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Martin Luther King Jr.
MLK was an activist in Alabama and a member of the NAACP. He lead the bus boycott and was arrested several times during his nonviolent protests. He was one of the most influential voices during the civil rights movement, and his speeches are still influential today. He spoke over 2500 times until his assassination in 1968.
Source: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Primary Source transcipts of his speeches: http://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com/ -
President Truman
Former VP, Truman became president in 1945. Upon gaining the presidency he said "I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me." He made some of the most important decisions in US history. He ordered the bomb on Hiroshima, enacted the Truman Doctrine, and made many improvements on social policy.
Primary Sources on Truman: https://www.trumanlibrary.org/personal.htm -
U.S. Drops Atom Bomb on Japan
The US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The bomb was dropped to avoid invading Japan and causing more US casualties. This marked the end of WWII but is considered by some to be the start of the Cold War. This also marked the beginning of the obsession with nuclear weapons. The photo shows a man looking over the ruins.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima
Photo Source: http://archive.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/08/hiroshima_64_years_ago.html -
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The Baby Boom
In 1946 there was a record amount of births, 20 percent more than 1945. The numbers continued to rise until 1964. This is important because of the lasting effects that generation has had on our economy. It also led to smaller "booms" like the suburb boom. Primary Source Article: http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/Baby-Boom_Articlebaby_boom_article_1945#.WKEzNyMrK3U Description Source: http://www.history.com/topics/baby-boomers -
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was announced, which was a policy meant to stop the spread of communism. Mainly, it gave 13 billion dollars to western europe to make them stronger. This was important because it took the US away from an isolationist policy. It was also a clear statement that the US would do anything it could to stop communism
Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/truman-doctrine
Primary Source of the Truman Doctrine: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=81# -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was ennacted due to the need for aid in Europe after WWII. This was lead by George Marshall who became Secretary of State. Pres. Truman said in his diary “Marshall is the greatest man of World War II." The plan was meant to stabilize eastern europe. It was important because it contributed to the decline of communism and was a bold non-isolationist move by the US. It was very successful.
Source: http://marshallfoundation.org/marshall/the-marshall-plan/history-marshall-plan/ -
Creation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
NATO was an agreement between several european countries and the US to defend each other in case of attack. It lead to a millitary assistance program giving 1.4 billion dollars to western european countries. It was important because it was helpful soon after during the Korean War and protected the other countries with the US's "nuclear umbrella". Image is of Truman signing the treaty.
Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nato -
Joseph McCarthy(ism)
Senator Joseph McCarthy started a hunt for communist in the US government. He made americans fear for a nuclear war from communist spies. This was important because it characterized the Red Scare and was very constitutionally unsound. Picture is a telegram sent from Mccarthy to Truman warning of 205 communist in the US government. Source also contains McCarthy's full speech to the US senate about the "communist" he had identified.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/53a.asp -
Period: to
Korean War
A war between North Korea and South Korea. The UN came to the defense of South Korea after the Soviet Union backed North Korea. The war ended with no real resolution on either side. This was significant because 2.5 million people died and the hostility has held to this day, and it continued the "war against communism" from the US.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Korean-War -
First Rock and Roll Concert
The "Moondog Coronation Ball" happened in Cleveland in 1952. It was a live dance party of music played by the DJ Leo Mintz. The 10000 tickets sold out in one day, plus thousands of counterfeit tickets. This was important for US culture and the beginning of the era of rock and roll. It changed the course of history as far as music and dance in the US went. The photo is a primary source of the event happening.
Source: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/first-rock-concert/ -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education challenged the Jim Crow laws. It was actually 5 different cases about segregation in schools. It was important because it lead to black students having an equal opportunity in education. It was an important step in the beginning of the civil rights movement.
Source: http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/history-brown-v-board-education-re-enactment
Primary Sources on the case: https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/brown-v-board -
Elvis Presley
Elvis was the first face of Rock and Roll and started an era. His style of blues and rock became the sound of the 50's. He sold more than a billion records. He was important because of his influence on the culture of the 50's. He showed people it was okay to let go and be a little more wild. June 7 1954 was the date his music aired on the radio.
Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/elvis-presley/biography
Primary Source of live concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh53niIqMtk -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
African Americans boycotted the buses in Montgomery, AL to protest segregation. Four days before it began, Rosa Parks was kicked off a bus for refusing to give her seat up It is important because it was the first widescale protest against segregation. It lead to the supreme court ordering Montgomery to desegregate its busses.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/montgomery-bus-boycott
Photo: https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2015/11/30/the-montgomery-bus-boycott/ -
Space Race
In 1957 the USSR launched Sputnik and began the space race. The launch of the satellite scared americans and made them feel inferior technologically. This was important because the urgency lead to many advancements in space exploration. It also was a reaction to the ongoing fear of the arms race.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-union-launches-sputnik-i
Photo:https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_924.html -
Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit In
Four students sat at a lunch counter in Woolworth's in North Carolina. They were refused service so they remained in their seats in protest. This was important because it was one of the first youth driven acts of protest in the civil rights movement. Before this the youth did not have as much of an active role. Photo is a primary source taken of the four students at the counter.
Source: http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/6-legacy/freedom-struggle-3.html -
Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK announced that there were soviet missile bases in Cuba. This lead to a "naval quarantine" to keep Cuba from getting any more missiles. Eventually, Cuba removed all of the missiles. This event was significant because it almost lead to war between the US and soviet forces. If Kennedy had taken different measures, things could has escalated quickly.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cuban-missile-crisis -
Assasination of JFK
JFK was shot while driving down Dealey Plaza in Dallas. The shooter is still a mystery today. He was shot in several places and died instantly. This event was one of the most well publicized assassinations of a politician and is infamous due to its mystery and many conspiracy theories. The photo is the famed photo of Jackie Kennedy covered in her husbands blood during Johnson's swearing in.
Source: https://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/November-22-1963-Death-of-the-President.aspx -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act ended the struggle for african americans to vote unhindered. It was enacted after almost a year of many protests, many lead by MLK .The law outlawed literacy tests, poll taxes, and other means of limitation. Ths was important because it was one of the last big hurdles in the civil rights movement. This source contains the actual act itself, as well as other primary sources.
Source: https://ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=100 -
Assasanation of MLK
Mlk was shot on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. He died at the hospital at the age of 39. This lead to rioting all across the nation. President Johnson asked the public to denounce the violence and soon after signed the fair housing act. Even later after investigation James Earl Ray was arrested for the murder.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/martin-luther-king-jr-assassination
Photo and primary sources: http://haleyhols.blogspot.com/2015/10/primary-sources.html -
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots were lead by a group of gays in a gay bar in Greenwich Village called the Stonewall Inn. The riot began after the gay customers got tired of harassment from the police. This event was important because it was the beginning of the LGBT movement. It lead to the formation of groups like the Gay Liberation Front and an overall new sense of openness about gay rights.
Source: http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2009/06/449-stonewall.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
