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McCarthy's Speech
McCarthy proclaimed that he was aware of 205 card-carrying members of the Communist Party who worked for the United States Department of State. -
Korean War Begins
Armed forces from communist North Korea smash into South Korea, setting off the Korean War. US fought a bloody war to defend the South. -
President Truman Makes First Television Broadcast
The speech focused on Truman's acceptance of a treaty that officially ended America's post-World War II occupation of Japan. -
Queen Elizabeth Became Queen
King George VI died in his sleep on February 6, 1952 at age 56. Upon his death, his oldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, became queen. Elizabeth was 25 years old. -
ANZUS Treaty
Signed by Australia, New Zealand and the United States, the ANZUS treaty recognised that an armed attack in the Pacific area on one member endangered the peace and safety of the others. -
The Great Smog of 1952
A severe air-pollution event that affected London. A period of cold weather, combined with an anticyclone and windless conditions, collected airborne pollutants mostly from the use of coal to form a thick layer of smog over the city. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
To the great relief of many, he died of a massive heart attack on March 5, 1953. He is remembered to this day as the man who helped save his nation from Nazi domination. -
Cuban Revolution Began
The revolution began in July 1953, and finally ousted Batista on 1 January 1959, replacing his government with a revolutionary socialist state. -
The Geneva Conference
Nations met to determine how the French could peacefully withdraw. The agreement that came out of the conference stipulated a cease fire for the peaceful withdrawal of French forces. -
Segregation Ruled Illegal in U.S.
The Supreme Court overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision by ruling that segregation was "inherently unequal." -
Warsaw Pact is Formed.
The Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites sign a treaty establishing a mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states. -
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat.
Because she sat down and refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, Rosa Parks was arressted. -
"In God we Trust" Official Motto
"In God we trust" was adopted as the official motto of the United States as an alternative or replacement to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum, which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created. -
Sputnik 1 Launches
The Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. -
First Living Animal to Enter Orbit
The Soviets launched their second satellite (Sputnik 2) with a living animal on board. Laika lived through the launch, but died in space since no return plan had been created for her. -
NASA Founded
President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with a orientation encouraging peaceful applications in space science. -
Castro Becomes Dictator of Cuba
On January 1, 1959, Batista admitted defeat and left the country. Castro succeeded in taking power of the new Cuban government by July 1959. -
Greensboro "Sit-ins"
While not the first sit-ins of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, the Greensboro sit-ins were an instrumental action, leading to increased national sentiment at a crucial period in US history. -
Peace Corps Founded
Issued by President John F. Kennedy, To promote world peace and friendship. -
First Man in Space
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A failed military invasion of Cuba undertaken by the CIA-sponsored paramilitary group Brigade 2506. -
Berlin Wall Built
Two days after sealing off free passage between East and West Berlin with barbed wire, East German authorities begin building a wall to permanently close off access to the West. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the Soviet Union and Cuba on one side and the United States on the other side. -
"I Have a Dream"
"I Have a Dream" is a public speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. in which he calls for an end to racism in the United States. -
Assassination of JFK
Kennedy was fatally shot by a sniper while traveling with his wife Jacqueline. The 35th President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m on Friday, November 22, 1963. The President had been killed as the result of a conspiracy. -
Civil Rights Act
Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public. -
Malcolm X Assassinated
Former Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X was shot and killed by assassins identified as Black Muslims. -
Voting Rights Act
s a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits discrimination in voting. Was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement. -
Northeast Blackout
Over 30 million people and 80,000 square miles (207,000 km2) were left without electricity for up to 13 hours. -
Black Panther Party Founded
The Panthers condemned black nationalism as "black racism" and became more ideologically focused on socialist revolution without racial exclusivity. -
Six Day War
Fought by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The Israelis defended the war as a preventative military effort to counter what the Israelis saw as an impending attack by Arab nations that surrounded Israel. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination
He was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray. The King family and others believe that the assassination was carried out by a conspiracy involving the US government, and that James Earl Ray was a scapegoat. -
Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Kennedy was shot as he walked through the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel and died in the Good Samaritan Hospital twenty-six hours later. After winning the California and South Dakota primary elections for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. -
First Known AIDS Death
16 year old boy Robert Rayford had the first confirmed case of AIDS in the United States. -
First Man on The Moon
Astronaut Neil Armstrong opened the hatch of the lunar module and stepped out onto the ladder. Once at the bottom of the ladder, Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon and became the very first man on the moon. -
Abortion Legal in U.S
Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, made abortion legal and marked an important turning point in public health policy. -
Assassination Attempt on Reagan
69 days into his presidency, While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr. -
Assassination Attempt on Pope
The Pope was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck four times, and suffered severe blood loss. -
Operation Desert Storm
A war waged by coalition forces from 34 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait. -
Collapse of Soviet Union
Acknowledging the independence of the twelve republics of the Soviet Union, and creating the Commonwealth of Independent States.
