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G.I bill
The G.I Bill was created to support WWII veterans convert back to civilian life. It created hospitals, low interest mortgages, and covered tuition for college attending veterans. These provisions expired in 1956. -
Period: to
Civil rights
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Fat man
The Fat Man, was an atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city, Nagasaki. This bomb, along with the little boy, ended World War 2. -
Little boy
The Little Boy was an atomic bomb used in World War 2 on the Japanese city, Hiroshima. This led to the end of the war because of the mass killings and destruction it caused. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain, the political, military, and ideological barrier erected by the Soviet Union after World War II to seal off itself and its dependent eastern and central European allies from open contact with the West and other noncommunist areas. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman doctrine was set up by President Harry. S Truman. The doctrine was set up so that the United States would give political, military and monetary help to every single majority rule country under risk from outer or inward tyrant strengths. -
2nd red scare
lludes to the dread of socialism that saturated American governmental issues, culture, and society from the late 1940s through the 1950s, amid the opening periods of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. -
Marshall Plan
President Truman signed the Marshall Plan, a plan made up by George Marshall, to help Europe rebuild after WWII. This results in the restoration of West Europe's faith in capitalism -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was a near year-long operation in which the U.S and British planes delivered supplies by aircraft into West Berlin after the Soviets blockaded the city in. The German city of Berlin was divided among 4 countries in 1945: Russia, Great Britain, France, and the U.S. The Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' access to Berlin sectors, giving the Soviets complete control of Berlin. This was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. -
Stalin closes the border
The Soviet Union blocks all road and rail traffic to and from West Berlin. The blockade turned out to be a terrible diplomatic move by the Soviets, while the United States emerged from the confrontation with renewed purpose and confidence -
Fair Deal
In his 1949 State of the Union address to Congress on January 5, 1949, Truman stated that "Every segment of our population, and every individual, has a right to expect from his government a fair deal." -
Rock 'n' roll
A genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940's and early 1950's. The primary source of Rock and Roll was Rhythm and Blues, which came from African-Americans. Rhythm and Blues combined elements of urban blues, Gospel Music, and jazz- all from African-Americans as well. Rock n Roll was directed toward teenagers and was controversial as it often expressed ideas of rebellion and sex. -
Beat Generation
The Beat Generation is a literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. Core elements of Beat culture are a rejection of standard narrative values, spiritual quest, exploration of American and Eastern religions, rejection of materialism, explicit portrayals of the human condition, experimentation with drugs, and sexual liberation and exploration. -
Period: to
1950s
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Mccarthyism
McCarthyism was the practice of making accusations of subversion on treason without having solid evidence to back up the accusation -
Ike Truner
Ike Turner was born on November 5th, 1931. He was an American musician and pioneer of rock and roll during the 1950s but is most well known for his songs during the 1960s and the 1970s -
Bill Haley & His comets
Bill Haley & His Comets were an American rock and roll band founded in 1952. The band was also known as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets. Their most famous song was actually a rendition called "Rock Around The Clock". It was a number one single on both the United States and United Kingdom charts. This new genre of Rock and Roll appealed to white American teenagers . By 1956, Bill Haley had become one of the most popular Rock and Roll performers in the world. -
Atomic/ hydrogen weapons
A mushroom cloud from the world's first successful hydrogen bomb test, on Nov. 1, 1952.Thermonuclear bombs start with the same fission reaction that powers atomic bombs -
Dr. Jonas Salk
Jonas Salk was born in new York City to a Russian Jewish immigrant mother and a second generation Jewish immigrant father. He graduated high school at the age of 15 and went to the City College of New York. He graduated with a degree in science in 1933. On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announces on a national radio show that he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes the crippling disease of polio. -
Polio Vaccine
On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announces on a national radio show that he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes the crippling disease of polio. -
Brown V. board of education
Marshall argues, wins this one. Unanimous vote under the Earl Warren court that "separate but equal" is a false doctrine. After this case the court orders for schools to be integrated -
Little Richard
Little Richard helped define the early rock ‘n’ roll era of the 1950s with his driving, flamboyant sound. In 1955 Richard hooked up with Specialty Records producer Art Rupe, who’d been hunting for a piano-pounding frontman to lead a group of musicians in New Orleans. In September, Richard stepped into the recording studio and pumped out “Tutti-Frutti,” an instant Billboard hit that reached No. 17. Over the next year, the musician churned out several more rock hits, amassing a grand following. -
Elvis Presely
