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Period: to
Events between 1950-1990
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SENATOR JOSEPH MCCARTHY, MCCARTHYISM
McCarthy agreed and took advantage of the nation’s wave of fanatic terror against communism. It emerged on February 9, 1950, claiming he had a list of 205 people in the State Department who were known members of the American Communist Party -
Korean War
On June 25, 1950 was a war between South Korea supported by the U.S and North Korea which at one time was supported by China and the Soviet Union. It was primarily the result of the political division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II. -
Color TV
On June 25, 1951, CBS broadcast the very first commercial color TV program. Although color TV was introduced, the adoption to color TV's was a slow one. -
US explodes first thermonuclear bomb
The first thermonuclear bomb was exploded in 1952 at Enewetak by the United States. The Thermonyclear bomb also known as the (hyrdogen bomb) weapon deriving a large portion of its energy from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes. -
President Eisenhower
Dwight D Eisenhower inaugurated President of United States. Eisenhower was of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry and was raised in a large family in Kansas by parents with a strong religious background. -
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley records a 10 minute demo in Nashville. In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. -
Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson becomes 1st black singer to perform at Met (NYC). During this time period Marian song at the Metropolitan Opera House in Washington D.C. -
Elvis Presley
Elvis records "Heartbreak Hotel" on January 10th 1956. Later on it was released as a hit single on january 27 as his first on his new record label RCA Victor. -
Jackie Roberson (Baseball)
Dodgers' Jackie Robinson retires rather than be traded to NY Giants.Robinson, one of the fiercest competitors to have ever played the game, had no qualms about joining the New York Giants, the Brooklyn Dodgers' most despised rival.The Giants, especially Willie Mays, were ready to welcome Robinson. Mays hoped that he would help him to get off to a fast start in 1957. -
William O'Ree (Hockey)
Willie O'Ree became hockey's version of Jackie Robinson on Jan. 18, 1958, when he made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins. O'Ree played as a winger for the Boston Bruins. -
NASA
NASA names 1st 7 astronauts for Project Mercury. The Mercury Seven were the group of seven Mercury astronauts selected by NASA on April 9, 1959 & are also referred to as the Original Seven or Astronaut Group 1 -
The Vietnam War
It was also known as the American War in Vietnam, Vietnam Conflict, Second Indochina War, War Against the Americans to Save the Nation. -
Missile Gap (PresidentJFK)
JFK makes "missile gap" the presidential campaign issue. The missile gap was the Cold War term used in the US for the perceived superiority of the number and power of the USSR's missiles in comparison with its own. -
Race Riot (University of Georgia)
Until 1961 the Univerist of Georgia was segregated by both state law and social tradition. After a close basketball game that resulted in a loss to Georgia Tech, the atmosphere of the evening of January 11th quickly became charged as a crowd began to gather outside Charlayne Hunter's Myers Hall dormitory window. This increasingly unruly group, eventually numbering over 1000 (including many non-students), shouted racial insults, and tossed firecrackers, bottles and bricks at the dormitory window. -
Wilt Chamberlin (NBA Player)
On March 2, 1962, NBA Legend Wilt Chamberlin scores 100 points in a single game with the Philadelphia Warriors against the New york knicks. He set the NBA single-game scoring record. -
US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
On April 10, 1963 the Government detonated the first nuclear bomb at its new Nevada test site. The bomb was also known as the Manhatten project used for World War II purposes. -
Death of the President
President John F Kennedy was assinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. -
President Lyndon B Johnson declares "War on Poverty"
President Lyndon Johnson implored a fellow Texan. A House Appropriations Committee Chairman George Mahon, for help in passing the economic opportunity bill that would launch Johnson’s War on Poverty. -
Rights activist Malcolm X is shot dead
In March 1964 Malcom X announced his split from the Nation of Islam and its leader Elijah Muhammad and converst to sunni islam focusing on pan african values and less on vilonce. This led to the death of which he was assassinated by three members of the Nation of Islam in New York. -
"Freak Out!" by The Mothers of Invention Is Released
"Freak Out "is the debut album by American experimental rock band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. It was often cited as one of rock musics first concept album. -
Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the US Army
In 1964, Ali failed the U.S. Armed Forces qualifying test because his writing and spelling skills. However, in early 1966, the tests were revised and Ali was reclassified as 1A which meant he was now eligible for the draft and induction into the U.S. Army. When notified of this status, he declared that he would refuse to serve in the United States Army and publicly considered himself a conscientious objector. Ali stated that "War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. -
Super Bowl II - Packers 33, Raiders 14
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Aided by kicker Don Chandler's 4 field goals and defensive back Herb Adderly's 60-yard interception return for a touchdown, the National Football League (NFL) champion Green Bay Packers (9–4–1) defeated the American Football League (AFL) champion Oakland Raiders (13–1), 33–14. -
United States Marine Corps Launches Operation Dewey Canyon
Operation Dewey Canyon was the last major offensive by the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It took place from January 22 through March 18, 1969 and involved a sweep of the North Vietnamese Army dominated A Shau Valley by the 9th Marine Regiment reinforced by elements of the 3rd Marine Regiment. -
