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G.I. Bill of Rights
The G.I. Bill of Rights is the common name for the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. This bill was a response to the grievances of surviving soldiers of World War I. Benefits include payment while soldiers look for jobs and low interest, no down payment homes. The bill was first written by Harry W. Colmery who was a former National Commander of the American Legion. -
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Cold War
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U.S. Bombs Japan
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb named Little Boy on Hiroshima. This was atomic bomb was the first nuclear weapon used in warfare. Its effective kill area is unprecedented. Only three days later, "Little Boy" was dropped on Nagasaki and marked in history as the second nuclear bomb used. -
38th Parallel Established as border
After the Allied Victory of World War II, Japan gave up their control of the country of Korea. Thus, the Communist Soviet Union occupied North Korea and Capitalist America occupied South Korea. The line dividing is on the 38th Parallel and called the DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone. -
Stalin Closes Borders
Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, established the Berlin Blockade, preventing food and supplies from arriving. Railroads, canals, and roads were all denied access into Berlin. However, even with all access blocked, the Western allies airlifted supplies and dropped them from above. making the Berlin Blockade obsolete and eventually open back up in 1949. -
Fair Deal
The Fair deal was a proposition from President Harry S. Truman during his State of the Union Address. It offered to continue New Deal liberalism and proposed to aid education, universal health care, fair employment, and repealing the Taft-Harley Act. This was deal was basically an extension to Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. -
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The 1950's
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North Korea Invades South Korea
This was the start of the Korean War. Communist Soviet Union and China supported North Korea with troops, so they could invade South Korea. The United Nations recognized this as an act of invasion and responded by dispatching military forces into Korea. -
Ike Turner's First Song
Born on November 5, 1931, Ike Turner was a famous African-American musician. He was one of the pioneers of Rock and Roll and even had Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, copy a song from him. His first song and hit was "Rocket 88," which was sung by his band, Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats or Kings of Rhythm. -
"I Love Lucy" First Aired
"I Love Lucy" was a black and white TV show that was very popular in the 1950's. It won five Emmy awards and received numerous nominations throughout its showtime. It was also the most watched show in the world for four out of six of its seasons. This show was truly the face of TV shows in the 50's. -
Full Scale Test of Hydrogen Bond
Edward Teller and Stanislaw Ulam began developing on this technology in 1951, but it was not until Nov. 1, 1952 that they first tested the explosion at full size. The bomb launched into the air was named, "Ivy Mike," which had a yield of 10.4 megatons. The explosion was 450 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. -
Polio Vaccine invented
Polio is a ruthless disease that attacks the nervous system and was feared at the time. Fortunately, Dr. Jonas Salk discovered a vaccine for the deadly plague. He even did not put a patent on it in order for people to redistribute it and annihilate Polio. Currently, there are only two countries that still have people infected with Polio. -
Elvis Presley's First Song
Elvis Presley first recorded his songs, "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin." He was merely 18 years of age at that time and paid $3.98 to have them recorded. Later, he began to become famous and was even throned as the "King of Rock and Roll." -
The Great Society
President Lyndon B. Johnson, like previous presidents, had a reform program, in which this one was called The Great Society. He first mentioned it at his State of the Union address. Its main goal was to eliminate poverty and racial discrimination. This is where the term "War On Poverty" was coined. This program laid a foundation for future Presidents to uphold. -
Bill Haley and the Comets' First Song
Bill Haley and the Comets were a rock and roll band who was widely popular in the mid 1950's. They were known as one of the earliest group of white men to bring rock and roll to the whole world. Unfortunately, their fame was unmatched compared to the more famous Elvis Presley and Little Richard. -
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Civil Rights
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Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" Recorded
Little Richard was a famous African American rock and roll musician who's works were most popular during the mid 1950's. His music led to the formation of soul and funk, which were new genres of musics created in the far future. Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Four days after the eventful arrest of Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned to protest the public transit system. This protest lasted for 13 months and was a major event in the Civil Rights Movement. This boycott would end up costing bus companies money and whites began to react violently. -
