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Newport Jazz Festival
This is a famous music festival that started in the 1950s. It brought jazz music to a bigger audience and featured some of the greatest artists. Over time, it also included rock and other types of music. -
Nixon-Kennedy Debates (1st on Television)
This was the first time a presidential debate was shown on TV. Kennedy looked calm and confident, while Nixon looked nervous and sweaty. People who watched it on TV thought Kennedy won, but those who listened on the radio thought Nixon did better. -
The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy was shot while riding in a car in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. The nation was shocked and heartbroken. Lee Harvey Oswald was blamed, but many people still question what really happened. -
The Beatles Appear for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show
In 1964, The Beatles performed on American TV for the first time. Millions of people watched, and it changed music in the U.S. forever. Their performance made them superstars overnight. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
After a reported attack on U.S. ships in Vietnam, Congress passed this resolution in 1964. It gave the president power to send troops without declaring war. This pulled the U.S. deeper into the Vietnam War. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was a bombing campaign during the Vietnam War starting in 1965. The U.S. dropped tons of bombs on North Vietnam to weaken their power. It lasted for years but didn’t lead to a clear win. -
March on the Pentagon
In 1967, thousands of people protested the Vietnam War by marching to the Pentagon. Some even tried to magically raise the building to make a statement. It was one of the biggest anti-war protests at the time. -
Mai Lai Massacre
In 1968, American soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the village of Mai Lai. It shocked people when the truth came out a year later. The event made more Americans turn against the war. -
Riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention
In 1968, protesters gathered at the Democratic Convention to speak out against the Vietnam War. Police clashed with them in violent ways that were shown on TV. The chaos shocked the nation and raised big questions about free speech. -
Woodstock
Woodstock was a huge music festival in 1969 with over 400,000 people. It was all about peace, love, and music during the time of the Vietnam War. Even with all the mud and chaos, it became a symbol of the 1960s. -
Chicago 8 Trial
Eight protest leaders were put on trial after the 1968 Democratic Convention riots. The trial was wild and full of drama, with people shouting and being tied up in court. It became a symbol of the fight between authority and free speech. -
Kent State Protest
Students were protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University in 1970. The National Guard showed up and ended up shooting four students. This caused even more protests across the country. -
Roe vs. Wade
In 1973, the Supreme Court decided that women have the right to choose an abortion. It made abortion legal across the U.S. This case is still debated today. -
The Beatles Break Up
In 1970, The Beatles officially broke up. Fans were heartbroken as the world’s biggest band went their separate ways. Each member went on to make their own music, but the group was never the same.