Historical Events Timeline (1950-1990)
Vietnam War (November 1955)
- Long, costly war between Northern Vietnam (communist) and Vietcong vs South Vietnam and the US
- Much opposition towards the war
- Ended in April 1975 with communist forces taking control
Election of 1960 (Nov. 1960)
- John F. Kennedy vs Richard Nixon
- First to use television (debates and advertizement)
- Kennedy won majority of key states as well as electoral votes
New Frontier (1960)
- Ideas of JFK to renew America
- Strove for equality and opportunity for all
- Examples: Peace corps and Equal Pay Act
The Hippie Movement (1960s)
- Involved social concerns and beliefs
- Opposed Vietnam War
- Promoted an easy-going lifestyle
Integration of Alabama University
( June 1963)
- JFK federalized National Troops to the University to force its desegregation
- Two African Americans successfully enrolled the next day
- Supported by declaration of Brown vs Board of Education
Assassination of JFK (Novemeber 1963)
- Assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas
- Devastating to most Americans
- Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin
The Great Society (1964)
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Goal to eliminate poverty and social injustice
- Issued the War on Poverty
Black Panthers (1966)
- Militant self-defense of minority communities against the US government
- Community based programs
- Political equality across gender and color lines
First Man on the Moon (1969)
- Apollo 11
- Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon
- Put a US flag on the moon
American Ping-Pong Team Travels to China (1971)
- USA table tennis team spent 10 days in China
- Renewed dialogue between the two nations
- First group of Americans in over 20 years
Watergate Scandal (1972)
- Several burglars were arrested in the office of the DNC
- Connected to Nixon's reelection campaign
- Attempted to wiretap phones and steal secret files
Nixon Resigns (1974)
- Engulfed by the the political scandal
- Revealed he was personally involved
- To avoid impeachment Nixon resigned