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"Star Trek" Airs
The first episodes of "Star Trek" air on television. -
SNCC is formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is formed. This Committee was made to help fight for civil rights for African Americans. -
"The Flintstones" First Aired
Primetime launched its first animated tv series called "The Flintstones". -
First Televised Presidential Debate
The first presidential debate to be televised was against Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. -
President Kennedy is Elected
John F. Kennedy won the presidential election of 1960. He was running against Richard Nixon. -
Russia Sent the First Man Into Space
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet Pilot and the first man on a successful space flight. Russia was the first country to send a man to space. -
Berlin Wall is Constructed
A wall was built quickly around West Berlin. The wall went up almost overnight and the rest was quickly constructed over the next few weeks. -
Roger Maris Breaks Babe Ruth's MLB Single Season Home Run Record
Maris hits 61 home runs in the 1961 season to break Babe Ruth's record of 60. He played for the Yankees as well. -
SDS Releases its Port Huron Statment
A manifesto was written and released by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). It proposed a new form of government to save modern society from "destructive militarism" and "cultural alienation" and was anti-vietnam war. -
Marilyn Monroe Dies
Marilyn Monroe overdosed inside her home in Los Angeles. -
James Meredith Registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. He had to be guarded 24/7 by US deputy marshals and troops. -
"Dr. No" Premiers
The first James Bond movie "Dr. No" Premiers. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Photos of Soviet nuclear missile installations under construction in Cuba were revealed to President JFK. These missiles were in range to attack the US's eastern coast at any time with short notice. A naval quarantine was ordered around Cuba. -
Dr. King Gave his "I Have a Dream" Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his most famous public speech in Washington DC in front of the Lincoln Memorial. -
Lyndon B Johnson Defeats Barry Goldwater
In the 45th presidential election, democrat LBJ beat republican Barry Goldwater in a landslide. -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
JFK was assassinated while driving through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas Texas in the presidential motorcade. He was driving in a convertible with the top down. -
The Beatles arrive in the US
The famous band The Beatles landed in America and were greeted by thousands of fans. -
The Beatles Appear on Ed Sullivan
The famous British band The Beatles appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and performed 5 songs. The band consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. -
New York World's Fair Begins
The World's Fair was held in New York and hosted 80 countries. The theme was "Peace through Understanding". -
Malcolm X is Assassinated
Civil rights activist Malcolm X is assassinated while giving a speech. -
The Sgt. Pepper's Album is Released
The Beatles released a new album called Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. -
Watts Race Riots
After a young African American man was arrested over for suspected drunken driving, violence and race Riots started and went on for 6 days. 34 people died and hundreds more were injured. -
San Francisco's "Summer of Love" Begins
San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district was home to the center of the hippie movement in the 50s. The "Summer of Love" began in San Francisco when tens of thousands of young adults arrived. -
The First NFL Super Bowl
The first super bowl took place between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. -
Muhammad Ali Refuses Military Service
Famous boxer Muhammad Ali refused the draft into the military for the Vietnam War. He was convicted of draft evasion, fined, sentenced to 5 years in prison, and banned from boxing for 3 years. -
Thurgood Marshall is Nominated to the Supreme Court
President Johnson nominated Marshall to replace a retiring justice. He was the first African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court. -
The Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a coordinated attack by North Vietnamese and communist forces against a bunch of targets in South Vietnam. This event took place during the Vietnam War, and South Vietnamese and U.S. militaries suffered huge losses before finishing fighting off the attack. -
LSD is Declared Illegal
LSD is outlawed by the US government. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Is Assassinated
MLK was shot and killed on a balcony at a motel in Tennessee. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Robert Kennedy was assassinated within 5 years of his brother being assassinated. He was going to run for president in 1968 but was assassinated. -
The Stonewall Riots
A gay bar in New York was raided by the police and the partons and crowd fought back. There was rioting for 5 days. -
Protests at the Democratic National Convention
An anti-Vietnam War protest lasting 7 days happened outside of and during the Democratic National Convention. -
Richard Nixon Elected President
Nixon won the 1968 presidential election. He was the 37th President of the US. -
American Astronauts Land on the Moon
Neil Armstrong took the first step onto the Moon and became the first American (and person) to do so. The space flight was successful there and back and made history. -
Woodstock Concert
Woodstock was a huge 3-day music festival in NY. -
The Rolling Stones Host the Altamont Music Festival
As the last show of their American tour, the Rolling Stones held a one-day rock concert at the Altamont Speedway in California. The concert ended in disaster with 4 people dead and lots of violence and drug overdoses. The security hired killed an 18 year old concert goer, someone drowned in a ditch high on LSD, and two were killed by a hit and run driver.