling Thunder. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/operation-rolling-thunder. -
President Johnson Creates the Head Start Program
Johnson created the Head Start Program in 1965. It provided educational and nutritional care for preschool aged children for low-income families. *National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). This Day in History: The Creation of Head Start. National Archives and Records Administration. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/05/18/day-history-creation-head-start#:~:text=Fifty%20years%20ago%20today%2C%20President%20Lyndon%20B.,children%20from%20low%2Dincome%20families. -
First Spacewalk Preformed by an American
On NASA's Gemini-4 mission, Edward H White II was tied to a tether on the spacecraft and preformed the first space walk. He used a zip-gun that expelled pressurized oxygen, which helped provide thrust. *NASA Website - Gemini 4 Article -
Johnson Signs Medicare Into Law
President Johnson signed Medicare into law on July 30, 1965. This was the first form of national health insurance in the U.S. It was offered to people 65 or older in 1965. *A&E Television Networks. (2009, November 24). President Johnson Signs Medicare Into Law. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/johnson-signs-medicare-into-law. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Lyndon B Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned poll taxes and made literary tests illegal. This gave equal voting rights for African Americans. *Civil Rights Unit Notes (in class) -
N.O.W. is Founded
Betty Friedan and other feminist leaders created the National Organization for Women. This organization fought for women's rights and fought to bring women into mainstream society. *When and how was now founded? (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://now.org/faq/when-and-how-was-now-founded/ -
'Star Trek' is Released
The first of the classic Star Trek movies was released in 1966. This movie was inspired by the American's interest in the Space Age. *Pocket-Lint.com -
My Lai Massacre
The Charlie Company, part of the US military’s 11th Infantry Brigade, massacred more than 500 innocent women, elderly men, and children in the Vietnamese village of My Lai. There was International outrage when this massacre was finally discovered a year later. *History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). My Lai Massacre. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1. -
Miss America Pageant Feminist Protest
On September 7, 1968, a few hundred women flocked to the Atlantic City Boardwalk to protest the Miss America Pageant and its views on beauty and woman’s behavior. *Gay, R. (2018, January 01). Fifty years Ago, protesters took on the Miss America pageant and electrified the feminist movement. Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/fifty-years-ago-protestors-took-on-miss-america-pageant-electrified-feminist-movement-180967504/ -
CCR Releases the Song Fortunate Son
The band Creedance Clearwater Revival released a song called "Fortunate Son." This song was influential because it protested the Vietnam War when it talked about how the rich start wars but draft the poor to fight in them. *Military.com / The Truth About 'Fortunate Son' -
First Man on the Moon
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to land on the moon on June 20th, 1969. This meant America had finally won the space race! *Space Race Timeline PDF -
The Magazine Ms. Was Created by N.O.W.
The National Organization for Women had over 200,000 members, so they created a magazine called Ms., edited by Gloria Steinem. This magazine kept readers updated on women's issues. *The Feminist Movement PPT (in class) -
Nixon Initiates Peace with Honor
President Richard Nixon gave a speech that highlighted the terms of the peace treaty with North Vietnam. He gave the ending of the Vietnam War the name Peace with Honor. *Address to the Nation Announcing Conclusion of an Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (Peace With Honor). Teaching American History. (n.d.). https://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/peace-with-honor/.
