The decades between the years 1960-1980 proved to be a tumultuous time for the world. From war to assassinations, those 20 years are rich with historical events beginning with the 1960’s.
The 60’s were considered one of the most historical decades in the United States. This includes the inauguration of President John F Kennedy in 1961.
President Kennedy’s had several important events that took place during his very short presidential term. These include the Cuban missile crises, arguing for reform in Civil Rights and most importantly, our involvement in the police action in Vietnam. Kennedy was considered one of our greatest presidents and sadly he was assassinated on November 22, 1963 while riding in a procession in Dallas, Texas.
The war in Vietnam was a significant part of the 60’s. Beginning in 1965, combat troops from the United States were deployed to fight on the side of the South Vietnam government. The main purpose was to stop the communist party of North Vietnam from spreading throughout the country. This conflict came with untold losses on both sides including over 55, 000 casualties for the United States. US involvement in Vietnam ended with the capture of Saigon by North Vietnam in 1975.
Because of the politics involved with the troops in Vietnam including mandatory drafting into the military, both violent and non-violent protests began. This was also the age known as “free love” where as a part of the sit-ins and marches against US involvement in Vietnam, drug use and loss of sexual inhibitions were included as a protest against a tyrannical government. This also included a large upswing in feminism which included more rights for women in the workplace.
The 60’s were considered one of the most historical decades in the United States. This includes the inauguration of President John F Kennedy in 1961.President Kennedy’s had several important events that took place during his very short presidential term. These include the Cuban missile crises, arguing for reform in Civil Rights and most importantly, our involvement in the police action in Vietnam. Kennedy was considered one of our greatest presidents and sadly he was assassinated on November 22, 1963 while riding in a procession in Dallas, Texas.
The war in Vietnam was a significant part of the 60’s. Beginning in 1965, combat troops from the United States were deployed to fight on the side of the South Vietnam government. The main purpose was to stop the communist party of North Vietnam from spreading throughout the country. This conflict came with untold losses on both sides including over 55, 000 casualties for the United States. US involvement in Vietnam ended with the capture of Saigon by North Vietnam in 1975.
Because of the politics involved with the troops in Vietnam including mandatory drafting into the military, both violent and non-violent protests began. This was also the age known as “free love” where as a part of the sit-ins and marches against US involvement in Vietnam, drug use and loss of sexual inhibitions were included as a protest against a tyrannical government. This also included a large upswing in feminism which included more rights for women in the workplace.
There was also a large surge in the civil rights movement during this time. Beginning with the sit-in at the lunch counter at Woolworths in Greensboro, NC, civil rights wars were being fought all over our country. Famous figureheads like Martin Luther King Jr. were giving speeches protesting black oppression including his famous “I have a dream” speech that is still quoted today. Other groups like The Black Panther Party chose a more up front approach by targeting black neighborhoods and showing that black on black violence was just as much a problem as oppression.
As all of the protests and civil unrest were ravaging the country, the cold war between the Soviet Union and the US was being waged continuously. The biggest example of this was the space race. After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, it jump started the US interest in space exploration. Although the USSR was the first to launch a man into space, the US was the first to land a man on the moon in July 1969
The 1970’s were no less controversial than the decade before. With the end of the Vietnam War, Feminism took a lead role in reform. This of course was dotted through by the energy crisis and the birth of the modern computer.
As all of the protests and civil unrest were ravaging the country, the cold war between the Soviet Union and the US was being waged continuously. The biggest example of this was the space race. After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, it jump started the US interest in space exploration. Although the USSR was the first to launch a man into space, the US was the first to land a man on the moon in July 1969The 1970’s were no less controversial than the decade before. With the end of the Vietnam War, Feminism took a lead role in reform. This of course was dotted through by the energy crisis and the birth of the modern computer.
As Feminism began to really gain strength, the 70’s highlighted women in politics by the United Kingdom electing their first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. This was also a great time in the US as figureheads like Gloria Steinem and Betty Ford fought for women’s equality in the workplace as well as society.
