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SNCC Formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was formed by Ella Baker in 1960 at Shaw University. The group went on to be a major civil rights organization that protested through nonviolent actions. -
First televised presidential debate
John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon were the first two candidates to every have a presidential debate on television. Since then, presidential debated have been filmed for every election after. -
First airing of "The Flintstones"
The Flintstones first aired in 1960. The show became an instant hit and aired for six years. -
President Kennedy is elected
On January 20th 1961 John F Kennedy took office. Shortly after Kennedy delivered his inauguration speech where he famously said "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". -
Russians send the first man into space
Yuri Alekseyevich was the first man to launched into space and orbit the plantet. He was in space for 89 minutes. -
Berlin Wall is Constructed
The Soviet Union was angry that East Germans were leaving and moving to West Germany (which was operated by the United States). To stop people from leaving the Soviet Union constructed the Berlin Wall which separated East and West Germany. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth's single season home run record
Roger Maris became the first major league baseball player to hit more than 60 home runs in one season. -
"Dr.No" the first James Bond movie premiers
Based the book "Dr.No" written by Ian Fleming. James Bond films would go on to film many more successful spy movies. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
The Students for a Democratic Society wrote the Port Huron statement expressing their dissatisfaction with Michigan University. -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe was killed by the Kennedy family because she had been having an affair with John and possibly some of his brothers. -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith registered at the University of Mississippi which at the time was an all white university. This sparked outrage among southerns and prompted riots. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Ultimately serving as a test to John F Kennedy in the beginning of her presidency, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union. The US learned the Soviet Union had missiles in Cuba and demanded the Soviet Union remove these weapons. -
Dr King's "I have a dream" speech
During the March of Washington MLK delivered his "I have a dream" speech where he detailed the hope he has for his children's future treatment in the US. This speech remains famous even today and is watched in many history classes. -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
While in a parade driving through Texas John F Kennedy was shot in the back of the head killing him. -
The Beatles arrive in the United States
The Beatles arrived in the United States and were welcomed by a group of screaming fans. Their popularity in the United States was extremely large and grew through out the 60's. -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
The Beatles made their first appearance on American television live on the Ed Sullivan show. Over 73 million people tuned into watch. -
New York Worlds fair begins
In 1964 in Queens New York the World fair began to help bring happiness to a nation grieving about the loss of JFK. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The North Vietnamese attacked the USS Maddox ship in international waters. This incident prompted the United States to become more involved in the Vietnam war. -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
Lyndon B Johnson won the 45th presidential election as a democratic nominee. Johnson earned 61% of the popular vote which was the highest percentage since the 1820s election. -
Malcolm X assassinated
A popular civil rights activist who was a bit more violent and extreme than MLK was shot while preparing to speak. -
Watts race riots
The watts riot lasted five days in Los Angeles and was prompted after the arrest of a black man Marquette Fryer. Police arrested him on suspicions of driving while intoxicated. -
"Star Trek" TV show airs
Star Trek first aired on NBC in September of 1966. The series was very successful and remained in TV until 1969. -
San Francisco "Summer of Love" Begins
Inspired by Alan Ginsberg and Gary Snyder 30,000 plus people came together to take part in the counterculture of the time. -
First NFL football super bowl
At Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles the first ever championship game between the NFL and ALF was played. The Green bay packers beat the Kansas City chiefs 35-10. -
Boxer Muhammad Ali refuses military service
In 1967 famous boxing champion Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the military. He cited religious reasons in hopes of being exempted from service. -
Beatles release Sgt. Pepper's album
The 8th album released by the Beatles which remained number one on the Billboard top LPs chart in the US for 15 weeks. -
Monterrey Music Festival held
Held in Monterrey California it was a three day pop music festival. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
After Tom Clark a leaning conservative justice left the bench Thurgod Marshall a liberal was appointed by Lyndon B Johnson to fill his seat. -
LSD declared illegal by the US government
LSD a hallucinogenic drug frequently used by hippies and those apart of the counterculture movement in the 60's became illegal in 1968. -
Tet offensive
Considered a turning point in the war, it was when the North Vietnamese (the Vietcong) attacked South Vietnamese cities and villages. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
Martin Luther king was assassinated on his hotel balcony in Memphis Tennessee. He was the most prominent leader of the civil rights movement and his death started riots all over the US. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Post delivering a speech in California, on his way out Robert Kennedy was shot in the head. Had he not been killed he most likely would have won the democratic nominee and later the US presidency. -
Richard Nixon is elected
Nixon successfully defeated democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey and won the 46th presidential election. -
Protests as the 1968 Democratic National Convention
An eight day riot taking place outside the center escalated to a full blown police riot. The protesters were passionately protesting against the Veitnam war. -
The rolling stones host the Alta mount music festival
While trying to recreate Woodstock on the west coast it went horribly wrong when fights broke out at the concert. The stones are partially to blame as they hired Hells Angels as security. -
Stonewall Riots
The stonewall riots were demonstrated by the gay community. They were sparked because of the gay community's outrage that the police were not protecting them. -
American astronauts land on the moon
Millions of Americans watched on their televisions as US astronauts were the first men to ever walk on the moon. In doing so the US had won the space race against the Soviet Union. -
Manson Family murders Sharon Tate
The Manson family traveled to Los Angels and targeted a random house to murder people. They happened to break into Roman Polanski's home and murdered his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate and her friends. Polanski himself was not home at the time. The Manson family also infamously wrote Helter Skleter on the wall. -
Woodstock Concert
A free concert held at a dairy farm in upstate NY with some of the most popular musicians of the time. The concert celebrated three days of love and peace through music.
