-
Period: to
Presidency of Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. He is best known for his decision to use atomic bombs against Japan to end World War II and for his role in the early years of the Cold War, including the implementation of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. -
The End of WWII
The end of World War II marked the defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, with the Allies coming out as victorious powers. The war also resulted in significant political shifts, including the superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Vietnam Declares independence
Vietnam declared its independence from France on September 2, 1945. This declaration, however, was not recognized by France or other Western powers, leading to a decades-long struggle for Vietnamese. -
The Truman Doctrine was created
The Truman Doctrine was created in 1947 as a U.S. foreign policy aimed at containing Soviet expansion during the Cold War by providing economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism. It was a key moment in U.S. foreign policy, setting the tone for America's future. -
Period: to
The Cold War
The Cold War was a period of great tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, It lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was called the cold war because the US and the Soviet Union never actually declared war on each other. -
The Marshall Plan was created
The Marshall Plan was created in 1948 as a U.S. initiative to help rebuild Western Europe after the devastation of World War II. It provided economic assistance to 16 countries, revived their economies, and helped with the post-war recovery of Europe. -
Period: to
The Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was a human operation carried out by the United States and other allies to provide goods to the people of West Berlin during a blockade of the city from 1948 to 1949. The airlift helped to defend the freedom and security of their allies, and it ultimately succeeded in forcing the Soviet Union to end the blockade. -
NATO was created
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949 as a military alliance between the United States, Canada, and several European countries aimed at providing collective defense against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It remains a key military alliance today, with a membership of 30 North American and European countries. -
Period: to
The Korean War
The Korean War was a conflict that took place from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea, backed by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by the United States and the UN forces. The war began with a surprise invasion of South Korea by North Korea and ended with a ceasefire that resulted in a divided Korea that still exists today. -
Period: to
Warren Court
The Warren Court refers to the period between 1953 and 1969 when Earl Warren served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The court was known for its progressive decisions in areas such as civil rights, criminal justice, and individual liberties. -
Period: to
Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. He is known for his leadership during World War II as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe his efforts to promote peace and stability during the Cold War. -
The 1954 Geneva Accords signed
The 1954 Geneva Accords were a set of agreements signed between the United States, France, the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, aimed at resolving the conflict in Indochina following the First Indochina War. The Accords led to a temporary ceasefire and the division of Vietnam into two parts, but ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of the Vietnam War. -
Brown V. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954, which declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that had allowed racial segregation in public facilities, and marked a turning point in the civil rights movement. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a conflict that lasted from 1955 to 1975 between the communist government of North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam, which was supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies. The war resulted in millions of deaths and change in the American foreign policies. -
Rosa Parks refuses her seat
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus, sparking a 381-day boycott of the city's bus system. The boycott marked a pivotal moment in the U.S. civil rights movement and led to the eventual desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery. -
Period: to
Bay of pigs invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt by the United States to overthrow the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro in 1961, by arming and training Cuban exiles to launch a military invasion of the island. The invasion was an embarrassment for the US, as it failed to achieve its objectives and resulted in the capture of over a thousand Cuban exiles. -
The building of the Berlin Wall
The building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 was a significant event in the Cold War, as it physically divided the city of Berlin between East and West, and became a symbol of the broader divide between the Soviet Union and Western democracies. The wall remained in place for nearly three decades, until it was finally torn down in 1989, marking the end of the Cold War. -
Period: to
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense political and military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union in October 1962, over the placement of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. The crisis ended after a diplomatic agreement was reached between the two countries, in which the US agreed not to invade Cuba and the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles. -
The Limited Test Ban Theory
The Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed in 1963 between the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom, banning all nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater. The treaty was a significant step towards reducing nuclear tensions during the Cold War and promoting arms control. -
Period: to
Johnson's Presidency
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. His presidency was marked by significant achievements, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the establishment of Medicare but the escalation of the Vietnam War caused him not to run for re-election. -
Civil Rights act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public places, employment, and education. The act also authorized the federal government to enforce desegregation and other measures to ensure equal opportunity and protect civil rights for all Americans. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was a joint resolution passed by the U.S. Congress in 1964, in response to the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to take any necessary measures to prevent further aggression in Vietnam. The resolution paved the way for U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War, but its legality and the accuracy of the events have been widely debated. -
Period: to
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a series of surprise attacks launched by the North Vietnamese forces against the South Vietnamese in January 1968. Although the offensive was eventually stopped by U.S. and South Vietnamese forces, it was a significant psychological victory for the North Vietnamese. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a mass killing of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians, mostly women, children, and elderly, carried out by U.S. Army soldiers in March 1968 during the Vietnam War. The massacre became a turning point in the public perception of the war and led to widespread condemnation and protest against the U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray. King's death sparked widespread outrage and led to a wave of protests and riots in more than 100 cities across the United States, bringing issues of racial injustice to the forefront of American society. -
Robert Kennedy assassination
Robert F. Kennedy, a U.S. Senator and brother of President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, while campaigning for the Democratic nomination for president. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant, was arrested and convicted for the assassination, which was motivated by Kennedy's support for Israel. -
Period: to
Counterculture Movement
The counterculture movement was a social and cultural event that surfaced in the United States during the 1960s. It was defined by a rejection of pretty much all mainstream values. -
Period: to
Presidency of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. His presidency was marked by several significant events, including the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and his eventual resignation from office. -
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall Riots were a series of spontaneous demonstrations and violent clashes between police and LGBTQ+ activists that occurred in June 1969 a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. The riots are widely considered a critical moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, inspiring the first Gay Pride Parades in several cities across the United States. -
Period: to
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots were a series of spontaneous demonstrations and violent clashes between police and LGBTQ+ activists that occurred in June 1969 a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. The riots are widely considered a critical moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, inspiring the first Gay Pride Parades in several cities across the United States. -
The First man on the Moon
The first man on the moon was American astronaut Neil Armstrong, who landed on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission. This historic achievement was a major milestone in space exploration and marked a moment of national pride for the United States. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that aimed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. First introduced in Congress in 1923, the ERA was finally passed by both houses of Congress in 1972 but ultimately fell short of ratification by the required number of states. -
Roe V. Wade
Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973, which ruled that the Constitution protects a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, without excessive government restriction. The decision remains controversial, and has been challenged and limited in various ways by subsequent court decisions and state laws. -
Period: to
Presidency of Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States in 1974, after the resignation of Richard Nixon. His presidency was marked by efforts to heal the country following the Watergate scandal, as well as economic challenges and foreign policy issues such as the end of the Vietnam War and relations with the Soviet Union. -
Period: to
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. His presidency was characterized by efforts to promote human rights and advance peace in the Middle East, but was also marked by economic challenges. -
Period: to
Presidency of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. His presidency was marked by a conservative agenda that included tax cuts, deregulation, and a strong anti-communist stance, as well as significant foreign policy developments such as the end of the Cold War. -
The tearing down of the Berlin wall
The tearing down of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a significant event that marked the end of the Cold War and symbolized the reunification of Germany. The fall of the wall was a peaceful and celebratory event that was watched by people around the world. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. The act has had a profound impact on American society, expanding opportunities and access for millions of Americans with disabilities, and inspiring similar laws around the world. -
The Soviet Union disbanded
The Soviet Union disbanded in December 1991, marking the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era in world politics. The dissolution of the Soviet Union had significant implications for the balance of power in the world and the political and economic systems of many countries.