Super Bowl IV - Chiefs 23, Vikings 7
The AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs (11-3) defeated the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings (12-2), 23–7. The Vikings were 13-point favorites coming into the game, the Chiefs defense dominated the game by limiting the Minnesota offense to only 67 rushing yards, forcing 3 interceptions, and recovering 2 fumbles. -
Elvis Presley releases Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)
Recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, it reached #12 on the Billboard 200 eventually going gold with sales of over 500,000 copies. It peaked at #6 in the United Kingdom, selling over one million copies worldwide. -
Aretha Franklin Releases "Young, Gifted and Black"
Young, Gifted and Black is a soul album by Aretha Franklin, released in 1972. It had also won a grammy award for best female R&B Vocal Performance. -
Super Bowl VII - Dolphins 14, Redskins 7
The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins (17–0) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins (13-4), 14–7. They became the first, and presently the only team in the NFL to complete a perfect, undefeated season. -
George W. Bush is Honorably Discharged from the Air Force Reserve
In late 1972 and early 1973, he drilled with the Alabama Air National Guard, having moved to Montgomery, Alabama to work on the unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Winton M. Blount. In October 1973, Bush was discharged from the Texas Air National Guard and transferred to inactive duty in the Air Force Reserve. -
NASA Launches Mars Probe Viking 1
Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA's Viking program. It was the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars and perform its mission, and held the record for the longest Mars surface mission of 6 years and 116 days. -
Tommy Bolin dies of a drug overdose
Bolin died of a drug overdose on December 4, 1976, in Miami, Florida. His final show, in which he opened for Jeff Beck on December 3, 1976, encored with a rendition of "Post Toastee." -
Jimmy Carter is inaugurated as the 39th president of the United States
The Democrats reclaimed the White House in the 1976 election. He was the Governor from Georgia that defeated Gerald Ford and who had become President on August 9, 1974, upon the resignation of President Nixon. -
Muhammad Ali loses heavyweight title to Leon Spinks
Spinks was ranked number 1 among the worlds heavy weight boxers. He beat Muhammad Ali in a 15-round decision in Las Vegas and had the fastest ascent in history. -
George H.W. Bush Announces his Candidacy for President of the United States
Bush had decided in the late 1970s that he was going to run for president in 1980. In 1979, he attended 850 political events and traveled more than 250,000 miles to campaign for the nation's highest office. -
USA defeats USSR in Olympics
"Miracle on Ice" is the nickname given to a February 22 medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. The team was full of amateur and collegiate players from the United States, led by coach Herb Brooks, defeated the Soviet Union team, who were considered to be the best international hockey team in the world. -
Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th president of the United States
For the first time, an inauguration ceremony was held on the terrace of the West Front of the Capitol. In the election of 1980, the Republicans won the White House and a majority in the Senate. -
HIV/Aids
n June 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publish a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), describing cases of a rare lung infection. All the men have other unusual infections as well, indicating that their immune systems are not working; two have already died by the time the report is published -
Larry Bird is Named MVP of the All-Star Game
Larry Bird was named MVP of the All-Star Game for the only time in 12 appearances. He Scored 19 points, with 12 rebounds and five assists in the Eastern Conference's 120-118 win. -
Michael Jackson popularizes the moonwalk
Micheal Jackson also known as the "King Of Pop" executed the dance during his performance of his song "Billie Jean" on the March 25, 1983. The moonwalk has since become one of the best known dance techniques in the world. -
Apple Macintosh Introduced
In 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh. Its debut was announced by the now famous $1.5 million television commercial '1984'. Directed by Ridley Scott it is now considered a watershed event for Apple's success and a "masterpiece". -
Michael Jordan Wins Rookie of the Year
ordan burst into the big time with a fabulous first season, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1984-85. He averaged 28.2 points per game. -
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States, at 11:38 a.m. EST -
Magic Johnson Named League MVP
Magic Johnson averaged a double-double in the 1985–86 NBA season, with 18.8 points, 12.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. Johnson hit a last-second hook shot over Celtics big men Parish and Kevin McHale to win the game 107–106 against the celtics in game 4. -
1988 NBA Finals - Lakers Defeat Pistons
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons four games to three in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1987-88 season. It was known as the second consecutive championship for the Lakers, and the fifth in nine seasons. -
George H.W. Bush is inaugurated as the 41st president of the United States
George Bush took the executive oath on the same Bible George Washington used in 1789. The ceremony took place on a platform on the terrace of the West Front of the Capitol. -
ower Ohio Valley Tornado Outbreak of June 1990
The June 1990 Lower Ohio Valley tornado outbreak was a tornado outbreak that occurred in southern Illinois, central and southern Indiana, southwestern Ohio, and northern Kentucky on Saturday June 2 and Sunday June 3, 1990. By the end of the outbreak during the early morning hours on June 3, 66 tornadoes had struck the Ohio River Valley including seven of F4 intensity. One F4 tornado trekked 94 miles from southeastern Illinois into southern Indiana killing one person.
