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Smith Act
Required fingerprinting and regulating of all immigrants/alien in the US. Made it a crime to teach or advocate the violent overthrow of the government. Later the basis of prosecutions of members of the the Communist and Socialist Worker parties. -
G.I. Bill
G. I. Bill of Rights or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 provided for college or vocational education for returning World War II veterans. Also provided one-year of unemployment compensation, and loans for returning veterans to buy homes and start businesses. -
Iron Curtain
Winston Churchill reviewed the international response to Russian aggression and declare an "iron curtain" had descended across Eastern Europe, referring to the rise of communism there as satellite nations under the USSR. -
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Cold War
The Cold War was never a war, but there still had conflict. The United States, it promoted capitalist and was willing to do what it took to keep the Soviets, communism, from taking over the world by spading their ideology around. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman established that the U.S. would provide political, military and economic assistance to all the democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. Congress grants a $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to defend against Communism. -
Marshall Plan
On this day, President Truman placed into effect the Marshall Plan. This plan was devised by George Marshall and it was done to offer loans to rebuild Europe, restores Western Europe’s faith in capitalism, and spreads American labor, farming, and manufacturing practices to Western Europe. It is important because of the Marshall Plan, it aides the US in trying to keep the world from becoming fully communism. -
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Berlin Airlift
After the second World War, the Soviets and Allied forces were peacefully vying for Berlin. As the Soviets controlled all the land around Berlin, they cut off all travel to Allied Berlin. This was solved as the United States and the United Kingdom began airlifting food into Berlin from Western Germany. Stalin reopens the border. The crisis ended on May 12, 1949, when Soviet forces lifted the blockade on land access to western Berlin. -
Fair Deal
Truman's policy of social improvement, which included support for increasing welfare, slum clearance, and civil rights. Most of the Fair Deal bills were shot down, save his initiative to expand unemployment benefits. -
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Communism collapses in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
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1950s
During this period TV became a big deal in America's life. Also, the appearance of the Rock and Roll Music, and lastly, the Beat Generation. President Truman and Eisenhower were presidents during this time. -
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Korean War
North is controlled by the Soviets, South by the US, North invades South and the US calls on UN to help fight, General Douglas MacArthur made a daring invasion, South pushed North way up to China when China gets involved and the war ends in truce, same line, prisoner exchange. -
I Love Lucy First Episode
An American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The most popular show, challenging and satirizing some of the gender stereotypes that have been portrayed on TV. -
Duck & Cover
Duck and Cover is a civil defense social guidance film that is often popularly mischaracterized as propaganda. Is a method of personal protection against the effect of a nuclear explosion. Ducking and covering is useful at conferring a degree of protection to personnel situated outside the radius of the nuclear fireball but still within sufficient range of the nuclear explosion that standing upright and un-covered is likely to cause serious injury or death. -
News: Today Show
A daily live broadcast provides current domestic and international news, weather reports and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports. Additionally, specific segments such as Today's Money, Today's Kitchen and Today Throws a Wedding target specific lifestyle issues, and the show's anchors frequently report on special themes from around the globe. -
Dr. Jonas Salk
Salk was an American biologist and physucuan best known for the research and development of a killed-virus polio vaccine. American Doctor who invented the polio vaccine in 1953. Polio crippled and killed millions worldwide, and the successful vaccine virtually eliminated the scourge. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
Earl Warren was an American jurist and politician, who served as the 30th Governor of California and later the 14th Chief Justice of the United State. -
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Civil Rights Movement
What began this movement with the Brown vs. Board of Education and ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Many African American as well as other races, were advocating for social, and political changes. The approaches that took place varied with each person but in the end, they were able to instill the civil Rights Act for themselves. -
Father Knows Best First Episode
An American sitcom starring Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin.The series, which first began on radio in 1949, aired for six seasons with a total of 203 episodes. Created by Ed James, Father Knows Best, follows the lives of the Andersons, a middle class family living in the Midwestern town of Springfield. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
