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Major world events of the 1960s
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French test nuclear bomb in the Sahara
The French begin testing nuclear weapons in the Sahara desert, particularly in Algeria. The continue tests until 1966, even though Algeria becomes independant from France in 1962. -
The Rome Olympic Games
The Olympics are held in Rome. Australia wins 8 gold medals, most in swimming. -
'The Flinstones' first episode
'The Flinstones' is first broadcast on American TV channel ABC -
'Sprite' is invented
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Berlin Wall goes up
Over night between 12th and 13th of August soviet soldiers construct a fence dividing the west and east halves of Berlin. Later it becomes two walls with a 'death strip' in the middle and comes to be symbolic of the 'Iron Curtain' - the barrie between the West and the Soviet states of Europe. This is the catalyst for the Cold War. -
"Women strike for peace"
Strikes and marches are organised all over the USA, with women protesting the use of atomic bombs and bomb testing. -
Australia enters the Vietnam War
Australian War Memorial
The first platoon of Australian soldiers arrives in Vietnam. The Australian armed forces are not withdrawn from Vietnam until 1973 -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe is found dead in her apartment, probably from an overdose -
First James Bond film 'Dr No'
The first James Bond film is released in England, starring Sean Connery, Ursula Andress as the 'Bond girl' and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
US airforce planes take photos of Soviet missiles being installed in Cuba. There is world-wide panic for two weeks that this may lead to a nuclear World War Three. However President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev eventually came to an agreement and Russia removed their missiles. -
'To Kill a Mockingbird' film released
IMDB To Kill A Mockingbird
The film 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is released in the USA. It tells the story of two children growing up in the Southern States, but the 'mockingbird' of the title refers to a black man on trial which becomes a central event in the plot. -
Monk prostests in Vietnam
A Buddihst monk sets him self on fire to protest the war and the treatment of monks by the Vietnames government -
Martin Luther King - "I have a dream"
Marin Luther King delivers his famous "I have a dream" speech at a large civil rights march, the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom". -
President J. F. Kennedy assassinated
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Dr Who first episode
The first episode of Doctor Who is aired on BBC in th UK -
The Beatles tour Australia
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Harlem Race Riots
A 15 year-old African American boy is shot and killed by a policeman, sparking 6 days of riots in Harlem, New York. Other race riots also occur throughout July and August in Philadelphia, Detroit, Rochester, New York, and other US cities. -
Singapore Race Riots
Riots breakout in Singapore between groups of Chinese-Singaporeans and Malay groups. This eventually leads to Singapore seperating from Malasia and becoming the seperate country it is today. -
Tokyo Olympic Games
The first Olymic games to be held in Asia. Australia wins 6 gold medals. South Africa is barrred from competing on the grounds of their apartheid system in governement and sport. -
Australian National Service reintroduced
National Service for the Armed Forces in reintroduced as a means for fighting in the Vietnam War. Dates are drawn by lottery and any males aged 20 born on that day must complete 2 years of service. This lead to numerous protests and demonstrations. -
Rolling Stones tour Australia
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Malcom X assassinated
Controvesial civil rights activist Malcom X is shot in New York. He was very outspoken in his struggle to overcome racism and was not against using violence. -
Selma to Montgomery March
Martin Luther King and various other religious and spiritual leaders and about 8000 other cvil rights supporters march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, AL. This took four days of walking down the highway and sleeping in paddocks. -
Anti-War protests across the USA
Protesters march in cities across the USA in response to the increase in the Draft from 3,000 per month to 33,000 per month. Men from rich families were often able to dodge being drafted, but this was not an option for men of the poorer classes. Burning draft papers became common, and an obvious form of protest. -
The first Australian Dollar
The Dollar becomes the official currency of Australia, converting from the Australian Pound. -
"Watts Riots" LA
Hundereds of black teenagers riot with police in Los Angeles, reluting in 25 deaths -
'Conscientious Objector'
William White becomes the first Australian to recieve 'conscientious objector' status, despite earlier being dragged from his home and forced into the army as part of the conscription law. -
China declares nuclear capabilities
China annouces that it has successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb. -
First black American judge
Thurgood Marshall becomes the first black Supreme Court Justice -
Che Guevara captured in Bolivia
Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, is captured in Bolivia by troops acting on the information of a CIA informer, and later executed. Che had helped in the Cuban revolution which had led to the "Missile Crisis". -
Martin Luther King assassinated
Martin Luther King is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee (the home of Elvis!) after giving a speech to a rally for equal pay. -
Riots in Paris
Students in Paris protest agains their government. Protests soon turn into riots with police and strikes throughout France last for weeks. At one point over 20% of the population went on strike, causing the economy of France to almost collapse. -
The Rolling Stones release song called "Street Fighting Man"
The Rolling Stones release a song about black civil rights in America. -
Mexico City Olympic Games
The Olympics are held in Mexico City. Australia wins 5 gold medals. Two African American sprinters, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, give the "black power" salute in support of civil rights when they accept their Gold and Bronze medals for the 200m event.
Australian Peter Norman won the silver and supported them by also wearing a Human Rights badge and also suggested to them that they wear the black gloves onto the podium. -
Moon Landing
Apollo 11 lands on the moon. Neil Armstrong is the first man to walk on the moon.
