Late 20th Century

President Nixon had high hopes when he took office. He hoped to win the Vietnam War and be remembered as a peacemaker. He succeeded at some of his goals, but he’s most remembered for the presidential scandal Watergate.   Fun Facts President Nixon removed 25,000 troops from Vietnam in June,…

In the late 1800s, the area that is now Vietnam was colonized by France and called French Indochina. It remained under French control for many years, but in 1945, Communist leader Ho Chi Minh defeated the French. The country was divided into two parts: North and South Vietnam. After World…

The civil-rights movement set off a domino effect. Numerous other groups, including Native Americans, Hispanics, and women began protesting for equal treatment. Across the country and on college campuses, people protested in marches and sit-ins.   Fun Facts The modern women’s movement was sparked by the book, The Feminine Mystique,…

During World War II, rapid scientific and technological advances helped win the war. These advances, such as nuclear power, had the potential to both benefit and harm society. In general though many people were excited about the possibilities these new ideas seemed to create. Fun Facts In 1961, a Russian…

The civil rights movement of the early 1960s focused on peaceful protest. Leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. organized marches and speeches to create change. In the mid-1960s, the civil rights movement became more violent on both sides. Fun Facts African-Americans living in the South experienced greater violence against them.…

During the 1960s, many families became more prosperous than ever before. They had good jobs and could afford to buy comfortable homes and cars. After the hard times of the Great Depression and World War II, older people appreciated the prosperity they (and their parents) had worked so hard to…

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became president after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson was in Dallas with Kennedy when he was shot. He boarded Air Force One with Mrs. Kennedy and took the presidential oath of office right there on the plane. Mrs. Kennedy was still wearing her…