On August 24, 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till reportedly flirted with a white cashier in Money, Mississippi. Four days later, two white men tortured and murdered Till. His murder galvanized the emerging Civil Rights Movement. -
Little Richard: Tutti Frutti recorded
Little Richard plays an important role because he was a major influence in the music industry during the time. He became associated with Specialty Records producer Art Rupe. His son "Tutti-Frutti" reached number 17, becoming an instant Billboard hit. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement." -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
In 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus, Dr. Martin L. King led a boycott of city buses. After 11 months the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public transportation was illegal. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. -
Elvis: Jailhouse Rock recorded
Elvis Presley grew up in Memphis and he had influence of early R n R, church choirs, working class and listened to country, was an American singer and actor. Regard as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", or simply "the King". -
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. An independent agency of the United State government responsible for aviation and spaceflight. -
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1960s
During this time the Vietnam Way and Civil Rights Protest occurred. Also the assassination of President Kennedy and of MLK. During this time the Cuban Missile Crisis took place and United States landed the first man on the moon. -
Greensboro, North Carolina
At Woolworth's in Greensboro four students sat at the counter for lunch. However, they were denied service because their policy was to refuse service to anyone but whites. The four students did not move even after being denied service, therefore the police had to arrive to the scene. The police was unable to arrest them because there was not enough provocation which infuriated many. This even set into motion the many sit-ins that followed. -
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
SNCC one of the principal organizations of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. It emerged from a series of student meetings led by Ella Baker held at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in April of 1960. SNCC grew into a large organization with many supporters in the North who helped raise funds to support SNCC's work in the south allowing full-time SNCC workers to have a $10 a week salary. Played a major role in the sit-ins and freedom rides, the Freedom Summer etc. -
New Frontier
The campaign program advocated by JFK in the 1960 election. He promised to revitalize the stagnant economy and enact reform legislation in education, health care, and civil rights. -
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Cartel comprising Middle Eastern states and Venezuela first organized in 1960. OPEC aimed to control access to and prices of oil, wresting power from Western oil companies and investors. In the process, it gradually strengthened the hand of non-Western powers on the world stage. -
Politics (Nixon, Kennedy)
Nixon and Kennedy debates were the first televised presidential debates in American history. Nixon refused to put make-up on making him appear more anxious and nervous, while Kennedy who did have make-up on appeared ready, and calm making him appear that he won the television debates. However, on the radio many argued that Nixon won. -
Albert Sabin
A Polish American medical researcher, he is best known for developing the oral polio vaccine which has played a key role in nearly eradicating the disease. -
Peace Corps
A federal agency created by President Kennedy in 1961 to promote voluntary service by Americans in foreign countries, it provides labor power to help developing countries improve their infrastructure, health care, educational systems, and other aspects of their societies. Part of Kennedy's New Frontier vision, the organization represented an effort by postwar liberals to promote American values and influence through productive exchange across the world. -
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Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was an American attempt to overthrow the newly established communist government in Cuba by training and sending Cuban rebels. The coup ended up in a disaster due to the lack of support bu the Americans. The incident was an embarrassment for the U.S and ultimately led to Castro pleading for Soviet aid (Cuban Missile Crisis). -
Sam Walton's Just-in-Time Inventory
Created a chain of stores offering large variety of products at low prices; products arrive at the precise time in they are needed, computers track inventory. No need for large in-house stock. this is where Walmart got started, they use this to maintain low prices. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
An international crisis, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the U.S. and the USSR. When the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island. Weeks later the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the U.s demands. -
March on Washington
A large political rally that took place in Washington D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating racial harmony at the Lincoln Memorial during the march. Widely credited as helping lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the National Voting Rights Act (1965). -
