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Hippies
Hippies emerged as part of the counterculture movement when many Americans began to abandon traditional values. They stemmed from opposition to involvement in Vietnam, but usually avoided being involved in politics. Hippies were characterized by long hair, casual clothes, bright colors, communal living, drugs (LSD and Marijuana), and a vegetarian diet. They promoted acceptance and were often part of open relationships. Finally, they played a large part in music festivals and anti-war movements. -
Desegregation of University of Alabama
Following Brown v. Board of Education, the executive branch began taking more extreme measures to force schools to desegregate. At the University of Alabama the governor of Alabama, George Wallace, set up a blockade in front of Foster Auditorium to prevent African Americans from enrolling. JFK sent National Guard troops to the university to end the blockade. This allowed two students, Malone and Hood, to enroll and brought attention to Wallace through media outlets, such as TV. -
JFK Assassination
John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas while preparing for the 1964 presidential election. Kennedy was shot in the neck while riding in a car that was supposed to bring him to the Trade Mart, where he was planning on giving a speech. Within an hour of the shooting, Kennedy was pronounced dead, forcing Lyndon B. Johnson to take over as President. -
RFK Assassination
Although Kennedy was supported by many minority groups, he had many political enemies. After winning the California presidential primary, he was shot multiple times from only a foot away in the Ambassador Hotel by 22-year-old Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy passed away the next day from his injuries. Sirhan pled guilty in court and received a death sentence, however with the rulings of the California Supreme Court, was sentenced to life in prison. -
Anti-war protests during Vietnam
Opposition to intervening in the Vietnam War began in 1965 on college campuses and lasted for the rest of the war. They were driven by peace activists and hippies and expanded as bombings became more common. Groups, such as Students for a Democratic Society, organized protests to gain support. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, support of protests reached an all time high. Many citizens felt the U.S. had no chance of winning since the Vietnamese were resilient and casualty rates were increasing. -
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was founded by Huey Long and Bobby Seale during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. They resisted police brutality against African Americans by creating armed citizen patrols in cities. They often dressed in black berets and leather jackets. This party was at its strongest point in 1968, with about 2,000 members, but declined in following years due to tensions in the organization,violent shootouts, and FBI counterintelligence activities. -
Moon Landing
Apollo 11, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon after successfully landing the lunar module, the Eagle. It was broadcast on live TV around the world. This event led to the famous quote "...one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” This fulfilled JFK’s goal of landing a man on the moon before the end of the decade and ended the competitive space race. -
Assassination Attempt of George Wallace
George Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was shot by Arthur Bremer, who was 21 years old at the time. Wallace was a presidential candidate and was at an outdoor rally in Laurel, Maryland when the shooting occurred. As a result of his injuries, Wallace was paralyzed from the waist down and was forced to drop out of the presidential campaign. -
Watergate Scandal
Five burglars were arrested in the Democratic National Committee headquarters inside the Watergate Hotel for wiretapping phones and stealing documents. These men were linked back to Nixon’s administration, later revealing a tape recording system in his offices. The Supreme Court required Nixon to release these tapes to investigators who found that he had played a role in the scandal. This greatly plagued Nixon’s presidency and led to his resignation in 1974. -
Hurricane Carmen
Hurricane Carmen was a Category 4 hurricane, making it the strongest hurricane of 1974. Wind gusts up to 175 mph were recorded and Puerto Rico, the Yucatán Peninsula, and Louisiana saw the most damage. By the time the storm dissipated on September 10, 1974 the U.S. faced $162 million worth of damage (1974 U.S. Dollars), and 8 fatalities were reported. -
Murder of John Lennon
Mark David Chapman shot and killed John Lennon, a former member of The Beatles, outside of his apartment building in New York City. Lennon had signed an autograph for Chapman earlier, and he waited outside the building for Lennon. News spread around the world about Lennon’s death, and millions grieved over his passing. Citizens around the globe gathered together for vigils to remember his life, including in New York City at Central Park, where more than 100,000 people were in attendance. -
Assassination Attempt of President Reagan
Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. in Washington D.C. after the President spoke to the Building and Construction Workers Union of the AFL-CIO. The movie, Taxi Driver, inspired Hinckley to carry out the shooting, and he considered various other political figures before choosing Reagan as his target. During the shooting, press secretary James Brady, a police officer, and a Secret Service agent were shot. Hinckley’s final bullet hit Reagan’s limo and ricocheted into his chest.