Musician and actor Elvis Presley endured rapid fame in the mid-1950s—on the radio, TV and the silver screen. Presley began to develop a following with fans who were drawn to his unusual musical style, provocative gyrating hips, and good looks. His music style adopted African American rhythms & blues which were molded with gospel and country music. As a result of all his redeeming qualities and unique music style, Presley made Rock 'n' Roll a phenomenon. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
After Rosa Parks is arrested, MLK rallies the black community to do this. This seriously hurt the bus companies. This lasted more than a year, and ended in, when the SC declared segregated buses unconstitutional. -
LSD
LSD was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938. This new drug was popularized in the 1960s and spread throughout the world. The government experimented with the drug as a potential chemical weapon but eventually banned the drug in 1967. -
Counter Culture
The counterculture of the 1960s refers to an anti-establishment cultural phenomenon that developed in the United States and then spread throughout much of the Western world between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s, with London, New York City, and San Francisco being hotbeds of early counterculture activity. Countercultures/hippies lived in separate communities rejected cars, suburban homes & average jobs their parents had, Renounced material possession & used drugs -
Sit- ins
Sit ins were protest without the use of violence. African Americans began to protest at lunch counters that only served the white community -
Chicano Mural Movement
This movement was an expression of Mexican American culture. It started to remind people of who their ancestors where and where they came from.This murals became an important expression of their identity -
Period: to
1960s
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Peace Corps
The Peace Corps was a New Frontier program proposed by President John F. Kennedy. It was a civilian organization sponsored by the united States government; a program that trains and sends volunteers to poor nations all over the world to serve as educators, health care workers, agricultural advisers, and in other jobs. It was considered an "army" of idealistic and youthful volunteers who brought American skills to underdeveloped countries. -
George Wallace
George Wallace was the governor of Alabama who happened to be racist. He believed " segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever" -
Assassination of JFK
President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible. As their vehicle passed the Texas School Book Depository Building, Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor, fatally wounding President Kennedy and seriously injuring Texas Governor Connally. Kennedy was pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital. He was 46. -
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was born October 18th, 1939. He was a former marine and the convicted assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Two days later while transferring between jails, he was shot by a Dallas nightclub owner, Jack Ruby and killed. Speculation exists that he was not the only shooter. -
Jack Ruby
Jack Ruby, born on March 25th, 1911, was a night club owner who shot and killed alleged assassin of JFK Lee Harvey Oswald. He later became ill and died of lung cancer in prison. -
Warren Commission
On November 29, 1963, Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy in order to investigate his predecessor’s death.During its almost yearlong investigation, the Warren Commission reviewed reports by the FBI, Department of State and the attorney general of Texas. The commission concluded that the bullets that killed Kennedy and injured Connally were fired by Oswald from a rifle pointed out of a sixth-floor window in the Texas School Book Depository. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Passed by LBJ, outlawed public segregation and discrimination, forbade racial discrimination in the workplace -
The Great Society
The Great Society was the name of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Democratic reform program. It instituted federally sponsored social welfare programs. It meant to solve large social problems like hunger and poverty. In 1965, Congress passed many Great Society measures, including Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education. Johnson also created a department of housing and urban development. His most important and effective legislation was medicare and medicaid. -
Freedom Summer
SNCC & CORE organize voter registration campaign in Miss. SNCC gets 1000 northern white college students to register voters & teach civics classes to blacks in Miss. Resulted in lots of violence from southern extremists, including bombings, beatings, shootings, & arrests. Campaign is big success: Tens of thousands of black voters registered & attention drawn to civil rights movement. -
Daisy Girl Ad
The Daisy commercial was a controversial political advertisement aired on television during the 1964 election by candidate Lyndon B. Johnson's campaign. Though it was only aired once, it is considered to be an important factor in Johnson's victory over Barry Goldwater and an important turning point in political and advertising history. It remains one of the most controversial political advertisements ever made. -
Voting Rights Act
Banned literacy tests and sent thousands of fed voting officials to the south to supervise registration. This got a huge jump in the black voter rate -
Watts Riots
Over 50000 blacks in L.A. burn and loot, attacking lots of neighborhoods and people, including other minorities. It took 20000 National Guardsmen to calm the conflict. -
Selma March
Protesters from Selma, Alabama were making an effort to register black voters in the South by marching a 54-mile route from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery. They were confronted by an angry white mob and white onlookers as well as local authorities. The media covered the protesters getting beat and gassed, letting the whole world know. This march raised awareness of the difficulties faced by black voters, and the need for a national Voting Rights Act. -