Birmingham Bombing
Bombing of a black church that killed four African-American children. -
Assassination of JFK
JFK was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas. Kennedy and J.D. Tippit both died. Up to this date many conspiracy theories over who killed Kennedy, how many people were involved, and who was involved still are relevant. -
Lee Harvey Oswald
A confused and embittered Marxist who was arrested for shooting Kennedy. He was mysteriously murdered by a Dallas nightclub owner, Jack Ruby. The Warren Commission report had said these two were unrelated and didn't have anything to do with a larger conspiracy. Many American came to believe that the report had kept evidence of a wider conspiracy behind the murders. -
Jack Ruby
This nightclub owner killed Lee Harvey Oswald. Convicted, without a larger conspiracy. -
Warren Commission
Commission made by LBJ after the killing of John F. Kennedy. Point was to investigate if someone paid to assassinate Kennedy. Conclusion is that Oswald Killed Kennedy on his own (CONSPIRACY THEORIES THOUGH!!) and the commissioner is Chief Justice Warren -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed racial segregation in school, public places, and employment. Was made to help African Americans, the bill was amended prior to passage to protect women, and explicitly included white people for the first time. It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
United States President LBJ said that North Vietnamese forces had twice attacked American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Although there was a first attack, claims of a second attack were later said to be exaggerated or unfounded. Known today as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, this led to the open involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War, with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
Daisy Girl Ad
The purpose of this Ad was to make people fear the Cold War. Johnson used this as a presidential ad to respond to Goldwater's NATO comment. Goldwater was considered a genocidal maniac because Goldwater Believed that commanders should have the authority over the nuclear weapons. This ad did work in favor of LBJ, making him trust more in him. -
Barry Goldwater
Republican nominee who was a very conservative senator in Arizona. In the 1964 election he managed to received a large popularity of over 61%. However, he managed to only carry his home state and five other states in the deep south. Johnson ended up winning and was headed toward filling many of his goals. -
Great Society
President Johnson called his version of the Democratic reform program the Great Society. In 1965, Congress passed many Great Society measures, including Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education. -
Selma March
MLK organizes a march in Selma. Tens of thousand of black protesters petition for the right to vote outside of the city hall and are ignored. They then marched to the governors mansion in Montgomery. Police meets them with tear gases and clubs. "Bloody Sunday" is highly publicized and Americans in the North are shocked. -
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Warren Burger
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1969 to 1986, he was responsible for bringing the Court somewhat back to the right after the Earl Warren years. Conservative Supreme Court who succeeded Warren; Nixon sought appointees who would strictly interpret the Constitution and refrain from engaging in social and political questions. He presided over major cases involving abortion, affirmative action, the death penalty, and school desegregation. -
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1970s
During this time many social and cultural groups fought for equality. This time period is known for disco, but economic struggles, technological innovation and cultural changes occurred as well. -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Protection Agency. Federal agency established by Nixon to protect and preserve the environment; along with the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the establishment of OSHA, this agency made notable progress in reducing automobile emissions and cleaning up waterways and toxic dump sites. An independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment -
Watergate
Watergate is the name given to the scandal the Nixon administration committed during the '72 presidential election where hired "goons" broke into Democrat HQ at Watergate hotel for any dirt. This scandal revealed several other dirty plays Nixon;s administration did the years leading up to the election and forced him to resign and killed the faith the public had in the government. -
Title IX
A part of the Education Amendments which prohibited sex discrimination in any educational programs or activities that are funded by the federal government. -
Roe v. Wade
Legalized abortion and is at the center of the current controversy between "pro-life" and "pro-choice" advocates. The Court ruled that a woman was the right to an abortion without interference from the government in the first trimester of pregnancy, contending that it is part of her "right to privacy." The Court maintained that right to privacy is not absolute, however, and granted states the right to intervene in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. -
War Powers Resolution Act
