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Vietnam War
Caused by US fearing the Domino Theory, which stated that once one nation fell to Communism, others would follow suite.When turmoil rocked the stability of South Vietnam after French departure, the US first sent military "advisers" to the aid of Ngo Dinh Diem. Ultimately through a series of complex incidents, the US sent over 60,000 troops to fight an enemy that they never declared war on. -
Little Rock Nine
This event was used to test the Supreme Court Ruling that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. The Arkansas governor called out the National Guard to prevent integration but President Eisenhower persuaded Orval Faubus to recall the Guard. Eventually the President sent in 1,200 members of the 101st Paratroop Division to protect the nine black students integrating into a white high school from an angry mob. -
Rosa Parks Rebellion
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, she was arrested. This lead to a year long boycott that ended in the Supreme Court ruling that segregation in buses was unconstitutional. -
First Televised Presidential Debate
This is what was considered the deciding factor in the 1960 presidential campaign. JFK won due to his good looks and polished manner while Nixon appeared quite poorly in comparison. -
Freedom Rides
These rides were started to test the Supreme Court ruling that segregation in interstate travel was unconstitutional. Many African American participants were beaten and one bus was bombed in Jim Crow South. -
Alan Sheppard Enters Space
The US fell slightly behind the USSR in the Space race and Alan Sheppard was in reality the second man in space behind Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was the closest the US has ever come to nuclear war. The USSR installed a medium range missile base in Cuba that had the ability of launching attacks at most of the major cities in the US. The crisis was diverted by JFK removing missiles from Turkey that were similarly threatening Russia. -
"I Have a Dream"
This speech by Martin Luther King happened on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in a march on Washington by civil rights activists in support of the Civil Rights Act. -
Apollo 11
The most striking achievement in the history of Space exploration was when the Apollo 11 capsule landed on the moon. This move put the US well ahead of the Russians who never succeeded in landing a cosmonaut on Luna.