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First Televised Debate
The first Televised debate was held between John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon on September 26th 1960. With the nation watching, Richord Nizon seemed very nervous and unsettled, where Kennedy stood tall and proud. This debate seemingly changed the way people saw Kennedy drastrically in his favor. He was successful in the debate and later on in the election. -
Kennedy Takes Office
John F Kennedy was sworn into office of January 21st. He then gave his famous speech--"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Kennedy had a large impact on the push for ending discrimination of all sorts. Either racial, voting, or gender discrimination, he pushed for equality. During Kennedy’s time in office, he appointed black people to many federal positions. No other president had done that in the past. -
Soviet Launch First Man in Space
On April 12th 1961 The Soviet Union launched the first man in Space. Yuri Gagarin's mission would launch the United States and Soviet Union into a the Cold War's Space Race. This also prompetd President Kennedy in challenging the United States to, "commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion started on April 17th 1960 and was an unsuccessful action by a CIA trained forcesof Cuban exiles to attack and invade Cuba. Support from the US government, would back them in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. This attempt to end Castro's communist regime was failed and would strengthen the tension between Communist Countries and the United States. -
United Farm Workers
THE UFWA is the result of two working groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (led by Larry Itliong) and the National Farm Workers Association led by Cesar Chavez. The organization originally created for workers’ rights (to receive unemployment insurance), but changed to an actual union of farm workers. The final merge between these two groups was during August 22, 1966. The UFW launched a boycott of table grapes, and finally won a contract with major grape growers in California -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis took place during October and November in 1962. This was a confronation between the US, Cuba, and Soviet Union. The Soviets began arming missile bases a month earlier in Cuba that had the capability of reach the United States. The United States in turn showed their hand in setting up nuclear missiles throughout Europe with the capability of reaching Moscow. The standoff lasted officially until November 20th when both sides decided to withdrawal all of their weapons. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
Gideon v. Wainwright was a United States Supreme Court case that granted all defendents in court a lawyer or counsil if they can not afford one. This was decided based off of the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution. -
I Have a Dream
On August 28th 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. gave the most memorable speech to date. Standing proudly on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial MLK defined the American Civil Rights movement and made America realize the necessity of equality and respect for all races. As a leader of the March on Washington, King delivered his speech to over 200,000 supporters. -
John F Kennedy Assassination
President John F Kennedy was assasinated on November 22nd 1963. Lee Harved Oswald was convicted of killing JFK. This assassination had a large impact on America. Besides the immediate fact of our President being assassinated, lasting effects were made. Kennedy strengthened the United States and made equality of utmost importance. The Assassination also brought an unsettling feeling in which many distrusted the government due to conspiracies. Lyndon B Johnson would take Kennedy's spot in office. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of the most important acts to be passed. It outlawed major areas of discrimination against blacks and women. It ended inequality in voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at work, and by facilities that were open to the general public. Although a huge step in strengthening America, many did not take kindly to the new act. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches/Bloody Sunday
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches that dictated the peak of the civil rights movement. These marches happened because of voting rights/white resistance in Selma, Alabama. In 1963, African-Americans from the Dallas County Voters league started voter-registration work, but white people resisted this register, so the DCVL called for Martin Luther King Jr.’s help. The first march was on March 7, 1965, which is referred to as “Bloody Sunday” (because 600 civil rights activists wer -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 finally changed the way immigrants were treated. This act got rid of the quota system that was passed in 1924 that limited the amount of immigrants rom certain countries. European coutries were favored, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 overturned this. Immigration was open to all immigrants now, which opened many new opportunities for struggling immigrants. -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act outlawed discriminatory voting practices. This act was similar to the 15th amendment, because the Act prohibited states from imposing any voting qualification or procedure based on gender, race or color. This act outlawed literacy tests as a prequalifying factor, in order to vote. This act was passed under Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Watts Riots of 1965
The Watts Riots of 1965 was a large riot that lasted 6 days in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in August. By the time the riots ended 34 people had been killed, 1,032 injured, and 3,438 arrested. These riots were ignited by the police brutality of the LAPD and racial discrimination. African Americans were denied housing and job opportunities on a normal basis. This propelled more civil rights movements. -
NOW Is Founded
The National Organization for Women was founded on June 30, 1966. It is the largest feminist organization in the United States and was started in Washington, D.C., by 28 women and men attending the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women. The only unfortunate aspect was that the 1966 Conference delegates were prohibited by the administration’s rules for the conference from passing resolutions recommending that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforce a leg -
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland, California, by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton. It was an African-American organization that aimed for “Black Power” and anti-racism. The group originally made a doctrine that called for the protection of African American neighborhoods from police brutality. The Black Panther party was also known for its “Free Breakfast for Children” and was later deemed racist, so the group began to focus on rights for all minorities. In 1967, the organization -
The Detriot Riots
The Detroit Riots, or the 12th street riot, was a civil disturbance that began on Sunday July 23, 1967. A police raid of an unlicensed bar lead to confrontations with patrons and observers. This riot became one of the deadliest riots in history, spanning over the course of five days. Governor George Romney ordered the Michigan National Guard into Detriot. President Lyndon B. Johnson also sent in army troops. The death toll 43, injured was 467, and there were 7,200 arrests, and 2,000 buildin -
The American Indian Movement
The AIM was founded in 1968 by: Dennis Banks, George Mitchell, and other people from a Native American community in Minneapolis, to attack problems in cities, where 300,000 Indians lived. The organization sought to help Native Americans deal with poverty, housing, treaty issues, establish "survival schools," and protect Indians from police attacks. -
MLK is Assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr. a civil rights movement leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 39. On June 10th, 1968, James Earl Ray was arrested in London, and extradited to the U.S.A. Ray was guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee state penitentiary. Two months later, Robert Kennedy was assissinated. -
First African American Woman in Congress
On November 5, 1968, Shirley Chisholm was elected America's first African American woman to Congress. -
Nixon is Elected as President
On November 5, 1968 former Vice President Richard Nixon was elected President. He was a republican and won over the Democratic nominee, Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Nixon promised to restore “law and order.” The Election of 1968 disrupted the “New Deal Coalition” that was present in politics for 36 years. Nixon had 301 electoral votes, while Humphrey only had 191. -
Man on the Moon
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin Jr. on the moon. Apollo 11 was launched from Florida on July 16th and landed on July 20th, on July 21st, they were the first humans to walk the moon. Their landing craft, called Eagle, was on the surface of the moon for 21 hours and 31 minutes. The Astronauts landed on the Pacific Ocean on July 24th. This event is significant because John F. Kennedy wanted to win the “Space Race” and beat the Soviets. -
Woodstock Festival
The Woodstock Music Festival was labeled “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace and Music.” The festival took place In Bethel, New York, and was three days long. Thirty two acts preformed outdoors for 500,000 people. This was one of the greatest moments in rock and roll history.
