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SNCC Formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Convention was formed in 1960 to promote youth-led nonviolent campaigns against segregation and racism. Their more popular form of fighting to end segregation was to sit at segregated lunch counters and perform nonviolent confrontations. -
First Airing of "The Flintstones"
The Flintstones, a cartoon TV show, aired in 1960 and became very popular. It addressed modern concerns whilst taking place in the Stone Age. It was also popular because it was the first TV show to appeal to adults as well as children. -
First Televised Presidential Debate
The first-ever televised presidential debate took place in 1960. It featured the debate between President Nixon and JFK. -
President Kennedy is Elected
John F. Kennedy became the youngest president thus far, beating Richard Nixon for office. This was one of the closest elections in U.S. history. -
Yankee Roger Maris Breaks Babe Ruth’s Single Season HR Record
In 1961, Yankee Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single season home run record with 61 home runs. One more than Ruth. This record held for the next 37 years. -
Russia Sends the First Man Into Space
The Russians sent cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin into space as the first man ever to complete the trip. He traveled on the ship Vostok 1, and his trip lasted 108 minutes before he touched back down to Earth. This was very concerning for the United States, as Russia had gotten ahead in the space race. -
Berlin Wall is Constructed
The Berlin Wall was built to cut through the city center and separate West Berlin from East Berlin. East Berlin was controlled by the Soviets and they didn't want their people escaping to the West side which was controlled by western allies, including the U.S. -
SDS Releases its Port Huron Statement
The 1962 Port Huron Statement was promoted by the Students for a Democratic Society Organization. It critiqued the U.S. for failing to achieve international peace and economic justice, among other things. -
Marilyn Monroe Dies
American actress and icon Marilyn Monroe died at age 36. She died from a barbiturate overdose in her home in L.A. -
James Merideth Registers at Ole Miss
James Merideth was the first African American student to attend the University of Mississippi. He had to be continuously guarded by deputy marshalls and troops because of the harrassment he recieved. -
“Dr. No” The First James Bond Movie Premiers
"Dr. No" was the first film released in the spy series James Bond. This movie became very popular, as it involved hot topics such as the U.S. space program. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During the Cold War, when JFK was president, the Soviet Union secretly installed missiles into communist Cuba, which were threats to the U.S. JFK reached an agreement with Khrushchev to remove the missiles, it was a very stressful time and JFK proved himself to the U.S. -
Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" Speech
Dr. Martin Luther King, a civil rights activist, delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech during the March on Washington in 1963. The purpose of his speech was to call for an end to racism and bring justice to all. -
John F. Kennedy is Assassinated
The assassination of President JFK was actually caught on film, and there are many conspiracies behind it. He was shot while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. -
The Beatles Arrive in the U.S.
The Beatles landed at JFK airport in NYC in 1964, which changed American culture forever. This marked a new era in American culture and music, and the Beatles became a world-wide phenomena. -
The Beatles Appear on Ed Sullivan
The Beatles appeared on the very popular American television show, "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. Seventy-three million viewers watched them perform five songs, and they were able to expand their fan base through this opportunity. -
New York World’s Fair Begins
The World Fair in New York City was an event to bring "Peace through Understanding". It hosted 80 countries. The fair ran for two six-month seasons. -
Lyndon B Johnson Defeats Barry Goldwater
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson ran for presidency following JFK's death. He beat Republic Senator Barry Goldwater by a landslide. -
Malcolm X is Assassinated
Popular human rights activist and Muslim minister Malcolm X was assassinated by gunshot in Manhattan, NY, in 1965. His assassination created much uproar among followers. -
Watts Race Riots
The Watts Race Riots were violent riots held in LA from August 11th to the 16th. These riots contained looting, assault, arson, protests, and property damage. The leading cause of the riots was the arrest of African-American man Marquette Frye, as there was a fight between him and the white police officer that pulled him over. -
“Star Trek” TV Show Airs
Star Trek first aired in 1966, telling the story of the crew of the USS Enterprise spaceship on its mission to go "where no man has gone before". This gained popularity because the topic of putting men in space was very new and exciting at the time. -
San Francisco "Summer of Love" Begins
The Summer of Love was a major social phenomenon that brought in as many as 100,000 people to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District and Golden Gate Park. Most of the crowd were peace-loving hippies hooked on psychedelics and drugs. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
The first NFL Super Bowl was held at the Memorial Coliseum in LA in 1967. The Greenbay packers went into the final, beating the Kansas City Chiefs. -
Boxer Muhammed Ali Refuses Military Service
In 1967, professional heavyweight boxer Muhammed Ali refused his indictment to the military to aid in the Vietnam War. He was immediately stripped of his heavyweight title for the refusal. -
The Beatles Release Sgt. Pepper’s Album
The Beatles released this album to create a cultural and artistic change for their band. They went from "lovable mop tops" to a more creative and self-exploratory group. -
Thurgood Marshall Nominated to the Supreme Court
Thurgood Marshall was elected by President Lyndon B. Johnson as the first black Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history. Marshall went on to serve for 24 years on the Court before retiring in 1991. -
LSD Declared Illegal by the U.S. Government
LSD was placed in the Schedule 1 category of drugs, meaning that it was illegal for medical as well as recreational use, by the U.S. Government in 1968. This was because it was considered a cultural threat to U.S. citizens, especially during the Vietnam War and throughout the 60's. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong forces launched attacks against targets in South Vietnam. This was significant because it encouraged the U.S. to back out of the Vietnam War. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Martin Luther King was shot and killed while standing outside on his balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Tennessee. Following his death, there were many outbreaks of racial violence. -
Robert Kennedy is Assassinated
Robert Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in LA after winning the California presidential primary. Kennedy had walked off the stage and was surrounded by people, including reporters, when he was shot and died the following day. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention protests were a series of protests regarding the U.S.'s involvement in the Vietnam War. The protests lasted seven days outside of the Democratic National Convention. -
Richard Nixon is Elected
Former vice president Richard Nixon beat Hubert Humphrey in the run for presidency. Nixon won the popular vote by less than one point, but significantly won the electoral vote. -
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots were a series of violent fights and riots between police and gay rights activists outside a gay bar in NYC called the Stonewall Inn, in 1969. The result of these riots was the start of international gay rights movements. -
Moon Landing
Commander Neil Armstrong landed the Apollo 11 Spaceship to the moon. Television allowed Americans to watch the moon landing, which was very significant at the time. It was also significant because we beat the USSR to land humans on the moon. -
Woodstock Concert
Woodstock was a three-day music festival that occurred on a farm in upstate New York. The music had a lot of anti-war messages regarding the Vietnam war. People were trying to spread a message of unity and peace. However, there were many drugs partaking at Woodstock as well. -
The Rolling Stones Host the Altamont Music Festival
The Rolling Stones hosted a single-day rock festival as the final show of their American Tour in 1969. This was held at Altamont Speedway in California. The Motorcycle Gang Hell's Angels were the security for the Rolling Stones, and they hurt as well as killed a few rowdy fans.