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U.S. Aids France in Vietnam
The United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict is marked by President Truman giving $15 million in military aid to the French. This showed that the U.S. took a firm stance against communism and the spread of it by allying themselves with France and South Vietnam against Viet Minh. The U.S. believed that a domino effect of communism would occur; a communist Vietnam would eventually spread and lead to a communist Asia. -
Period: to
American History 1950s-1970s
Civil Rights, Cold War, Vietnam War, and Social Events -
Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President
President Eisenhower was an army general during World War II who later served as the 34th president from 1953 to 1961. -
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) formed
The United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines signed this treaty to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that ended segregation in public schools. This proved that segregated schools were separate but not equal. Although this ruling didn't provide any indication on how schools should be integrated, it was a major step in the right direction for providing equal education and opportunities for all students. -
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white man and move to the back of the bus, the Montgomery bus boycott began. Instead of using the public transportation system, African Americans would walk, ride bikes, and carpool. Because African Americans made up the majority of people who rode the buses, Montgomery ended racial segregation on the buses after a year. The city caved after the financial hardship of not receiving bus fares from African Americans became too much. -
The Declaration of Constitutional Principles (The Southern Manifesto) is Created
The chairman of the House Rules Committee, Howard Smith, introduced the Southern Manifesto to Congress in retaliation to the court ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education which desegregated schools. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) formed
Led by Martin Luther King Jr., the SCLC used black churches and nonviolence to promote equality in America. -
Little Rock Nine
After racial segregation in public schools was ruled unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education, nine African American students decided to enroll in Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas: a previously all white school. Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas, called on the state National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school. Shortly after, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in federal troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into the school. -
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Formed
Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, NASA is independent of the federal government and responsible for the civilian space program and aeronautics and aerospace research. -
Fidel Castro Assumes Power in Cuba
The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, was an armed revolt against the authoritarian government of Cuba, led by dictator President Fulgencio Batista. It lasted for six years, when Castro eventually overthrew Batista. Castro improved the life of many Cubans by ending legal discrimination and improving medical care and public school systems. However, many people also suffered because of Castro turning Cuba into a communist country. -
Viet Cong Formed
A political organization that was part of the communist movement and allies with North Vietnam. They used guerrilla tactics to fight against South Vietnam and U.S. troops. -
Greensboro Sit-In
The Greensboro sit-in was the first sit-in of the civil rights movement. It started when young African American students sat at a segregated lunch counter and refused to leave after being denied service. While the police were called to handle the situation, they were unable to do anything due to the nonviolence nature of the protest. This form of protest eventually spread to many college towns throughout the South. -
Boynton v. Virginia
Boynton was arrested after sitting in the whites only section of a restaurant while traveling on an interstate bus. He won his case on the premise that the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 banned segregation in any type of public transportation. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Formed
Formed from the first sit ins, the SNCC gave younger black people a voice in the civil rights movement. -
Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides were a form of protest during the civil rights movement staged by young African Americans. They rode interstate buses to challenge the non-enforcement of the Supreme Court case Boynton v. Virignia, which ruled that segregation on interstate public transport was unconstitutional. At many of the stops along the way, the students were beat severely by white people who disagreed with the civil rights movement. -
Mapp v. Ohio
In the Supreme Court case of Mapp v. Ohio, the Court ruled that evidence obtained illegally and in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in state criminal prosecutions. -
John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
John F. Kennedy's inaugural address outlined his plans for combating the spread of communism. He told U.S. citizens that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that everyone everywhere will have the opportunity and liberty they deserve. This ultimately outlined his plan for the Vietnam War. -
Peace Corps Created
The Peace Corps is a government organization made up of volunteers who provide social and economic development in other countries. -
The Berlin Wall is Constructed
The Berlin Wall stood from 1961 to 1989. It was a concrete wall that stood about 12 feet and divided communist East Germany allied with the Soviet Union and West Germany allied with Great Britain, France, and the U.S. -
U.S. Severs Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
After Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista, America eventually cut ties with the communist leader and tried to assassinate him 638 times. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Brigade 2506 was the Cuban exile group trained by the Central Intelligence Agency to invade Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro. After the first airstrike failed to hit their target of bombing the concrete barrier blocking the rest of the country, the rebel group failed the military invasion of Cuba. Most people were taken prisoner. -
Engel v. Vitale
Engel v Vitale is the infamous court case which separated church and state in schools. It ruled that prayer in school is unconstitutional because it goes against the first amendment right of freedom of religion. -
John Glenn Orbits Earth
John Glenn became the first U.S. man to orbit Earth, where he circled it three times before safely landing. This was a huge success for America in the space race against the Soviet Union. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted for thirteen days between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The discovery of Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba caused this crisis. This was a major event in the Cold War between the two global superpowers, and ended with Soviet withdrawal in Cuba and American withdrawal of Turkey. -
Baker v. Carr
In the case of Baker v. Carr, the Supreme Court decided that federal courts should intervene in redistricting cases to avoid gerrymandering. -
The Letter from Birmingham Jail
This letter outlined Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ideas of nonviolent protest to win civil rights for African Americans. King wrote this letter while serving eight months in jail for a traffic violation. He said that African Americans need to take a firm stance against racism rather than wait for things to change of their own accord. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
In this case, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states are required to provide an attorney to people who are unable to afford one of their own. -
The March on Washington