This act stated that the president must report to Congress within 2 days of putting troops in danger in a foreign country, and there would be a 60 to 90 day limit for over seas troop presence. -
Federal Election Commission
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission, provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were the peace accords signed by Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat to finally end the Israeli-Egyptian disputes. The achievement by Carter is considered his greatest achievement in office. -
Three-Mile Island
A mechanical failure and a human error at this power plant in Pennsylvania combined to permit an escape of radiation over a 16 mile radius. -
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1980s
During this time new conservatism in social, economic and political life was embraced. President Ronald Reagan a Republican can be characterized by the policies. This decade saw the rise of MTV and yuppie. -
Robert Johnson
Founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television) sold program to Viacom 2001; became first African American Billionaire -
Election of 1980
Republicans nominated Ronald Reagan, against re-nominated Jimmy Carter, who nobody, not even his own Democrats liked. Reagan won easily and was very popular, Carter won only six states and the District of Columbia, putting the Republicans back in control for the first time in 25 years. Carter was defeated with dignity though, and was well meaning but had a lack of managerial skills. -
Reagonomics
The federal economic polices of the Reagan administration elected in 1981. These policies combined a monetarist fiscal policy, supply-side tax cuts, and domestic budget cutting. Their goal was to reduce the size of the federal government and stimulate economic growth. -
Mustiv Television
For the first time music television goes on the air. MTV played an influential role in the music industry and was a major source of pop culture and entertainment in the US as well as other parts. "Video Killed the Radio Star" was the first music video to be shown on MTV. -
Sandra Day O'Connor
First woman appointed to US Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan in 1981; since retirement, worked diligently to promote civic education in US -
Strategic Defense Initiative
SDI, Reagan's proposed Strategic Defense Initiative (1983), also known as "Star Wars." called for a land- or space-based shield against a nuclear attack. Although SDI was criticized as unfeasible and in violation of the Anti ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, Congress approved billions of dollars for development. -
Reagan Doctrine
US support anywhere in the world to support anticommunist activity; in Afghanistan we supplied missiles; Grenada ousted a pro-Marxist govt; gave money and military help to El Salvador; spent over 6 billion in aid to help kill over 40,000 dissidents, American missionaries and others -
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Iran Contra Affair
The Scandal that erupted after the Reagan administration sold weapons to Iran in hopes of freeing American hostages in Lebanon; money from the arms sales was used to aid the Contras (anti-Communist insurgents) in Nicaragua, even though Congress had prohibited this assistance. Talk of Reagan's impeachment ended when presidential aids took the blame for the illegal activity. -
Challenger Explosion
The space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight, killing all aboard. The explosion was caused by a faulty seal in the fuel tank. The shuttle program was halted while investigators and officials drew up new safety regulations, but was resumed in 1988 with the flight of the Discovery. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The removal of he wall that separated East and West Germany. Symbolized he end of the Cold War. "Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall." -
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1990s
The 1990s was full of positive and good events. The economy was booming in the U.S. as it was a period of economic prosperity in which the GDP increased continuously for nearly ten years. It was a decade that be coined the golden age of U.S. culture. -
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1st Iraq War (Persian Gulf War)
After Iraq invaded Kuwait, the US invaded Iraq to liberate Kuwait. Iraq set Kuwait's oil fields on fire so the Americans couldn't gain the oil. This conflict caused the US to set military bases in Saudi Arabia; also called Operation: Desert Storm. -
Rodney King Incident
Video footage was taken of the police beating an African American after a 115-mph chase throughout LA ended with him allegedly lunging at on of the officers. He received 56 blows from nightsticks while a dozen other officers stood by and watched. -
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Balkans Crisis
Bosnian Muslims, Serbs, and Croats were killing each other by 10,000s. Clinton eventually was forced to intervene, US led NATO forces launched a massive aerial bombardment of Servia. Area of southeastern Europe where Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, etc. are today. This is where World War I started due to ethnic rivalries in the area. In the 1990's, similar ethnic rivalries led to war and "ethnic cleansing" as the Serbs attempted to rid their country of other groups through mass-murder. -
Election of 1992
President George H.W. Bush ran for a second term. Democrats nominated Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas. Businessman H. Ross Perot ran as an independent third party candidate. The key issue was the economy plagued by high unemployment and the large deficit. Clinton won a significant electoral victory with only 43% of the vote; Perot got 19%. -