The energy crisis was also a prominent problem during the 1970’s. This was largely in part due to the oil embargo implemented by OPEC because of US support of Israel during the Yom Kippur war. This catapulted the economic crisis in the US resulting in the stock market crash in 1973-1974. Gas rationing was also in place as the US government implemented price controls which made the price of “old oil” or already discovered oil low while the price of newly discovered oil could be set at a higher price. This created the illusion of oil scarcity and also discouraged the discovery of alternative fuels to help ease the crisis.
The 70’s also saw the revolution of the computer. By making microprocessors compact enough to fit into smaller frames, the birth of the home computer came about. Of course, by today’s standards, these bulky machines seem huge but in the 70’s and even 80’s, these monsters were revolutionary. Now, instead of having a mainframe that was wall sized and inconvenient, we could now do computations at our desk without having to transfer our information from one place to another.
Of course, there are many other events that ran in the background from 1960 through 1980. It would probably be months before I could even delve into the depths of history of these two decades. I’m sure that as I read over what I have written, I have forgotten certain things that would be considered major historical events but with the wealth of history, especially in the 1960’s alone, I would continue to forget something somewhere.
References
1960s. (2009, August 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:08, August
2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1960s&oldid=305634614
1970s. (2009, August 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:04, August
2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1970s&oldid=305553278
Black Panther Party. (2009, July 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
22:42, July 30, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Panther_Party&oldid=305167102
Martin Luther King, Jr.. (2009, July 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
18:40, July 29, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.&oldid=304927751
Personal computer. (2009, July 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
11:55, July 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Personal_computer&oldid=305263478
Simkin, J. (2006). John F. Kennedy: biography. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from
Sparticus Educational Web site: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAkennedyJ.htm
Space Race. (2009, July 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:09,
July 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_Race&oldid=305218599
Vietnam War. (2009, July 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:31,
July 27, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vietnam_War&oldid=304446954
The energy crisis was also a prominent problem during the 1970’s. This was largely in part due to the oil embargo implemented by OPEC because of US support of Israel during the Yom Kippur war. This catapulted the economic crisis in the US resulting in the stock market crash in 1973-1974. Gas rationing was also in place as the US government implemented price controls which made the price of “old oil” or already discovered oil low while the price of newly discovered oil could be set at a higher price. This created the illusion of oil scarcity and also discouraged the discovery of alternative fuels to help ease the crisis.
The 70’s also saw the revolution of the computer. By making microprocessors compact enough to fit into smaller frames, the birth of the home computer came about. Of course, by today’s standards, these bulky machines seem huge but in the 70’s and even 80’s, these monsters were revolutionary. Now, instead of having a mainframe that was wall sized and inconvenient, we could now do computations at our desk without having to transfer our information from one place to another.Of course, there are many other events that ran in the background from 1960 through 1980. It would probably be months before I could even delve into the depths of history of these two decades. I’m sure that as I read over what I have written, I have forgotten certain things that would be considered major historical events but with the wealth of history, especially in the 1960’s alone, I would continue to forget something somewhere.
References
1960s. (2009, August 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:08, August
2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1960s&oldid=305634614
1970s. (2009, August 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:04, August
2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1970s&oldid=305553278
Black Panther Party. (2009, July 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
22:42, July 30, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Panther_Party&oldid=305167102
Martin Luther King, Jr.. (2009, July 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
18:40, July 29, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.&oldid=304927751
Personal computer. (2009, July 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
11:55, July 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Personal_computer&oldid=305263478
Simkin, J. (2006). John F. Kennedy: biography. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from
Sparticus Educational Web site: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAkennedyJ.htm
Space Race. (2009, July 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:09,
July 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_Race&oldid=305218599
Vietnam War. (2009, July 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:31,
July 27, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vietnam_War&oldid=304446954
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