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Newport Jazz Festival
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Nixon-Kennedy Debates (1st on Television)
The Nixon-Kennedy Debates were the first presidential debates to ever be shown on television. The visual aspect of the 1st debate painted Nixon in a bad light, as he was sick and refused to wear makeup. -
The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was the 4th president to be assassinated while in office, but what made his assassination much more shocking to many Americans was the fact that it was shown on television. Lee Harvey Oswald was accused of murdering the president, but never stood trial. Instead, he was shot to death two days after the assassination by a nightclub owner named Jack Ruby in the basement of Dallas City Hall. -
The Beatles Appear for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show
The Beatles made history on the Ed Sullivan Show as over 70 million Americans watched on their TVs. Their appearance on the show led to British rock n' roll gaining influence in America, changing the pop culture of the U.S. permanently. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The purpose of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was to give the U.S. the authority to increase its involvement in the war between North and South Vietnam. 2 U.S. Destroyers were fired at by North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin. Per President Lyndon Johnson's request, congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, allowing the U.S. to retaliate. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
The purpose of Operation Rolling Thunder was to intimidate North Vietnam into stopping their attacks on South Vietnam and to limit their ability to wage war in the future. The operation ultimately failed because most of the bombing targets in North Vietnam were covered by jungle. -
March on the Pentagon
The March on the Pentagon was a protest from The Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam that sought to bring visibility to the anti-war movement. The protest turned into a riot that lasted through the night. 682 people were arrested and 47 people, including protestors, soldiers, and U.S. Marshalls, were injured. -
Mai Lai Massacre
The Mai Lai Massacre was one of the worst acts of violence committed during the Vietnam War. U.S. Soldiers killed over 500 people in the village of Mai Lai, including women and young girls who were raped and mutilated before being killed. After a year of being covered up by the soldiers, the news of this event was released to the public, fueling the anti-war movement. -
Riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention
Thousands of people protest outside the Chicago Democratic Convention while the Democratic party has disagreements over its stance on the Vietnam War. The protest has been labeled a "police riot" because of the large number of officers beating and tear-gassing protestors. -
Woodstock
The first Woodstock festival was held on a farmer named Max Yasgur's land. Around 400,000 people showed up, most of whom did not have tickets but still got in due to the lack of security. The festival caused its promoters to go bankrupt, but they eventually made back more than enough money when Michael Wadleigh made a documentary about Woodstock in 1970. -
Chicago 8 Trial
The Chicago 8 activists were charged with inciting the violent protests at the Democratic Convention in 1968. The trial ended up having 7 defendants because Bobby Seale, one of the Chicago 8, demanded a separate trial because he claimed that the judge, Julius Hoffman, was racist. Bobby Seale was sentenced to 48 months in prison, Kunstler had a 4-year sentence, and the rest were given a 29-month sentence. In 1970, the charges against them were appealed. -
The Beatles Break Up
The Beatles breaking up is commonly believed to have been because of the death of their manager, Brian Epstein. Epstein played a huge role in the Beatles' rise to fame and he managed both their finances and egos. Epstein's death led to disagreements between McCartney and the other members on who to make the new manager. The decrease in income from the band not touring anymore also contributed to the disputes between the members. -
Kent State Protest
The Kent State Protest was an event where a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War. The Ohio National Guard opened fire on the crowd, killing 4 Kent State University students. It is believed that this event tilted the general public's opinion against the war. -
Roe vs. Wade
Roe vs. Wade was a court case where Jane Roe, a fake name used in court to protect their real identity, filed a lawsuit against Henry Wade. Jane Roe argued that the Texas law outlawing abortion was too vague and abridged her right to personal privacy