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Cold War
The COld War was between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. The Cold War was named so because the two major powers—each possessing nuclear weapons and thereby threatened with mutual assured destruction—never met in direct military combat. -
Russia and the Race for Space
The Soviet Union launched the "Sputnik" satellite into outer space. It was the world's first artificial satellite and the first man-made object to be placed into the Earth's orbit. Sputnik's launch came as a surprise, and not a pleasant one, to most Americans. In the United States, space was seen as the next frontier, a logical extension of the grand American tradition of exploration, and it was crucial not to lose too much ground to the Soviets. -
America and the Race for Space
The United States launched their "Explorer I" satellite. It was designed by the U.S. Army under the direction of rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. -
Re-Election
JFK wins re-election to the Senate by a comfortable margin -
Presidential Election
In the general election on November 8, 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy defeated the Republican Vice President Richard M. Nixon in an extremely close race. Kennedy was the first Catholic, and the youngest man, elected President. -
Bay of Pigs
Less than three months into JFK's presidency, a group of CIA-trained Cuban exiles challenges to conquer Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The Cuban army rapidly ruins their struggles, and the conquest plan was approved by John F Kennedy; it was foremost shame. The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a disastrous attempt by United States-backed Cuban exiles to defeat the government of the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. -
A. F. P.
U.S.A. and Latin American nations join in the "Alliance for Progress." -
Cuban Missile Crisis
U-2 spy planes discovered that the Soviet Union was building surface-to-air missile launch sites. There was also an escalation in the number of Soviet ships arriving in Cuba. Kennedy protested to the Soviet Union about these changes. He also informed them that the United States would not accept aggressive weapons in Cuba. JFK complained to Khrushchev, the Russian premier. However, Khrushchev debated that he won’t remove his missiles, unless Kennedy removes the US's nuclear missiles in Turkey. -
Civil Rights
In a televised speech to the population, President John F. Kennedy recommends the representation of civil rights legislation. It was his first crucial action on civil rights. President Kennedy outlined is idea on Civil Rights thoroughly. However, Civil Rights was largely treated more as an irritation than as a commendable cause. -
Death
JFK is assassinated while riding through the streets of Dallas, Texas. Lyndon Johnson becomes president
