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SNCC was formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was a team of of students dedicated to the civil rights movement of the time. They protested through sit-ins at segregated restaurants and encouraging Black people to vote. -
First televised US Presidential debate
In the 1960 election between Republican candidate Richard Nixon and Democrat John Kennedy, they set the precedent of presidential debates right to an American family's TV set. -
"The Flintstones" airs for the first time
A classic animated sitcom debuted, "the modern Stone Age family." -
Kennedy wins 1960 election
Kennedy won the presidency, 303 to 219 in the electoral college and by a mere 112,000 people for the popular vote. -
Roger Maris breaks Babe Ruth's seasonal home run record
Roger hit 61 home runs, breaking the tie with Babe Ruth's 60. -
Soviet Union sends first human into space
Yuri Gagarin was the first man to be launched into space successfully. Intensified space race with American even more, Gagarin was recognized as a hero in his country. -
Berlin Wall is constructed
A concrete barrier separating the Communist eastern side of Berlin from the western side began construction, preventing East Berliners from leaving their side easily. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) released a statement from Port Huron, critiquing the US government for failing to achieve world peace and justice. -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe, famous American model and actress reportedly committed suicide via barbiturate poisoning. Legacy remains as an icon for the sexual revolution of the time. -
James Meredith registers at the segregated University of Mississippi
James Meredith, an African American civil rights activists, exercises his American rights and was admitted to a segregated university. This led to protests known as the Old Miss Riot, racist rioters tried to stop Meredith from entering. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A confrontation between the United States and Soviet Russia, the closest we've ever been to nuclear war, where the Soviet Union retaliated to American nuclear presence in Italy and Turkey with their own nukes placed right outside of America in Cuba, another communist nation. It was peacefully resolved. -
"Dr. No", the premiere of the first James Bond film
The film that launched the James Bond saga. The most popular spy of all time, played first by Sean Connery. -
Dr. Martin Luther King, "I Have a Dream"
MLK joined the March on Washington, a civil rights protest, where he read one of the most famous speeches of all time, hoping that one day, African Americans will be treated equal and fair. -
President Kennedy shot and killed in Dallas
John F. Kennedy during a visit to Dallas, Texas in an open top limo, was shot in the neck and head by sniper and veteran Lee Harvey Oswald, killing him. VP Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in, beginning of a trend of assassinations during the 60s. -
The Beatles visit the United States
Famous British band visited the US. Kicked off the trend of British acts visiting America to perform, "British Invasion." -
The Beatles perform on Ed Sullivan
Shortly after arriving, The Beatles proceeded to perform on popular TV host Ed Sullivan's show. One of the most famous TV show performances. -
New York World Fair
A display and exhibition of arts, activities, and more. -
Lyndon B. Johnson wins the 1964 election
LBJ, who became president after the Kennedy assassination, won in a landslide against Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X, a prominent civil rights movement figure was assassinated by former members of the Nation of Islam. A devastating loss for the civil rights movement of the 60s and beyond. -
Watts race riots
A riot broke out in the Watts neighborhood in LA, because of their anger towards racist and abusive practices of the LAPD as well as other instances of discrimination. -
Star Trek airs for the first time
The classic sci-fi TV series began. -
First NFL Super Bowl
America's first ever Super Bowl, between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. -
Muhammad Ali refused military service for Vietnam
World-famous boxer Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted for the Vietnam War, citing his ethical and religious practices for not wanting to be involved. Significant piece of the anti-war movement in America at the time. -
Beatles release Sgt. Pepper album.
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was The Beatles' eighth album. -
San Francisco "Summer of Love"
Social phenomenom of the summer of 1967, significant piece of hippy and general counterculture history. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated as a justice for the Supreme Court
Distinguished civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall became the first ever African American justice to serve the US Supreme Court. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese forces launched a surprise attack on South Vietnam military centers during their lunar new year. One of the largest offensives during the Vietnam War. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
MLK, one of the greatest activists to ever live, was shot and killed on a motel balcony in Memphis by a sniper named James Earl Ray. Two of the biggest stars of the civil rights movement, MLK and Malcolm were dead, and this caused movement and pushes for civil rights to slow down,. -
Robert F. Kennedy assassinated
Brother of JFK, RFK, running as a democrat for president, was shot and killed in a kitchen during one of his campaign rallies. -
1968 DNC protests
Anti-war sentiment was getting more popular, and protests broke out at the Democratic National Convention, calling for an end to the Vietnam War. Thousands of protestors participated. -
LSD illegalized
The US government declared LSD, a popular psychedelic, illegal. Slowed medical research and experimentation with psychedelics and led to harsh criminal punishments for those in possession of it. -
Richard Nixon elected
Nixon, former Vice President under Eisenhower and candidate against Kennedy in 1960, finally won the presidency in the 1968 election. -
Stonewall Riots
A police raid against the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York caused riots to break out against it. It was a major demonstration for the gay rights movement at the time. -
Apollo 11
The first successful mission for NASA, where America finally got the first men on the moon: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. It was televised, over 25 million Americans were watching it. -
Woodstock
An iconic music festival just outside the town of Woodstock in New York, was one of the largest in its history. Hundreds of thousands attended and dozens performed, including Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, CCR, and many more. -
Altamont Free Concert
Altamont, hosted by The Rolling Stones, was meant to be the Woodstock of the west, with over 300,000 attending. However, its legacy is infamous, due to the Hells Angels beIng used for security, four deaths, several injuries, theft and property damage.