Hippies
The counter culture was a way of life and set of attitudes opposed the prevailing social norm. Hippies were famous for their drug use and opposing the war. "Make love not war". -
Period: to
1970s
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Phyllis Schalfy
Phyllis Schlafly was a conservative anti-feminist who protested the woman's rights acts and movements. She saw them as defying tradition and natural gender division of labor. She led the campaign to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment, claiming it would undermine the American family. She believed it would hinder women more than it would help them. Schlafly demonstrated conservative backlash against the 1960s as a whole. -
Equal Rights Amendment
First proposed by the National Woman’s political party in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was to provide for the legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. More than four decades later, the Amendment won the requisite two-thirds vote from the U.S. House of Representatives in October 1971. In March 1972, it was approved by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states. However, it failed to achieve ratification. -
Watergate
The Watergate scandal was the first major political scandal on the executive level. This was executed by President Nixon, he spied on his political opponents in the Watergate Hotel. He hired several "plumbers" to do his dirty work and it was discovered later that they were bribed to keep silent. This resulted in Nixon resigning before impeachment and the lost of faith in the government. -
Title IX
On June 23, 1972, the President signed Title IX of the Education Amendments into law. Title IX was a comprehensive federal law that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. The principal objective of Title IX was to avoid the use of federal money to support sex discrimination in education programs and to provide individual citizens effective protection against those practices. -
OPEC
A.K.A The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC launched an oil embargo in retaliation against the United States for supplying the Israeli military and was used to gain leverage in negotiations. -
Gerald Ford’s Presidency
Gerald Ford was the Vice President to Richard Nixon before he resigned, and was president from August 9th, 1974 to January 20th, 1977. Ford was the only person to serve as vice president and president without being elected. His biggest political downfall was when he pardoned Nixon for his Watergate scandal, this resulted in his failed run for reelection. -
Panama Canal
Passed by President Carter, these called for the gradual return of the Panama Canal to the people and government of Panama. They provided for the transfer of canal ownership to Panama in 1999 and guaranteed its neutrality. -
Camp David Accords
carter's single greatest achievement, peace settlement between Egypt and Israel. Egypt became first arab nation to recognize Israel and in return Israel withdrew troops from territory taken in six day war. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
revolutionaries stormed the American embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage. The Carter administration tried unsuccessfully to negotiate for the hostages release. On January 20, 1981, the day Carter left office, Iran released the Americans, ending their 444 days in captivity. -
The Moral Majority
The Moral Majority was a prominent American political organization associated with the Christian right and Republican Party. It was the development of Protestant fundamentalism; they became energized about politics and social actions. There was heavy involvement from the Republican party but they did not represent the majority as the name suggested. They lobbied for prayer and teaching creationism in schools, they were against legal abortion, and gays -
Period: to
1980s
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Robert Johnson
Robert L. Johnson is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of the BET channel and as the country’s first African-American billionaire. Johnson founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979 with his wife, Sheila. BET was the first cable network targeting the African-American market. It was launched in January 1980, initially broadcasting for two hours a week. In 1991, BET became the first African American-owned company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. -
A.I.D.S Crisis
A.I.D.S originated in Sub-Saharan Africa as a chimpanzee disease, SIV,and made its way to U.S shores in 1960, but wasn't discovered until the 1980's. By 1989 over 30,000 known deaths were caused by A.I.D.S. -
Sandra Day O'connor
Sandra Day O'Conner was the first woman to be in the Supreme Court, appointed by President Ronald Reagan. Prior to O'Connor's appointment to the Court, she was an elected official and judge in Arizona serving as the first female Majority Leader in the united States as the Republican leader in the Arizona Senate. On July 1, 2005, she announced her intention to retire effective upon the confirmation of a successor. O'Connor was an Associate Justice from 1981 until 2006. -
Reaganomics
Reaganomics referred to Reagan's economic policies, this included ideas such as trickle-down economics, or free-market economics. The four pillars of Reagan's policy was the reduction of the growth of government spending, reduce federal income tax and capital gains tax, reduce government regulation, and tighten money supply to prevent inflation. -
Music Television (MTV)
MTV is a television channel headquartered in in New York City. This channel aired music videos and was led by TV personalities known as "video jockeys." It's main demographic is was young adults. -
Sam Walton's Just- in- time inventory