Beatnik Generation
The Beatnik Generation, also known as The Beat Generation, was an era of a different kind of culture. The people who played a role in these new types of ideals, who criticized the traditional American idea, were called Beatniks, a named created from the Russian Sputnik and Beats. They were prototype Hippies and laid foundation for the Counter Culture ahead of them. -
Little Rock Nine Incident
Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students enrolled in Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas, disliked this integration and prevented them from entering, but was forced to comply by government military forces. This event was a recognition of racial discrimination by the President and sparked the Brown v. Board case. -
Civil Rights Acts of 1957 Enacted
This voting rights bill was the first federal civil rights legislation passed by United States Congress since 1875. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed this bill, and the federal government showed that they would take more responsibility in protecting civil rights. -
Greensboro Sit-Ins
In order to get widespread attention of discrimination to the media, four men decided to sit at "white only" counters in a restaurant. This protest was non-violent and inspired from Martin Luther King Jr. When they were asked to leave, they just sat still and hoped for the best. They repeated this every day in hope of desegregation. -
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The 1960's
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Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries Founded
OPEC was first created at a Baghdad Conference by five oil producing countries, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. These countries were later joined by nine more.Its main purpose is to secure stable oil prices and ensure an efficient economy within its member countries. However, it is commonly known to monopolize oil. -
Nixon VS Kennedy Debates
Leading up the the Election of 1960, these series of debates were famous for giving John F. Kennedy the upper hand. These were the first ever televised debates in history. Therefore, when JFK decided to wear makeup and Nixon declined the offer, the people favored Kennedy more. Although, radio listeners did say they thought Nixon won the debate based on speech. -
The New Frontier
President John F. Kennedy introduced this program in his State of the Union address.In it, he proposed to eradicated poverty and research the new frontier of space technology. Social Security benefits were increased and housing and transportation were improved. Ultimately, this program addressed the issues of poverty and social reform. -
Establishment of Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is a group that was founded by the Kennedy Administration and is run by the federal government. Its main goal is to help American understand the cultures of other ethnic groups and help foreigners understand American culture. It promotes world peace. -
Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides were a series of protests that consisted of Freedom Riders, civil rights activists, riding interstate buses into segregates Southern States. This was done to challenge the federal governments decision to not enforce desegregation on buses. States governments sometimes considered these actions as illegal and put some people into custody. There was also violence, including firebombings and threats from the Ku Klux Klan. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During Kennedy's Presidency, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13 day period of time in which the United States and Soviet Union were at a stand still. The United States had discovered missiles in Cuba through spy planes did a naval blockade around Cuba. The crisis ends in the USSR removing the missiles in trade of the U.S. removing its missile bases in Turkey. -
"I Have a Dream" Speech
Spoken by Martin Luther King Jr., this speech marked a significant date in the Civil Rights Movement. He called for an end to racism in front of over 250,000 civil right supporters and called for civil rights in Washington, D.C. His inspirational speech was ranked the top speech made in America of the 20th century. -
John F. Kennedy's Assassination
On this fateful day, John F. Kennedy was shot twice in the head in Dallas while riding in a motorcade. The perpetrator was Lee Harvey Oswald who shot him from a building with a sniper rifle. However, this assassination is still mysterious and has led to numerous conspiracies. -
Barry Goldwater runs for President
Barry Goldwater was an American politician and businessman. He was most famous for rejecting Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. He believed it was too liberal for his conservative values. He is credited for bringing back American conservatism. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Enacted
This bill was a landmark for the Civil Rights Movement in which it outlawed discrimination based on color, race, sex, and ethnicity. It ended segregation everywhere in America, including in the workplace and public places. -
Daisy Girl Ad
This controversial advertisement was an attack used by Lyndon B. Johnson against Barry Goldwater. it struck the emotions of the public and put the question of what nuclear warfare would do to the people and the world. It provided Johnson an upper hand in the election and led to his election as President. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Signed
