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SNCC formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded on April 15, 1960, by young activists involved in sit-ins and other civil rights protests. The group played a major role in voter registration drives and protests, especially in the South. -
First televised Presidential debate
On September 26, 1960, the first-ever televised presidential debate took place between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The debate, which was watched by over 70 million people, marked a turning point in how elections were covered and influenced public opinion. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
"The Flintstones," the first prime-time animated TV show, premiered on September 30, 1960, on ABC. The show, which parodied suburban family life, became a cultural phenomenon and a milestone in television history. -
President Kennedy was Elected
JFK won the presidency and beat Richard Nixon. He was the first Roman Catholic to become a president. -
Russians send the first man into space
On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth aboard Vostok 1. His flight marked a major victory for the Soviet Union in the Space Race and changed the course of space exploration. -
The Construction of the Berlin Wall
The Soviet Union who controlled East side of Berlin, had made a wall disconnecting East and West side. They did this to stop Westerners emigrated to the East side. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record
On October 1, 1961, Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season, breaking Babe Ruth’s long-standing single-season record. Maris's achievement was celebrated, though it sparked controversy due to the use of extra games in the season. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
On June 15, 1962, the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) issued the Port Huron Statement, a manifesto calling for political and social change. The statement outlined frustrations with the status quo and the need for greater participation in democracy. -
Marilyn Monroe Dies
Marilyn Monroe was found dead from an apparent overdose on August 5, 1962, at her home in Los Angeles. Her tragic death at the age of 36 stunned the world and marked the end of an era in Hollywood glamour. -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
On October 1, 1962, James Meredith became the first African American to enroll at the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss. His registration, enforced by federal troops, marked a significant milestone in the Civil Rights Movement. -
“Dr. No” the first James Bond movie premieres
Dr. No, the first James Bond film starring Sean Connery, premiered in London on October 5, 1962. The movie set the stage for one of the longest-running film franchises in cinema history. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
When the Soviet Union had sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. This scared the US and also brought the war to the brink of nuclear war -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington. The speech, calling for racial equality and justice, remains one of the most powerful addresses in American history. -
JFK was Assasinated
While in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, JFK was shot dead. After, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson took over his presidency -
The Beatles Arrive in the US
The Beatles arrived at JFK airport, which had started their massive cultural impact on the US. They appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" to solidify their popularity -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, performing live before an audience of 73 million viewers. The performance launched Beatlemania in the United States and transformed the music landscape. -
New York World’s Fair begins
The 1964 New York World's Fair opened on April 22, 1964, with the theme "Peace Through Understanding." The fair showcased technological innovations and cultural exhibitions, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. -
Lyndon B. Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
On November 3, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson won a decisive victory over Senator Barry Goldwater in the presidential election. Johnson’s landslide victory helped to propel his domestic agenda, including the Great Society programs. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. His death was attributed to internal tensions within the Nation of Islam, but it cemented his legacy as a key figure in the civil rights movement. -
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Watts race riots
The Watts Riots began on August 11, 1965, in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles following the arrest of an African American man. The riots, which lasted for six days, were fueled by tensions over police brutality and racial inequality. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
On October 24, 1965, the U.S. government declared LSD a Schedule I controlled substance, effectively making it illegal. The decision was part of a broader effort to combat the rising popularity of psychedelic drugs in the 1960s counterculture. -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
The original Star Trek series premiered on September 8, 1966, on NBC, introducing audiences to a future where humans and alien species coexist in space. Though initially a modest success, it later became a cultural phenomenon and sparked numerous sequels and spin-offs. -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” Begins
The Summer of Love began in the spring of 1967, drawing thousands of young people to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. This cultural movement celebrated peace, love, and psychedelic exploration and became a defining moment of the 1960s counterculture. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first-ever Super Bowl. The event, originally called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, marked the beginning of one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. -
Beatles Release Sgt. Pepper's Album
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released by The Beatles, revolutionizing the concept of the album as an artistic work. It became one of the most influential albums in the history of popular music. -
Boxer Muhammad Ali refuses military service
On April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the U.S. Army, citing religious and moral objections to the Vietnam War. His stand led to a legal battle, stripping him of his boxing title but solidifying his position as a global symbol of resistance. -
Thurgood Marshall Nominated to the Supreme Court
On June 13, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court. Marshall became the first African American to serve on the highest court, a historic step for racial equality in the United States. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 1968 was marked by widespread protests against the Vietnam War. The violent clashes between demonstrators and police, broadcast on national TV, exposed the deep divisions in American society. -
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Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces on South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It started getting rid of US support during the war -
Martin King Jr. Assassinated
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. His death led to nationwide riots and a deep sense of loss, yet his legacy continued to inspire civil rights efforts. -
Robert Kennedy was Assasinated
JFK's brother Robert Kennedy was shot and killed at his victory speech after winning California. He was shot in Los Angles. -
Richard Nixon is elected
Richard Nixon defeated Hubert Humphrey to win the presidency, emphasizing law and order and advocating for the "silent majority." His election marked a shift toward more conservative policies during a time of social and political upheaval in the U.S. -
American Astronauts Land on the Moon
American Astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin part of Apollo 11 are the first men on the Moon. They beat Russia in the space race with a man on the Moon. -
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall riots began on June 28, 1969, after police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village. The violent protests, led by the LGBTQ+ community, marked the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. -
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Woodstock Concert
Woodstock, held from August 15 to 18, 1969, in Bethel, New York, was a music festival that drew over 400,000 attendees. It became a symbol of the counterculture movement, celebrating peace, love, and music amidst a backdrop of social change. -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
The Altamont Free Concert, organized by the Rolling Stones, was held on December 6, 1969, in California. The event, intended as a west coast Woodstock, ended in violence when a concertgoer was killed by a member of the Hells Angels.