Samuel Moore Walton opened the first Wal-Mart in July 2, 1962. His company was the first to use the UPC bar code to automate the inventory process. In 1983, the company set up a private satellite system to track delivery trucks, process credit cardtransactions, and transmit sales data. This process led to Walton’s pioneering “just-in-time” inventory. The local distribution center can know, via satellite, when a given store is nearly out of a product and can truck more in immediately. -
SDI/Star Wars
SDI or Strategic Defense Initiative was Reagan's proposed missile-defense system. The initiative was part of Reagan's plan to force the Soviets' hand and was also referred to as star wars." It called for a land- or space-based shield against a nuclear attack. Reagan described it as an "astrodome" shield over America. Although SDI was criticized as unfeasible and in violation of the Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, Congress approved billions of dollars for development. -
Rap Music
Initially the word rap meant to strike or to hit. A few centuries later a slight variation of this definition appeared which meant to speak or talk. In America around the 1960’s it began to pop up in the black community and was used as a slang word to mean that someone was talking or having a conversation. One of the first rappers at the beginning of the hip hop period was also hip hop's first DJ, DJ Kool Herc, who started delivering simple raps at his parties -
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra Affair, or Irangate/Contragate, was a political scandal under Ronald Reagan's presidency. The administration secretly sold weapons to Iran. Reagan did this to support Contras in Nicaragua while negotiating the release of U.S hostages. -
Challenger Explosion
The NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire who would have been the first civilian in space. Two rubber O-rings, which had been designed to separate the sections of the rocket booster, had failed due to cold temperatures on that morning. The tragedy received extensive media coverage and made NASA temporarily suspend all shuttle missions. -
Lionel Sosa
Independent marketing consultant and nationally recognized portrait artist. He is the founder of Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar & Associates, which became the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the U.S. Sosa is an acknowledged expert in Hispanic consumer and voter behavior and was named “One of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America” by Time Magazine.He has served on the teams of eight national Republican presidential campaigns. -
Period: to
1990s
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Persian Gulf War
Conflict between Iraq and a coalition of countries led by the United States to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait which they had invaded in hopes of controlling their oil supply. A very one sided war with the United States' coalition emerging victorious. -
Rodney King Incident
He was a taxi driver who was beaten by the police after a high-speed car chase. A witness, George Holiday, recorded the incident and sent it to the news and the footage was broadcasted around the world. This raised public concern about how the U.S treats its minorities -
Ross Perot
was a third-party candidate in the 1992 presidential election won 19 percent of the popular vote. His strong showing that year demonstrated voter disaffection with the two major parties. -
NAFTA
(north american free trade agreement) A trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico that encourages free trade between these North American countries. -
George H.W Bush
erved as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Bush held a variety of political positions prior to his presidency, including Vice President of the United States in the administration of Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) and Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)
under Gerald R. Ford. -
Bill Clinton
42nd U.S. president.Prior to that,he was governor of Arkansas.America enjoyed an era of peace and prosperity, marked by low unemployment, declining crime rates and a budget surplus. Clinton appointed a number of women and minorities to top government posts.1998, the House of Representatives impeached Clinton on charges related to a sexual relationship he had with a White House intern.He was acquitted by the Senate.Following his presidency, Clinton remained active in public life. -
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2001,she became the first American first lady to ever win a public office seat. She later became the 67th U.S. secretary of state in 2009 because Obama nominated her and she serving until 2013.In 2016, she became the first woman in U.S. history to become the presidential nominee of a major political party.Clinton used her position to make women's rights and human rights.She became one of the most traveled secretaries of state in American history. -
Oprah Winfrey
Billionaire and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey is best known for hosting her own internationally popular talk show. From there, she launched her own television network, OWN.Winfrey's open, warm-hearted personal style had taken her show from last place to first in the ratings.Winfrey is in the forefront of the media industry and as one of the most powerful and wealthy people in show business.Winfrey received highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama -
Ralph Nader
Symbol of the public's concern business practices of large corporations.He inspired investigations to improve the operations of industries and government bureaus.Nader then began a series of studies aimed at improving responsible industrial production.Safety in mines and control of oil and gas pipes that were dangerous to people and the environment.Founded his Center for the Study of Responsive Law.He ran for president in Green Party.Democrats criticized him for taking votes away from Gore.