This bill played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement in which it overcame legal barriers at state and local levels that restricted African Americans from voting. In fact, it was unconstitutional that they could not vote because the 15th amendment allows them to exorcise their right to vote. -
Watts Riot
Often referred to as the Watts Rebellion, this riot took place in Los Angeles. This violent protest was caused by an African American being arrested for drunk driving. Arson, looting, and the death of 34 people led to the decreased support for Civil Rights from white people. -
(Second Wave Feminism) "Sexism" is Coined
This period of feminism began in the early 1960's and eventually ended in the 1980's. Unlike the first wave of Feminism, Second Wave Feminism focused on the issues of reproductive rights, sexuality, and workplace. Other issues include the rape crisis and the legality of divorce. -
Protests Against Vietnam War
The movement against the war was small at first, but it gained popularity after the situation in Vietnam escalated. There was a divide between the people of the U.S. One side wanted peace while the other wanted to continue the war. People opposed the war by burning their draft cards and walking in marches. -
LSD Banned
Lysergic acid diethylamide is an acid that is known to have hallucinogenic and psychological effects. This drug became very popular within the Hippies and Counter Culture. It was used to take spiritual trips and witness enhanced environments. However, the drug was banned in America because of its harmful effects. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a large military operation in the Vietnam War launched by the Viet Cong, or the North Vietnamese forces. The whole operation was well put together and struck across the whole country. Over 100 cities were struck which caused the U.S. to lose control of many cities. -
Stonewall Riots
These protests were committed by members of the homosexual community at Stonewall Inn. It was caused by a unexpected police raid in a gay bar. This event led to the recognition of gay rights and the discrimination that homosexuals face. Gay marches were made to protest gay rights. -
First Man on the Moon
During the Apollo 11 mission, three men were sent on a mission to put the first man on the moon. Unfortunately, only 2 men were able to actually walk on the moon. The first astronaut being Neil Armstrong and the second being Buzz Aldrin. This marked a significant event in history and put the U.S. ahead in the space race. -
Woodstock Festival
The Woodstock Festival attracted over 400,000 people to a dairy farm over 3 days. It was a musical festival that attracted mostly the Counter Culture generation. It was an event that brought together everyone that liked and wanted to enjoy music. -
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The 1970's
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Watergate Scandal
This was one of the most controversial political scandals of American history. It involved the break in of a Democratic database at the Watergate office complex. It was ordered by President Nixon, and later, he tried to cover up the event when Congress investigated the conspiracy. This scandal led to the distrust of the people and downfall of Nixon's Presidency, forcing him to resign. -
Title IX Enacted
Title IX was under the Education Amendments Act of 1972. It put into law that no one could be restricted from education activities, programs, or benefits based on their gender. This allowed women to participate in a greater variety of sports and was stepping stone to woman equality. -
First Home Video Game Console Created
The first home video game console was a Pong console named the Magnavox Odyssey. This new era of video games allowed kids to have a new form of entertainment. This invention changes the history of American culture and laid the foundation for today's gaming. -
Roe VS Wade Court Case
This court case was a significant decision made by the Supreme Court on the case of abortion. It ruled that a woman has the right to make the decision of aborting their fetus before the third trimester. This laid the foundation of Feminism and was a symbol of a step closer to recognize women's rights. -
Equal Rights Amendment Declined
This proposed amendment would guarantee all rights to American citizens regardless of gender. The proposal was highly popular and was almost ratified. However, Phyllis Schlafly instilled conservative views into the public and convinced the last ratifications needed to decline the amendment. She argued that this amendment would make women be drafted into war and negatively affect housewives. -
Endangered Species Act
This act was one of the many bills passed in order to protect the environment. This bill protected species that were on the brink of extinction. It is run by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This act shows the movement to conserve energy and protect the enviroment. -
The First Personal Computer Built
The first personal computer ever built was the Altair 8800 and was made by Ed Roberts who actually coined the term "Personal Computer." This landmark moment made communications easier between long distances and allowed trades and exchanges to be made across the world. E-mails could be sent and games could be played. -
Camp David Accords
Signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem, the Camp David Accords was a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel that was witnessed by President Jimmy Carter. The negotiations were kept secret and President Jimmy Carter succeeded in resolving international disputes. -