The March on Washington was led by civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. to advocate for civil and economic rights of African Americans. 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial to hear King's infamous "I Have A Dream" speech where he outlined his goal of freedom and equality for people of any race. This event was a major event in the fight for civil rights. -
The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is Signed
This treaty between the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the U.S. banned all nuclear detonations in space, underwater, and in the atmosphere. -
John F. Kennedy is Assassinated
President John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22 in Dallas, Texas during a campaign visit. -
Beatlemania Sweeps the Nation
Beatlemania is the term used to describe the intense fan base of the British rock band The Beatles. While The Beatles were already popular in the U.K. and the rest of Europe, American didn't discover them until the early 1960s. Beatlemania ultimately led to the British Invasion where other popular U.K. bands like The Rolling Stones and The Zombies followed The Beatles footsteps to America. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
This resolution gave President Lyndon Johnson full authority to use whatever means necessary to combat communism in Vietnam. -
Freedom Summer Begins
Freedom Summer was a project organized by SNCC to get as many African-Americans to register to vote as possible in Mississippi. -
24th Amendment is Passed
This amendment prohibited states from implementing a poll tax, which was a major step in securing that every African-American had the opportunity to vote. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is Passed
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 granted one of the major goals of the civil rights movement to African Americans. It outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also banned racist voter discrimination, employment, and added on to the Brown v. Board of Education case of banning segregation in public schools. -
Economic Opportunity Act is Passed
The Economic Opportunity Act was a major legislative piece against President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. This act allowed the formation of government mandated Community Action Agencies to expand educational opportunities and provide health needs for the poor and elderly. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches
The 54 mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama was in protest to police brutality in the state. The protesters wanted to take there cause directly to Governor George Wallace. As the marchers reached the Alabama bridge, they were met with state troopers, police, the Ku Klux Klan, and racist bystanders ready for a fight. The marchers refused to disassemble, and they were then gassed and beat down to the ground. -
Malcolm X is Assassinated
Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister involved in the civil rights movement who was shot by rival black Muslims after denouncing his previous teachings of violence. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a major win in the fight for equal rights for African Americans. The act ended discrimination in voting based on race. As President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act into legislation, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was present. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a failed operation by the U.S. air force against North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The United States 2nd Air Division, U.S. Navy, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force conducted a series of airplanes dropping bombs on North Vietnam in an attempt to reduce their military forces to win the war against communism. -
Medicare and Medicaid are Created
The Social Security Amendments of 1965, Pub.L. 89–97, 79 Stat. 286, enacted July 30, 1965, was legislation in the United States whose most important provisions resulted in creation of two programs: Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation initially provided federal health insurance for the elderly and for poor families change change change change change -
The Water Quality Act is Passed
This act required states to develop water quality standards for interstate waterways to reduce pollution and contamination. -
The Black Panther Party is Formed
The Black Panther Party, founded by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton, was a political organization that patrolled black neighborhoods to protect residents from police brutality. -
The Clean Waters Restoration Act is Passed
In order to make the Clean Water Act possible, the Clean Waters Restoration Act had to provide federal funds to construct sewage treatment plants, which significantly reduced water pollution. -
Detroit Race Riot
The Detroit Race Riot followed several others in the country as a result of unrest. The Detroit riot occurred because of a dramatic increase in population, which cause social unrest and a competitive atmosphere for jobs. The rioting methods used were arson, assault, and street fighting. Eventually, the riot was suppressed by 6,000 federal troops, 1,800 people were arrested, 34 people died, and 433 people were injured. -
Thurgood Marshall becomes a Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1967 until 1991 -
Haight-Ashbury District
The Haight-Ashbury District was the center of the hippies movement. The young people who identified as hippies congregated there and wanted to establish their own community built on counterculture ideals, drugs, and music. -
The Air Quality Act is Passed
This act required states to set air quality standards and emphasized the research and monitoring of pollutant emissions and control techniques. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is Assassinated
While in Memphis, Tennessee supporting a sanitation worker's strike, King was assassinated by James Earl Ray on the balcony of the motel he was staying at. -
Robert F. Kennedy is Assassinated
Presidental candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan. -
Richard Nixon becomes President
Richard Nixon served as president from 1969 until 1974, when he became the only president to resign from office after the watergate scandal. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a terrible tragedy that took place during the Vietnam War. American troops committed the mass murder of unarmed civilians, mainly women, children, and the elderly, living in the village of My Lai in South Vietnam. Many people were scalped and women and young girls were brutally raped before being murdered. The massacre was covered up for a year before the American press got a hold of the story. This further divided the nation on the war in Vietnam. -
Neil Armstrong Lands on the Moon
America won the space race against the Soviet Union when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the moon. -
Woodstock Music Festival
Woodstock was a three day music festival held at a 600 acre dairy farm where more than 400.000 people attended. -
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District
This case outlined freedom of speech for students in America's public schools after several students began to wear black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam War. -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Created
The EPA is independent of the U.S. government and was established to protect the environment and monitor pollution. -
The Pentagon Papers are Leaked
The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret study of American involvement in Vietnam spanning the years 1945 to 1967. In the height of anti-war sentiments, a military analyst, Daniel Ellsberg, leaked his photocopies of the reports to the New York Times. Ellsberg believed that the American public should have access to what the government was trying to cover up. -
The 26th Amendment is Passed
The 26th Amendment changed the legal voting age from 21 to 18. -
The Paris Peace Accords are Signed
After 20 years of fighting in Vietnam, the Paris Peace Accords brought an end to the Vietnam War and peace to the country. -
The War Powers Resolution is Enacted
This resolution was enacted to limit the power of the president during times of war; the president cannot enter an armed conflict without consent from Congress. It was passed to limit the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