2000 -
Al Gore
Gore opposed the Vietnam War, but did civic duty in the U.S. Army he was assigned military journalist writing.He also became the first person to appear on C-SPAN.Gore successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate.Gore pushed the High Performance Computer and Communication Act of 1991.Served as vice president of the United States under President Bill Clinton.He lost a presidential bid to George W. Bush in 2000.2007,Gore won a Nobel Prize for his work to raise awareness of global warming. -
Bush v. Gore
Initiated in Florida year 2000 presidential election. Democratic Gore wanted recount due to voting irregularities in 3 Democratic counties. In 5-4 decision, Supreme Court halted the recount, giving Bush presidency. -
Period: to
Contemporary
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George W. Bush
43rd president.Before entering the White House,Bush was a two-term Republican governor of Texas.Bush worked in the Texas oil industry and was an owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team before becoming governor.He won the presidency after narrowly defeating Democratic challenger Al Gore.September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against America.In response he declared a global “war on terrorism,” established the Department of Homeland Security and authorized U.S. led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. -
Patriot Act
The main purpose of the Patriot Act is to combat terrorism by tracing money that funds terrorist groups.Patriot Act was created after the 9/11 attacks. -
9/11 Attacks
The United States was attacked by members of the group Al Qaeda. Four planes were hijacked and used as weapons. Two planes crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. One plane crashed into the Pentagon outside of Washington, D.C. and the last plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. -
2nd Iraq War
United States initiates war on Iraq.U.S. President George W. Bush announced in a televised address.Saddam Hussein went into hiding soon after the American invasion.U.S. soldiers found Saddam Hussein hiding in a deep hole,nine miles outside his hometown of Tikrit.Hussein was arrested and began trial for crimes against his people,including mass killings.Saddam Hussein was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging.After an unsuccessful appeal,he was executed in 2006. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States.When the storm made landfall, it had a Category 3 it stretched 400 miles across.The storm itself did a great deal of damage, but aftermath was catastrophic.Many people said that the federal government was slow to meet the needs of the people affected by the storm.Hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana,Mississippi and Alabama were displaced from their homes,and experts estimate that Katrina caused more than $100 billion in damage. -
John McCain
John McCain was a navy fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. He was held hostage when his plane was shot down, and was held captive for five years. In 1986 he became the US senator from Arizona. He is still senator today. In 2008 he ran for president and lost Obama in the general election. -
Barack Obama
Senator Barack Obama of Illinois was elected president of the United States over Senator John McCain of Arizona. A crushing financial crisis cam during the election.Obama became the 44th president, and the first African American to be elected to that office. He was elected to a second term over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.He made history again by expand opportunities,advance equality and justice for all LGBT Americans.Obama has fought to promote the equal rights of all Americans -
Sonia Sotomayor
President George H.W. Bush nominated her for the position confirmed unanimously by the Senate.When she joined the court, she was its youngest judge.She was nominated for the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton.She was confirmed by the Senate.President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Sotomayor for Supreme Court justice. The nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate making Sotomayor the first Latina Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. -
American recovery and Reinvestment Act
Pass by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama,designed U.S. economy by saving jobs jeopardized by the Great Recession of 2008–09 and creating new jobs.2007 the U.S. economy slipped into recession particularly by the decline in the housing market and the subprime mortgage crisis and worsened by the collapse of the global financial services.Obama’s first major legislative effort was to enact a recovery program that would stimulate the economy by creating millions of jobs. -
Undoing of Doma
The Repealing of DOMA was enacted by the landmark Supreme court case, United States v. Windsor in which the United States Supreme Court held that restricting U.S. federal interpretation of "marriage" and "spouse" to apply only to opposite-sex unions, by Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), is unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The Court declared it "a deprivation of the liberty of the person".