World Trade Center Attack
Terrorists drove a truck bomb underneath it and detonated it. The parking garage was gutted, but the building stood up until the two planes hit it in 2001. -
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Trade agreement that included Mexico, Canada, and the United States. It was a symbol of the increased reality of a globalized market place. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy
The policy was intended as a "compromise". The purpose is to restrict the United States military from "witch-hunting" secretly gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members or applicants, while absolutely barring "openly" gay or bisexual people from joining the military, and expelling those already serving during Clinton's term -
Oprah Winfrey
Great philanthropist; established Harpo Productions 1988; one of TIME 100 Most Influential of 20th Century; 1996 "Oprah Book Club", 2003 Forbes listed as first African American female billionaire -
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Passed Congress in 1996; defined marriage as between only a man and women; however many states and companies extended benefits to same sex partners and many states legalized same sex marriages -
Lewinsky Affair
Monica Lewinsky had an affair with Clinton who denied it under oath, but there was physical evidence; he was impeached for perjury and his resulting political battles kept him from being productive in his final term paving way for the seemingly moral Bush in 2000 -
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Contemporary
This lasted until Obama's last day. This long time span contains many events like the 9/11 attack, killing of Osama Bin Laden, and many other events. Besides all the catastrophic events one remarkable even that happened during this time period was the Presidential of the first African-American president, Barack Obama. -
Jazlyn's Birthday
On July 9 of 2000, Jazlyn Zapien was born a month early! -
Election of 2000
Vice President Al Gore was the Democratic candidate; Governor George W. Bush of Texas ran for the Republicans. Gore won the popular vote, but the results in Florida were disputed and a recount was ordered by hand the Florida courts. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court ordered a halt to the recount, giving Bush the victory. -
Bush v. Gore (SCOTUS Case)
The court ruled that manual recounts of presidential ballots in the Nov. 2000 election could not proceed because inconsistent evaluation standards in different counties violated the equal protection clause. In effect, the ruling meant Bush would win election. -
9/11 Attacks
Terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. In which 19 militant Islamist men hijacked and crashed four commercial aircraft. Two planes hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing them to collapse. One plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and the fourth, overtaken by passengers, crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. Nearly 3000 people were killed in the worst case of domestic terrorism in American History. -
PATRIOT Act
After 9/11, congress passed a security legislation in order to make the country safer. The Patriot Act gives the authorities enhanced powers, such as looking up library record, to protect the country. So basically they can be nosy for the safety of America. -
No Child Left Behind Education Act
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). NCLB sets high standards and accountability for students achievement to make sure that all children are caught up to 21st century learning. -
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Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Hurricane Katrina was the costliest natural disaster and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. The storm surge also devastated the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, making Katrina the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in history of the United States, and the deadliest since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. The total damage from Katrina is estimated at $108 billion. -
First Hispanic SCOTUS: Sonia Sotomayor
Latina woman who Obama has nominated for the Supreme Court vacancy. First Hispanic and third woman justice in the Supreme Court's history, confirmed in August 2009. -
Election of 2008
Barack Obama vs. John McCain. 365 electoral votes to Obama, 173 electoral votes to McCain. Barack Obama was the senator of Illinois, the Democratic nominee. The Senator John McCain of Arizona was the Republic nominee George W. Bush was ineligible for re-election and Vice President Dick Cheney declined to run for the office. Senator Obama won the number or electors necessary to be elected President was inaugurated on January 20, 2009. The 1st Black President. -
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
An expansion of Medicaid, most of employer =s must provide health insurance, have insurance or face surtax, prevents rejection based on pre-existing condition. Also referred to as "Obamacare", signed into law in 2010. -
Undoing of DOMA
The Supreme Court struck down DOMA Section 3. It was the undoing of DOMA which was an act that considered marriage only to be between one man and one woman. The undoing of DOMA allowed for same-sex couples to marry in some states. This shows the countries shift from a conservative to liberal.
