-
Period: to
Presidency of Harry S. Truman
Truman served as the 33rd president of the United States. During his presidency, he ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulting in Japanese surrender. -
The End of WWII
The war ended aboard the U.S battleship Missouri that was anchored in Tokyo Bay. Japan formally surrendered after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which ultimately ended the war. -
Vietnam Declares Independence
On September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Viet Minh independence movement, declared the independence of Vietnam from France. This declaration followed the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II. -
Truman Doctrine was Created
The Truman Doctrine was created in order to stop Soviet expansion. It stated that the United States would provide political, military, and economic assistance to democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. -
Period: to
The Cold War
The Cold War was a decades long struggle for supremacy. There was no fighting done during this time period. -
Marshall Plan was Created
The Plan was enacted to provide foreign aid to Western Europe. The United States spent about $14 billion which is about $150 billion in today's money. -
Period: to
The Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift happened in response to the Soviets blocking railway, road, and canal access into sections of Berlin under Ally control. In this time period, the United States airlifted many supplies to the citizens in the city. -
NATO was Created
NATO was created to secure peace in Europe. There were 12 countries that founded NATO but over time, 18 more countries joined. -
Period: to
The Korean War
The Korean War was fought between North and South Korea over a dispute regarding their border. The United States fought on the South side to fight against the communists of the North. -
Period: to
Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower was the 34th president who took over for Truman. One of his greatest accomplishments as president was creating the Interstate Highway System. -
Period: to
Warren Court
The Warren Court was a period in the history of the United States Supreme Court during which Chief Justice Earl Warren presided over the Court. The Warren Court was known for its progressive and liberal rulings that had a significant impact on American society and politics. -
The 1954 Geneva Accords Signed
The 1954 Geneva Accords were a set of agreements signed in hopes of ending the first Indochina War. Despite their intentions, they failed to bring lasting peace to Vietnam, as the division of the country led to a protracted and bloody conflict between North and South Vietnam, which ultimately escalated into the Vietnam War. -
Brown V. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a U.S. Supreme Court case that came to the conclusion that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and marked the beginning of the end of legal segregation in the United States. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a conflict that took place in Southeast Asia between the communist government of North Vietnam, which was supported by the Soviet Union and China, and the government of South Vietnam, which was supported by the United States and its allies. The War was characterized by guerilla warfare and a lack of a clear front line, making it a difficult conflict to fight. -
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat
Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white passenger when asked. Parks was arrested and charged with violating Montgomery's segregation laws which sparked a boycott of the city's buses by the black community that lasted over a year. -
Period: to
Counterculture Movement
The movement was characterized by a rejection of mainstream values including consumerism, materialism, and conformity, and a search for alternative lifestyles and beliefs. It was associated with the rise of hippie subculture, which embraced communal living, environmentalism, and Eastern spirituality. -
Period: to
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt by the United States to overthrow the government of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1961.The failed invasion was a significant embarrassment for the U.S. government and led to a deterioration in relations between the United States and Cuba. -
The Building of the Berlin Wall
The building of the Berlin Wall was a response by the Soviet-backed government of East Germany to the increasing number of East Germans who were fleeing to West Germany. The wall was constructed to prevent the escape of East Germans to the West and to halt the flow of refugees from East Germany. -
Period: to
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a political and military confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. The crisis began when American U-2 spy planes detected Soviet missile installations in Cuba, which were capable of launching nuclear strikes against the United States. -
The Limited Test Ban Theory
The Limited Test Ban Theory was signed in 1963 by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The treaty banned all nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, in outer space, and underwater. -
Period: to
Johnson's Presidency
Lyndon B. Johnson served as the 36th President of the United States following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. During his presidency, Johnson pursued an ambitious domestic policy agenda known as the Great Society, which aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice in the United States. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and is considered one of the most significant civil rights achievements in American history. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was a joint resolution of the United States Congress that authorized U.S. military intervention in Vietnam and gave President Johnson broad powers to take any necessary measures to prevent further aggression by North Vietnam. The resolution remains a significant moment in the history of the Vietnam War and is an example of the dangers of unchecked presidential power and the need for congressional oversight and accountability in matters of war and national security. -
Period: to
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a series of coordinated surprise attacks launched by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army against South Vietnam and its allies. This was known as a turning point and ultimately contributed to the United States' decision to negotiate an end to the war, and American forces began withdrawing from Vietnam shortly after the offensive. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a mass killing of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, primarily women, children, and elderly individuals, by U.S. Army soldiers during the Vietnam War. The massacre occurred in the village of My Lai in South Vietnam, and it is considered one of the darkest and most shameful moments in U.S. military history. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike when he was fatally shot by James Earl Ray. The assassination of King shocked the nation and led to widespread protests and unrest in many cities across the United States. -
Robert Kennedy Assassination
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy occurred in Los Angeles, California, just after he had won the California Democratic presidential primary. His assassination marked a turning point in American politics and further fueled the growing sense of unrest and division that had been building throughout the 1960s. -
Period: to
Presidency of Richard Nixon
Nixon was the 37th president of the United States. He is remembered for his significant achievements in foreign policy, including the establishment of diplomatic relations with China and the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty with the Soviet Union. -
Period: to
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the LGBT community in response to a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York City. The riots led to significant advancements in LGBTQ+ rights, including the decriminalization of homosexuality and the establishment of organizations dedicated to fighting for equality and acceptance. -
The First Man on the Moon
The first moon landing took place on July 20, 1969, when the Apollo 11 mission, commanded by Neil Armstrong, landed on the surface of the moon. The Apollo 11 mission represented the culmination of years of effort by NASA and the thousands of scientists, engineers, and support personnel who worked on the program. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for all people regardless of their sex. The amendment was first introduced in 1923 by suffragist Alice Paul, and it sought to eliminate legal distinctions based on gender. -
Roe V. Wade
Roe v. Wade is a United States Supreme Court case that ruled that the Texas law that prohibited abortions was unconstitutional and that women had a constitutional right to have an abortion. The issue of abortion remains a highly contentious issue in American politics, with ongoing debates and legal challenges surrounding issues such as access to abortion, funding for abortion services, and restrictions on abortion rights. -
Period: to
Presidency of Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford was the 38th president of the United States. He became President following the resignation of president Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. -
Period: to
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States. He was a Democrat, and his presidency was marked by a number of significant domestic and international issues. -
Period: to
Presidency of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States and served two terms. His presidency was marked by a number of significant events and accomplishments, as well as some controversies. -
The Tearing Down of the Berlin Wall
The tearing down of the Berlin Wall began following a series of events that led to the collapse of communist governments throughout Eastern Europe. The movement for change had been growing in East Germany for several months, with mass protests and demonstrations taking place in Leipzig and other cities. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various aspects of public life, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunications. The law requires employers, businesses, and other entities to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to enable them to participate fully in public life. -
The Soviet Union Disbanded
The collapse of the Soviet Union had far-reaching consequences, including the end of the Cold War and the emergence of new nations in the former Soviet bloc. It also marked a significant turning point in world history and the beginning of a new era of global politics.