War Powers Resolutions Act
This act was made to keep the Presidents power in check when it comes to entering a military conflict. It declares that the President can only send U.S. Armed Forces with the consent of Congress. This was a feature of the Checks and Balances, limiting the power of the executive branch with the Congress. -
Three Mile Island Leak
This incident on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania caused people to worry about the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe. This event was a nuclear meltdown in one of the reactors. Luckily, the effect of the leak was not big, and on human was effected in the area. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
This crisis was a tense foreign affair between the United States and Iran. 52 Americans were taken hostage and released after 444 days. The Iranians did this because they did not want the Shag to rule them and they wanted the Shah to return to Iran in order to reconcile him. The U.S. had brought him back to America temporarily for cancer treatment. -
Period: to
The 1980's
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First Case of AIDS in US
AIDS, standing for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, first spread in the gay community during the 1980's. It was caused by the infection HIV and destroyed the immune systems of victims. This led to millions of deaths across the country. A cure still has not been found to this day. -
Election of 1980
The Election of 1980 was between Democrat Jimmy Carter and Conservative Ronald Reagan. The winner of the two was Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter suffered a decrease in support when he let the charges on Richard Nixon go, which led Ronald Reagan to victory. -
Reagonomics
Reagonomics was a name for the economic strategies of President Ronald Reagan. These policies were associated with tax reductions and the promotion of a free trade market. His goal was to reduce inflation. He was successful in that he reduced the unemployment rate and increased the GDP of the country. -
Music Television First Aired
When it first came out, Music Television was highly popular. People would turn on the channel to listen to their favorites songs and see their dance moves in the music videos. It was on cable and satellite television, so that every American could tune in. -
Sandra Day O'Connor as Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor was the first women to work as a Supreme Court Justice. She served under President Ronald Reagan and was known to be a conservative Republican. She served until her retirement in 2006. She was a symbol of feminism across the country. -
Strategic Defense Initiative or "Star Wars"
The SDI , also known as Star Wars, was initiated under President Ronald Reagan in order to develop a missile defense system that could intercept incoming ICBM's from other countries. This program caused the Soviet Union to spend millions of dollars on their research of protecting themselves, putting them behind. -
Reagan Doctrine
The Reagan Doctrine was initiated by the Reagan Administration to stop the influence of communism from the Soviet Union in order to end the Cold War. The doctrine allowed the U.S. to aid anti-communist groups that rebelled against the country. However, this funding of these radical groups led to the formation of terrorist groups and rebels. -
Iran Contra Affair
Also known as the Irangate, the Iran Contra Affair was yet another political scandal during President Ronald Reagan's second term. The government tried selling weapons to Iran in order to release several hostages. This inevitably increased the mistrust in the government and led to the creation of terrorist groups in Iran. -
Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion
This disaster took place during Ronald Reagan's Presidency. Seven crew members were killed on the Challenger, the name of the Space Shuttle. This occurred because one of the rocket boosters malfunctioned and exploded. A 32 month pause of the space program was put in place to investigate. -
Oprah Winfrey Show First Aired
Oprah Winfrey is an African American talk show host and philanthropist. She is the known as the richest African American in the world and a multi-billionaire. She runs The Oprah Winfrey Show and is person that shows unprecedented success of African Americans and Women. -
Invention of the World Wide Web
Abbreviated as WWW, the World Wide Web was invented by Tim Berners Lee. Commonly referred to as the internet, this allowed documents and information to be sent to locations in an instant. It provided efficiency in communications and information sharing. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
After the fall of the wall, thousands of East Germans escaped to other countries and other areas. This day marked the moment Germans could see their families again. People swarmed entrances to cross the border and East Berlin could finally see the rest of the world. The fall of this physical border also symbolized the fall of the figurative Iron Curtain. -
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The 1990's
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Persian Gulf War / 1st Iraq War
Codenamed Operation Desert Storm, the Persian Gulf War was a conflict between the United States and Iran over Iran's invasion into Kuwait. There was a series of airstrikes and ground units that weakened the Iranians. In the end, the U.S. pushed back Iranian forces back into their area but did not proceed any further. -
