-
Vietnam War
During the Cold War, in the years 1954-1975, there was a civil war between communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam. In order to uphold the policy of containment of communism, the US sent soldiers to Vietnam and participated in the brutal Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was an immense struggle as the US failed to win the war and suffered many losses.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IcmLkuhG0] -
Alabama Governor advocates Segregation
After Brown v. Board of Education stated that segregation of schools was separate and unequal, the process of desegregation began. However, in Southern states desegregation was a slow process. Alabama Governor, George Wallace, was one of the reasons as he denied the African Americans, Vivian Malone and James Hood, enrollment in the University of Alabama until he yielded and allowed black students to go to the school.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkXxczF49U] -
Assassination of JFK
On this day, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. The assassination was untimely as it made it so JFK was unable to finish pushing his political agenda for the US. -
Counterculture Movement
The Counterculture movement lasted until 1974 and involved hippies, rock'n'roll, homosexuals, etc. In the Counterculture movement, young youths abandoned the traditional American values for new things such as being hippies, listening to rock'n'roll,etc. These youths composed the New Left that advocated for radical changes in society.
[http://www.ushistory.org/us/57.asp] -
Vietnam War Protests
From 1965 to 1972, many citizens, specifically people from the New Left, gathered around and protested the Vietnam War in a big social movement. People opposed the war because they believed soldiers were dying, it wasn't a winnable war, and the fact that there was no clear, legitimate reason for fighting in it. Protesters gathered all over the country to protest and especially in Washington, DC, the area that people were protesting in Forest Gump.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3slnPIh_oU] -
Creation of Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was an organization that was created to advocate for rights and political power for African Americans as a part of the Black Power Movement. This movement was more radical than the civil rights movement as the blacks involved in this movement used more violent tactics and stressed more political power for blacks. The movement also used strong speeches and militant posture to protest throughout the years it existed.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNBPewOfL7o] -
Assassination of Robert Kennedy
After Robert Kennedy won the California presidential primary and gives a speech at the Ambassador Hotel, he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan several times. It was similar to JFK's assassination in that it was very unfortunate. Robert Kennedy had an agenda of focusing on the civil rights movement and uniting the people. -
US Moon Landing
During the Cold War, the US and the USSR competed in a Space Race where they competed to make advancements to technology to get astronauts into space. After the USSR got into space first, the US worked very hard and finally, in 1969, was able to send a man to the moon on the Apollo spacecraft.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6A72ufn3l4] -
Outbreak of AIDS
Starting in the 1970s and becoming very strong in the early 1980s, there was an outbreak of AIDS in American society. The effect of the disease was not known at the time and it was deemed a result of unjust behavior so the Reagan administration ignored the issue. About 32,000 people died over the course of 7 years due to AIDS.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LKJ5ZzzL0w] -
Watergate Scandal
It was a scandal from the Nixon administration where Nixon hired some "plumbers" to investigate a private meeting in the Democratic Headquarters at Watergate Hotel. They were caught and arrested and it also led to the investigation of other scandalous behaviors from the Nixon administration. Nixon was forced to resign for his actions with Watergate and the Pentagon Papers and all citizens lost trust in government.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHnmriyXYeg] -
Hurricane Carmen
Hurricane Carmen was an extremely powerful hurricane that formed near Africa and moved over to the United States. Hurricane Carmen had a great impact on the United States as it caused $162 million in damage. -
Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan
After Reagan and a couple of others left the Washington Hilton Hotel, he was shot by John Hinckley Jr that wounded him severely. He was not killed by the bullet, which allowed him to recuperate and continue his presidency. His approval ratings were around 73% after the shooting and he was able to continue pushing is policies of Reaganomics and others.