Start of Balkans Crisis
The Balkans crisis consisted of three ethnic groups that fought for control of Bosnia. This led to a genocide of Muslims that Bosnian Serbs referred to as "ethnic cleansing." The land consisted of Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Muslims. Eventually NATO had to step in and stop the madness. -
Election of 1992
The Election of 1992 consisted of three competitors, George H.W. Bush, Ross Perot, and Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton came out to be the victor because of George Bush's failure to reduce taxes during his first term. Bill Clinton won the popular vote and the electoral vote while Ross Perot obtained 0 electoral votes. -
World Trade Center Bombing
This terrorist attack on the World Trade Center targeted the garage of the building in order to take down the whole structure. It failed in destroying the building, but it did kill 6 people and injure over 1000 people. This event was puny compared to a following event on September 11. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAFTA was created for the North American continent and its countries, including Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. It created a large free trade zone and set up a strong economy and prosperity. However, some opposed it because it decreases domestic jobs in America. -
Contract with America
This new movement was led by Newt Gingrich, a Republican who pledged to cut taxes, introduce crime laws, instill congressional term limits, and balance amendments. This movement unified Conservatism and revamped it. -
Monica Lewinsky Scandal
Bill Clinton admitted to having sexual relations with his intern at the White House. The girl involved was named Monica Lewinsky who told an agent about her relations with the President. Bill Clinton tried to cover it up but was caught red handed and forced to resign. This scandal was another reason for the public to have distrust in the government. -
Defense of Marriage Act
This act, DOMA, defined marriage as a relationship between a man and woman for the sake of government and federal uses. It also allowed states to deny marriage between two people of the same sexes. It was later ruled unconstitutional and repealed by Obama. -
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Contemporary
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Election of 2000
The winner of the Election of 2000 was George W. Bush who faced against Democrat Al Gore.This election was the closest in history with a .009% margin of victory. The victor depended on the last votes in Florida. After a high court decision, it was decided that George Bush won after many recounts. -
September 11 Attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly referred as 9/11 attacks, were a series of four hijack airplanes crashing. Two of which were rocketed into the World Trade Center, bring down both buildings and killing thousands. One of the four hit the Pentagon but did barely any damage, and the last airplane was forced into the ground when passengers tried to retake control of the plane. -
PATRIOT Act
The PATRIOT act is a long acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. This Act allowed the federal government to bypass private rights and angered many citizens because their right to privacy was being denied. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act authorized education programs. It made a law that required students from 3rd to 8th grade to test in the subjects of reading and math. The made standardized testing a thing and gave Texas the TAKS Test and STAAR Test taht we take today. -
Second Iraq War
This was was an armed conflict between Iraq and the United States. The U.S. invaded Iraq and removed Saddam Hussein from the government. Iraqi forces were overwhelmed by the bombing campaign. George Bush supported the idea that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq however there was no evidence of this.. -
The Great Recession
This era was a period of economic downturn in the world markets. It extended over a period of 9 months and resulted in a decrease in valuable assets in the market economy. President Barack Obama, during his Presidency, attempts to bring us out of it. -
Election of 2008
This election was known won by Democrat Barack Obama who faced against Republican John McCain. This election marked the day of the first African American President of the United States. Obama won both the popular vote and the electoral vote. -
First Hispanic Supreme Court Justice
Sonia Sotomayor is the current Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of the United States. She is the first Hispanic to serve as a Justice for the Supreme Court. She is also the third female to serve on the Supreme Court. She was nominated under Barack Obama. -
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare, was signed into law by President Barack Obama and is designed to increase health insurance quality and affordability. It lowered costs for the poor to get healthcare, but was not a government company. All the health insurance companies were private. -
Defense of Marriage Act Ruled Unconstitutional
During President Barack Obama's second term, the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional and repealed. Marriage was now permitted between people of the same sex. The Supreme Court ruled that DOMA violates the fifth amendment. This is a landmark day for the LGBT community.
